About John Snyder, CEO

John Snyder is owner and CEO of Net Friends, Inc., an MSP and MSSP headquartered in NC. He began his Net Friends career in early 1999 as a field technician working with customers in the biotech, healthcare, education, and legal professions. His early work in 2001 grappling with how to help multiple research and clinical organizations comply with the HIPAA regulation led to a lifelong study of cybersecurity frameworks like NIST 800-53a, 800-171, COBIT 5.0, and ISO 27001. Grounded in these time-tested approaches that aid in protecting data and maintaining safe networks, John consistently steers Net Friends towards developing IT support services built from these security frameworks and best practices. Once John became a minority owner of Net Friends in 2009, he was able to direct the company more fully to building IT service offerings based on these frameworks.

John knows the power of 3rd party industry certifications to confirm your expertise. He is a former Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA), former CompTIA Security+ certified analyst, former CRISC (Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control) expert, and former Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). The value of these formal and specialized pursuits has influenced Net Friends to prioritize securing its SOC 2 Type II certification back in 2019, which we have maintained without interruption year after year. John firmly believes that focusing on a culture of security will directly improve the optimal business outcomes that our customers seek.

In 2021, John was named to the National Small Business Association (NSBA)'s Leadership Council. The NSBA is nonpartisan and the nation’s oldest small-business advocacy organization. As a member of the Leadership Council, John engages with U.S. policymakers on the interests of small businesses and advocates for laws to improve cybersecurity and address supply chain issues. John is also serving a two-year term on the Information Technology Advisory Committee at Durham Technical Community College, helping bridge the instructional priorities of the institution with the today's business and industry sectors.

Connect with John on LinkedIn.
(Updated September 2024)

Latest Articles by

John Snyder

Business Strategy
Adapting to the Dark Side of High Growth

"I discovered the hard way that there is such a thing as too much growth," John Snyder shares. Read more about how high growth impacted our business.

Business Strategy
ChatGPT and Our MSP

A new interactive artificial intelligence (AI) tool called ChatGPT captivated my team this week and this is how we're experimenting with it.

Business Strategy
Embracing A Schism to Clarify Our Mission

As Net Friends approached 10 years in business, the company became alarmingly fractious. However, the decisions we had to make led us straight into new growth.

Business Strategy
Our First “Near Death” Experience

As we celebrate 25 hard won years in business, I’d like to share some real-world crises that became crucial transitions into where we are today.

Business Strategy
5 Business Decisions to Make Before Your Azure Deployment

Creating a new Microsoft Azure deployment is a relatively straightforward process. However, a business needs to consider a few key decisions first.

Cybersecurity
How We Developed Our Approach to Security

Our cybersecurity culture is deeply informed by our vision for Universal Safe Networks and our commitment to help businesses fortify their security.

Cybersecurity
My First Cybersecurity Incident

You never forget your first cybersecurity incident. It was the summer of 2001, & I was working as a field tech, supporting several medical research departments.

Cybersecurity
Zero Cost Security Improvements to Protect Your Business

Nearly 1 out of 4 small businesses suffered at least one cyber attack last year. Discover cost free protections you can implement now to improve your security.

Cybersecurity
How to Determine if MAM or MDM is Best for Your Business

Securing mobile devices with MAM or MDM is so vital and too often overlooked. Whichever path your organization chooses, you are already ahead of the game!

Cybersecurity
How to Secure the Best Price for Cyber Insurance

Well-run businesses in high-risk industries have lots of sensitive records & are going to actively seek cybersecurity liability coverage to offset their risks.

Managed IT Services
6 Critical Factors Overlooked When Choosing a Managed Services Provider

Hiring a Managed Services Provider (MSP) is a significant decision. Most businesses take one of three approaches, yet overlook a few key consideration factors.

News
Net Friends Leadership Team Certified in IT Service Management

As of April 2022, all eight individuals on Net Friends’ Leadership Team achieved their certification in IT Service Management (ITIL).

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