Preferred Blog

For most law firms, compliance feels like a necessary headache, something you manage just to avoid penalties, not something that helps you win clients. But what if the very systems and safeguards you put in place to stay compliant could also become one of your strongest differentiators?

When implemented strategically, compliance does more than keep regulators happy. It can demonstrate your firm’s professionalism, build trust with clients, and even enhance your operational efficiency.

In a profession where reputation and confidentiality are everything, compliance offers necessary defense and, the way we see it, opportunity.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, UNITED STATES, December 3, 2025 -- Preferred Communication Systems (Preferred), a leading provider of Managed IT and Cybersecurity services headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, proudly announced the acquisition of Business System Solutions’ (BSS) Grand Rapids location.

This strategic acquisition enhances Preferred’s presence in the Midwest and strengthens its commitment to helping small and mid-sized businesses achieve peace of mind and a better bottom line through technology.

“We are excited to welcome the Grand Rapids team into the Preferred family,” said Christine Arden, COO and Co-Founder of Preferred. “This acquisition allows us to expand regionally while continuing to deliver high-quality cybersecurity solutions and customized IT. It underscores our commitment to exceptional client service and positions us to meet the evolving technology needs of our clients with greater scale and expertise.”

BSS’s Grand Rapids branch has a strong reputation for serving local businesses with managed IT solutions. By joining Preferred, clients in Grand Rapids and the surrounding area will gain access to a broader range of technology services and strategic solutions.

“Preferred’s proactive approach, compliance expertise, and proven track record will bring significant value to our Grand Rapids clients,” said Bill Ooms, founder of Business System Solutions. “We’re proud to see this branch join a company that shares our values and our vision of empowering businesses through technology.”

The acquisition of BSS’s Grand Rapids operations is effective immediately, with integration efforts already underway. All key BSS employees remain in place, ensuring continuity and a consistent customer experience.

We all have too many accounts nowadays. Between our personal lives, work, and practically all the entertainment we consume, there are dozens to keep track of and manage… and then there are the ones that charge us for a service they offer. The stacking costs of these services are bad enough, but if you see them start to double or even triple in a given month, you may be experiencing a common problem that is simple enough to solve.

To do so, we need to clarify the difference between creating an account and logging in.

It’s a symbol that we’ve all become familiar with in recent years: three horizontal lines, representing the menu of whatever application or website is currently in use. Sometimes appearing as three dots, this little icon can be surprisingly important for both the end user and the business using it… especially now that mobile devices are so commonly used for browsing (early this year, 64% of all website traffic was observed to come from these devices).

Here's a horrifying thought: Imagine your beautiful office has 50 hardworking employees... but only one tiny, single-stall bathroom. It's chaos. There's a line down the hall, all day. Productivity grinds to a halt. It's a classic bottleneck, and it’s completely unnecessary.

Here's the hard truth: This is exactly what’s happening to your business’ data right now. You’re paying your ISP for a super-fast Internet connection, but you’re forcing all that crucial business data through a flimsy, $50 consumer-grade router; you’re going to find out it’s not up for the job.