Skip to company research
TMC InsightPowered byFusionScore.ai
Buyer’s Guide: Company Profile

CBTS

Explore CBTS’s services, potential fit for different businesses, how it compares with alternatives, and what to ask before choosing a provider.

Buyer’s Guide visibility

CBTS was not listed in this Top 10

The search

Buyer
Mid-market and enterprise organizations in North America evaluating outsourced or co-managed IT infrastructure, networking, and security operations
Region
North America

Sep 28, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT · 10 entries returned

Is this your company? Go beyond a single category.

Build your multi-category AI visibility month after month with FAME (FusionScore AI Mention Engine). Start with a free $3,000-value package: audit, calendar & 2 articles.

Get FAME Free Explore monthly plans

This page records how AI systems present this company to buyers: what they pick up and where their picture may be incomplete or mistaken. Community notes are reader submissions, separate from the AI results.

Question 1

What does CBTS do?

CBTS (Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions) is a North American IT services provider and managed service provider (MSP/MSSP) delivering infrastructure modernization, cloud management, cybersecurity, digital workplace tools, and consulting. Originating as the technology integration arm of Cincinnati Bell (now altafiber) and acquired by TowerBrook Capital Partners in 2024, CBTS operates independently across the United States and Canada (supported by its OnX Canada division). The company sits in the middle of the technology stack, solving operational and integration complexity for enterprises and mid-market organizations by packaging multi-vendor hardware, public cloud platforms, and carrier connectivity into unified, SLA-backed managed operations.

Sources: [1] [4] [15]

Question 2

What products, services and core capabilities does CBTS offer?

CBTS organizes its core portfolio across six major operational pillars: Managed IT Services, Cloud Solutions, Cybersecurity, Digital Workplace, Enterprise Networking, and Consulting Services. In core operations, CBTS provides 24x7 hybrid infrastructure monitoring, managed Azure and AWS environments, backup and disaster recovery, and managed detection and response (MDR) centered around its SOC operations. Its Digital Workplace portfolio delivers cloud communications, including Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) and Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), alongside unified endpoint management. For enterprise networking and connectivity, CBTS implements managed SD-WAN, SASE, and SSE architectures integrated with multi-site bandwidth aggregation. Delivery spans customer-owned on-premises data centers, colocation facilities, and multi-cloud hyperscaler tenancies across North America, delivered via co-managed and fully managed operating models.

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [13]

Question 3

What types of organizations are a good fit for CBTS?

CBTS is best suited for mid-market and enterprise organizations with distributed physical footprints, including multi-branch retail, financial institutions, regional healthcare networks, and higher education. These buyers typically require converged network and security management across hybrid cloud and branch sites but lack the internal engineering staff to operate round-the-clock SOCs or manage multi-vendor carrier deployments. Conversely, organizations with strictly single-site footprints, digital-native startups operating purely serverless environments, or firms seeking pure self-service cloud brokerage with no managed operational layer will find CBTS's high-touch, multi-year managed services model misaligned with their purchasing goals.

Sources: [4] [12]

Question 4

Who are CBTS's main competitors and alternatives?

CBTS competes against North American IT solutions providers, systems integrators, and enterprise managed service providers that deliver hybrid infrastructure, secure networking, cloud, and managed workplace services. Its primary direct competitors include Presidio, AHEAD, Trace3, and ePlus. Presidio matches CBTS in mid-market and enterprise infrastructure, cloud transformation, and security management, with a global delivery footprint spanning the US, Europe, and APAC. AHEAD focuses heavily on enterprise data platforms, cloud automation, and digital infrastructure engineering. Trace3 competes directly in advanced networking, enterprise cloud architecture, and security consulting. ePlus rivals CBTS in managed networking, carrier lifecycle expense management, and collaboration infrastructure.

Sources: [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [11] [12]

What the AI said and what we found

What the AI said

CBTS competes against North American IT solutions providers, systems integrators, and enterprise managed service providers that deliver hybrid infrastructure, secure networking, cloud, and managed workplace services. Its primary direct competitors include Presidio, AHEAD, Trace3, and ePlus. Presidio matches CBTS in mid-market and enterprise infrastructure, cloud transformation, and security management. AHEAD focuses heavily on enterprise data platforms, cloud automation, and digital infrastructure engineering. Trace3 competes directly in advanced networking, enterprise cloud architecture, and security consulting. ePlus rivals CBTS in managed networking, carrier lifecycle expense management, and collaboration infrastructure.

What we found when we checked

Some points were supported, while others needed more context or changes.

  • Presidio is a North American and global IT solutions provider delivering cloud, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and managed services across the US, Europe, and APAC.
  • AHEAD provides enterprise IT solutions spanning digital platforms, automation, cloud infrastructure, and managed services.
  • Trace3 delivers enterprise technology solutions, managed networking, data center, cloud, and cybersecurity services.
  • ePlus provides managed network services, cloud connectivity, and IT infrastructure solutions.
  • CBTS serves enterprise and midmarket clients across the United States and Canada, with over 2,300 employees and $1.3B+ in annual revenue.

Sources we used

Question 5

How does CBTS compare with its key alternatives?

CBTS positions itself as a full-lifecycle technology partner capable of unifying physical branch networking, public cloud operations, and managed security under single-tenant SLAs. Compared to peers like Presidio, AHEAD, Trace3, and ePlus, CBTS's defining heritage stems from carrier-grade communications and distributed connectivity. While AHEAD and Trace3 focus heavily on enterprise data platforms and next-generation cloud architectures, CBTS excels in multi-site secure networking (SD-WAN, SASE) combined with voice and contact center operations. Presidio has a broader global delivery footprint, serving enterprise customers across the US, Europe, and APAC, whereas CBTS's primary managed-services footprint is documented across North America. For buyers with complex distributed branch environments, CBTS eliminates the need to manage separate carriers, network integrators, and security operations centers. Overall positioning An enterprise technology services provider bridging distributed branch networking, modern multi-cloud management, and operational cybersecurity. Key differentiators Deep heritage in multi-location telecommunications and network connectivity combined with native 24x7 SOC and cloud managed operations. National IT Solutions Providers & Systems Integrators Overlap: Hybrid cloud managed operations, SD-WAN, MDR/MSSP services, and enterprise infrastructure deployments. Important differences: Competitors like AHEAD and Trace3 lean toward platform engineering and enterprise data architecture, while ePlus emphasizes hardware financing and procurement. CBTS differentiates on converged multi-branch networking, bandwidth aggregation, and contact center managed operations.

Sources: [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

What the AI said and what we found

What the AI said

CBTS positions itself as a full-lifecycle technology partner capable of unifying physical branch networking, public cloud operations, and managed security under single-tenant SLAs. Compared to peers like Presidio, AHEAD, Trace3, and ePlus, CBTS's defining heritage stems from carrier-grade communications and distributed connectivity. While AHEAD and Trace3 focus heavily on enterprise data platforms and next-generation cloud architectures, CBTS excels in multi-site secure networking (SD-WAN, SASE) combined with voice and contact center operations. For buyers with complex distributed branch environments, CBTS eliminates the need to manage separate carriers, network integrators, and security operations centers.

What we found when we checked

Some points were supported, while others needed more context or changes.

  • CBTS serves enterprise and midmarket clients primarily across the United States and Canada.
  • CBTS delivers managed SD-WAN, SASE, unified communications, hybrid cloud, cybersecurity, and application modernization services.
  • Presidio delivers managed services across the US, Europe, and APAC, including 24x7 infrastructure monitoring and managed security operations.
  • AHEAD focuses on enterprise data platforms, cloud automation, and digital infrastructure engineering.
  • Trace3 delivers enterprise cloud architecture, managed networking, and cybersecurity consulting.
  • ePlus provides managed network services and IT infrastructure solutions.

What we changed

We kept supported details and removed or qualified points that the independent check could not confirm.

Sources we used

Question 6

Why should a buyer choose CBTS?

Buyers should select CBTS when they operate distributed enterprise footprints—such as retail chains, branch banks, or multi-campus institutions—that require integrated network connectivity, cloud management, and cybersecurity under one accountable provider. CBTS is particularly advantageous for organizations moving away from complex multi-vendor telco contracts toward managed SD-WAN and SASE architectures, such as Palo Alto Networks environments, where CBTS bundles carrier aggregation, deployment engineering, and 24x7 SOC monitoring into one fixed-fee service. Furthermore, buyers seeking tier-1 Azure cloud support without being routed through impersonal hyperscaler queues benefit from CBTS's Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider model.

Sources: [2] [4]

Question 7

Why might a buyer choose a competitor instead of CBTS?

Buyers often choose competitors when their technical requirements demand extreme cloud-native specialization, broader global delivery footprint, or pure hardware procurement. Organizations building custom containerized microservices or modern platform engineering pipelines often find specialized cloud consultancies or firms like AHEAD more aligned with their development workflows. Additionally, enterprises requiring on-site field engineering across EMEA or APAC may choose Presidio, which has documented delivery operations in Europe and APAC, or other large global systems integrators over CBTS, whose primary operational footprint is documented in North America.

Sources: [5] [6] [7]

What the AI said and what we found

What the AI said

Buyers often choose competitors when their technical requirements demand extreme cloud-native specialization, global delivery outside the US and Canada, or pure hardware procurement. Organizations building custom containerized microservices or modern platform engineering pipelines often find specialized cloud consultancies or firms like AHEAD more aligned with their development workflows. Additionally, Fortune 100 enterprises requiring on-site field engineering across EMEA, APAC, or Latin America typically choose larger global systems integrators over CBTS, whose primary operational footprint is centered in North America.

What we found when we checked

Some points were supported, while others needed more context or changes.

  • CBTS's primary managed-services footprint is documented across the United States and Canada.
  • Presidio has documented managed service and security operations delivery in Europe and APAC.
  • AHEAD focuses on enterprise platform engineering, DevOps, and private cloud automation.

What we changed

We kept supported details and removed or qualified points that the independent check could not confirm.

Sources we used

Question 8

What are CBTS's key strengths and limitations?

Key Strengths: 1. Converged Network and Security Delivery: CBTS excels at unifying multi-vendor SD-WAN, SASE architectures, bandwidth aggregation, and managed SOC operations under a single operating model, avoiding fragmented OEM management. 2. Deep Mid-Market & Enterprise Focus: With over 3,000 active clients across the United States and Canada, CBTS offers robust dedicated engineering depth without treating mid-market accounts as low-tier customers. Limitations and Buyer Trade-Offs: 1. Geographic Footprint Constraints: While well-established across North America, CBTS lacks substantial direct local field infrastructure in Europe, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region, requiring international buyers to use secondary partners. 2. Telecommunications Heritage Overhead: Organizations seeking pure software-defined, developer-centric DevOps consulting may perceive CBTS's operational structures as weighted toward carrier and infrastructure managed services rather than agile application development.

Sources: [3] [4]

Question 9

What buyers should verify before purchasing from CBTS

1. Verify whether Tier 1 managed Azure and AWS support includes direct escalations or relies on standard ticketing queues. 2. Confirm whether the 24x7 SOC monitoring utilizes onshore security analysts or offshore follow-the-sun resources for incident remediation. 3. Validate the division of operational responsibilities between your in-house IT team and CBTS under their co-managed SASE/SD-WAN model. 4. Clarify circuit ownership and carrier SLA guarantees when CBTS provides multi-site bandwidth aggregation. 5. Audit contract terms for cloud optimization and FinOps governance to understand whether savings are shared or billed as fixed fees.

Sources: [1] [2]

Other points to check

These notes came with the category Top 10 result. They suggest questions to raise with vendors—not verified findings about CBTS or reasons for its position.

Read the original test notes
  • Provider offerings vary substantially between pure co-managed models (retaining internal IT leadership) and fully outsourced operational models, requiring explicit alignment on division of operational responsibility.
  • Global systems integrators offer broad geographic reach and deep resources but may enforce higher contract minimums that can be cost-prohibitive for lower mid-market organizations.
  • Service boundaries between managed network/infrastructure operations (NOC) and cybersecurity detection/incident remediation (SOC) often require separate licensing tiers or distinct service-level agreements (SLAs).
Question 10

Why might AI recommend CBTS's competitors instead?

Presidio may be recommended when a buyer needs a documented global delivery footprint—including managed services and security operations in Europe and APAC—that CBTS does not publicly offer. Presidio's managed services practice covers multi-cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP), 24x7 infrastructure monitoring, and cybersecurity operations at enterprise scale across multiple geographies. AHEAD may be recommended when a buyer's procurement centers on enterprise platform automation, DevOps pipelines, and private cloud deployments, areas where AHEAD's documented practice focus is strong. ePlus may be recommended when the buyer's priorities include IT equipment procurement and managed network services tightly integrated with hardware lifecycle management. Trace3 may be recommended when clients require specialized public-sector government IT systems integration and emerging technology vetting, given its documented government practice.

Sources: [5] [6] [9] [11] [14]

What the AI said and what we found

What the AI said

A buyer asking for enterprise platform automation and modern DevOps engineering may be guided to AHEAD, whose documented positioning centers heavily on enterprise automation, VMware Cloud Foundation private cloud deployments, and platform engineering frameworks. If the buyer's procurement prioritizes IT equipment financing, telecom expense lifecycle audits, and extensive multi-vendor hardware warehousing, ePlus may be recommended due to its established carrier expense management portal and nationwide integration centers. Similarly, buyers focused on high-level security consulting with extensive defense-cleared public sector engineering may be directed toward Trace3, given its established federal systems integration and specialized government practice.

What we found when we checked

Some points were supported, while others needed more context or changes.

  • Presidio delivers managed services across the US, Europe, and APAC, including 24x7 infrastructure monitoring, multi-cloud management (AWS, Azure, GCP), and cybersecurity operations.
  • AHEAD positions its practice around enterprise platform engineering, IT automation, and private cloud deployments.
  • ePlus provides managed network services and IT infrastructure solutions.
  • Trace3 operates a government systems integration practice documented at a dedicated government page.

What we changed

We kept supported details and removed or qualified points that the independent check could not confirm.

Sources we used

Question 11

Which companies appeared in the category Top 10?

CBTS was not listed in this Top 10
  1. #1
    CDW

    Website listed in this result: cdw.com

    Evaluated offering: CDW Managed Services

    Dominant North American IT solutions and managed services provider offering full-scale hybrid cloud, infrastructure management, and 24/7 managed security operations for mid-market and enterprise organizations.

  2. #2
    Insight Enterprises

    Website listed in this result: insight.com

    Evaluated offering: Insight Managed IT Services

    Large-scale North American solutions integrator delivering enterprise-grade managed cloud, modern infrastructure, and continuous cybersecurity operations across hybrid environments.

  3. #3
    Presidio

    Website listed in this result: presidio.com

    Evaluated offering: Presidio Managed Services

    Major North American digital systems integrator and managed service provider with specialized practice areas spanning multi-cloud infrastructure, intelligent network operations, and managed detection and response.

  4. #4
    Kyndryl

    Website listed in this result: kyndryl.com

    Evaluated offering: Kyndryl Cyber Resilience Services

    The world's largest dedicated IT infrastructure services firm, providing enterprise-scale managed network, hybrid cloud, and Cyber Resilience/SOC operations for mission-critical North American workloads.

  5. #5
    ePlus

    Website listed in this result: eplus.com

    Evaluated offering: ePlus Managed Services

    Established technology solutions integrator providing co-managed and fully outsourced cloud infrastructure, enterprise networking, and 24/7 managed security services targeted at mid-market and enterprise accounts.

  6. #6
    Thrive

    Website listed in this result: thrivenextgen.com

    Evaluated offering: Thrive NextGen Managed Services

    Specialized NextGen managed service provider engineered specifically for mid-market and upper-mid-market enterprises, combining multi-cloud and network infrastructure management with proprietary security operations.

  7. #7
    Dataprise

    Website listed in this result: dataprise.com

    Evaluated offering: Dataprise Managed IT & Cybersecurity Services

    Leading mid-market-focused MSP offering transparent tiered managed IT infrastructure packages integrated with 24/7 SOC monitoring, incident response, and compliance enforcement.

  8. #8
    Rackspace Technology

    Website listed in this result: rackspace.com

    Evaluated offering: Rackspace Managed Cloud and Security Operations

    Pioneer in multicloud and infrastructure management that provides dedicated and co-managed cloud operations, private cloud hosting, and Managed Extended Detection and Response (XDR).

  9. #9
    TierPoint

    Website listed in this result: tierpoint.com

    Evaluated offering: TierPoint Managed IT and Security Services

    National provider of hybrid infrastructure, private cloud hosting, network management, and Adapt cybersecurity services (MDR and SOCaaS) for mid-market and enterprise organizations.

  10. #10
    11:11 Systems

    Website listed in this result: 1111systems.com

    Evaluated offering: 11:11 Managed Security & Infrastructure Solutions

    Managed infrastructure provider delivering integrated cloud connectivity, SD-WAN, data resilience, and managed security operations (SIEM, MDR, and zero-trust perimeter defense).

Search history

Top 10 searches featuring CBTS

These are saved searches in which CBTS appeared. A result may originate from another company’s Buyer Guide; it is not necessarily CBTS’s own generated Question 11 test. Results may cover different buyer needs, locations, or dates.

Buyer needLocationPositionModelDate
Enterprises procuring fully managed or co-managed software-defined wide area networking…United States#10 of 10GeminiSep 30, 2026
Mid-market US businesses seeking a single outsourced provider for branch WAN…United States#1 of 10GeminiSep 30, 2026
Multi-site enterprises and mid-market businesses evaluating outsourced multi-carrier…United States#8 of 10GeminiSep 30, 2026
Mid-market and enterprise buyers seeking outsourced cloud telephony, Microsoft Teams…United States#1 of 10GeminiSep 29, 2026
SMEs and mid-market organizations seeking outsourced IT management, cloud hosting, and…United States#1 of 10GeminiSep 29, 2026
Businesses seeking managed cloud-first SD-WAN with automatic failover and traffic…North America#8 of 10GeminiSep 29, 2026
Enterprises with distributed branch locations seeking outsourced multi-carrier…United States#6 of 10GeminiSep 29, 2026
Why positions vary
Evidence trail

Sources

These links record what the AI cited. A listed link does not, by itself, mean we verified a claim against its contents.

[5]
https://www.ahead.com/Retrieved Sep 29, 2026
[8]
https://www.trace3.com/Retrieved Sep 29, 2026
[10]
https://www.cbts.com/who-we-are/Retrieved Sep 29, 2026
[11]
https://www.eplus.com/Retrieved Sep 29, 2026
[12]
https://www.cbts.com/Retrieved Sep 29, 2026
[14]
About this test

How this search was run

These are the inputs to one recorded search—not a verified description of CBTS or its service area.

Model used
Gemini
Market searched
Managed IT and cybersecurity service providers
Buyer need
Mid-market and enterprise organizations in North America evaluating outsourced or co-managed IT infrastructure, networking, and security operations
Region searched
North America
Test date
Sep 28, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT

Why this page exists: Buyers use AI to research vendors before making a shortlist. We preserve each response and its test date so you can see what appeared in that search.

How responses are checked: Selected questions about competition, differentiation, concerns, and recommendations are sent to a second model to check against available sources. Where that review produces usable findings, we show the original response and what the review found or changed. Other answers may cite sources without a separate review.

How the search is chosen: Before the Top 10 test, one model identifies the most appropriate market, buyer need, and region for this company. A second model reviews those inputs. The reviewed inputs become the search used for the blind Top 10 test. The market shown is where the test placed the company, not a category verified by TMC or chosen by the company. It may be broader, narrower, or different from how the company describes itself. That difference is part of what this page records.

What the ranking means: The Category Top 10 shows how the company appeared in this specific search. It is not a measure of quality, size, or market share. The reviewing model checks the test inputs, not the returned ranking. Linked names have live company profiles; identity verification does not independently verify every recommendation claim.

For companies: This record shows what the test picked up and which sources it cited. Missing or mistaken details may point to public information worth clarifying, but do not by themselves explain why the response said what it did.

Exact test setup and model roles

This result uses a two-model process before the ranking. Gemini proposed the most applicable provider category, buying context, and geography from its company research; Claude independently reviewed and could correct those inputs. The final Top 10 list was then generated by one blind test of Gemini, which received the reviewed category, buying context, geography, and date—but not CBTS’s identity. Claude did not review or rerank the returned Top 10 list, so the ranking itself is not a consensus across AI systems. Provider names identify the AI family; exact model versions and testing configuration are maintained internally.

The original test notes are available with the buyer checklist.

Results across different searches

6 recorded searches · ranked #10, #1, #8, #1, #1 in 5 · not ranked in 1

The market, buyer need, and region can differ across tests. Each Top 10 uses the inputs recorded for that search, so the company list and its position may change.

  • #10 · Managed SD-WAN services · United States · Sep 30, 2026
  • #1 · Managed network and communications service providers · United States · Sep 30, 2026
  • #8 · Managed network services providers · United States · Sep 30, 2026
  • #1 · Managed UCaaS and business communications service providers · United States · Sep 29, 2026
  • #1 · Managed IT and cloud services providers · United States · Sep 29, 2026
Compare the recorded searches
Company research

Other Buyer Guide research

These records show where this company appeared while the Buyer Guide was researching related companies and markets.

Market
Enterprise MSP & Systems Integrator
Observed
Sep 29, 2026

Originating researchAireSpring

Why the company appeared in that research

Competes for enterprise managed networking and voice shortlists.

Market
Enterprise Communications MSP
Observed
Sep 30, 2026

Originating researchTelesystem

Why the company appeared in that research

Frequently bids on enterprise multi-location connectivity, SD-WAN, and managed VoIP procurements.

Related companies from the same research

11:11 Systems

AireSpring

AT&T

Comcast Corporation

Fusion Connect

Granite Telecommunications, LLC

MetTel

Telesystem

Reader perspectives

Community notes

Notes are unverified reader submissions, not TMC endorsements. They may refer to an earlier version of this listing.

No community notes yet.

Add a community note

Anyone can post. Your note will appear publicly as submitted; do not include private information. Admins may hide inappropriate notes.