Beyond the Silver Bullet: Brad Herold on Ohio’s infrastructure evolution

In Columbus, IT has moved from the basement to the boardroom. As the "Silicon Heartland" attracts global manufacturing and investment, the infrastructure supporting these giants is facing a breaking point between legacy debt and AI-driven demands.

Xtek Partners has navigated the Columbus tech landscape since 2003. President Brad Herold argues that while the cloud is dominant, local, hands-on expertise is the only way to solve the "identity sprawl" that modern hackers are now exploiting to log in—rather than break in—to Ohio’s systems.

The Bottom Line: Security is no longer about tools; it’s about visibility. From unpatched servers to the Midwest talent war, Herold breaks down the reality of scaling tech in a region that can no longer afford downtime in this executive profile partner piece with Ohio Tech News.

OTN: Xtek Partners has been a fixture in the Columbus tech scene since 2003. How has the evolution of the "Silicon Heartland" changed the demands your clients are placing on their IT infrastructure today versus 20 years ago?

Brad Herold: Twenty years ago, clients wanted uptime and basic reliability. Today, they expect infrastructure that is secure by design, scalable on demand, and tightly integrated with business outcomes. As Central Ohio has attracted advanced manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and GovTech investment, IT has shifted from a cost center to a strategic differentiator. Our clients now demand resilience, advanced security, and the flexibility to support hybrid work, AI workloads, and regulatory compliance, all simultaneously.

OTN: You’ve built a unique bridge between physical hardware lifecycle management and modern managed services. In a "cloud‑first" world, why is having a local, hardware‑certified partner still a critical advantage for Ohio businesses?

Herold: “Cloud‑first” doesn’t mean “cloud‑only.” Every workload still touches physical infrastructure somewhere, and when something breaks, proximity matters. Having a local, certified partner means faster remediation, better accountability, and smarter design decisions that balance cloud, edge, and on‑prem resources. For Ohio businesses, especially in regulated or latency‑sensitive environments, that blend of local hands‑on expertise and modern managed services is a competitive advantage you can’t outsource effectively.

The Cybersecurity Reality

OTN: You’ve noted that Multi‑Factor Authentication (MFA) is no longer a "silver bullet" for security. What is the single biggest blind spot you see in the defensive posture of Ohio’s public and private sectors right now?

Herold: Identity sprawl. Organizations have strong tools but poor visibility into who or what actually has access. Service accounts, legacy credentials, third‑party integrations, and unattended devices often go unmonitored. Attackers don’t breach systems anymore; they log in. Without continuous identity monitoring and behavioral analytics, MFA alone just slows them down, it doesn’t stop them.

The GovTech Challenge

OTN: Public sector technology and innovation is an often overlooked part of IT, what is the most pressing "legacy debt" or infrastructure hurdle facing state and local agencies in 2026?

Herold: Unsupported systems running mission critical services. Many agencies are still operating platforms that vendors no longer patch, creating serious security and continuity risks. The challenge isn’t awareness it’s modernization without downtime. Agencies need partners who understand procurement constraints, compliance, and how to migrate incrementally without disrupting public services.

Identity & Impact

OTN: As a 100% woman‑owned business (WBENC/EDGE certified), how does that identity shape Xtek’s internal culture and your approach to community involvement in Central Ohio?

Herold: It drives intentionality. We’re deliberate about mentorship, leadership development, and creating pathways for underrepresented talent in technology. Externally, it shapes where we invest our time, supporting workforce development, education, and community organizations that strengthen Central Ohio’s tech ecosystem. Diversity isn’t a marketing point for us; it’s how we operate.

The Talent War

OTN: How is Xtek finding—or building—the next generation of technical talent right here in the Midwest?

Herold: We build it. That means hiring potential, continuous certification, and clear career paths, not just job roles. We also focus on mindset as much as skillset: curiosity, accountability, and a service mentality. The Midwest produces exceptional talent when companies are willing to invest instead of waiting for “perfect” candidates.

The Roadmap

OTN: What is the "North Star" for Xtek Partners over the next 18 months? Are you eyeing geographic expansion or a deeper dive into AI‑driven security?

Herold: Our North Star is becoming the most trusted IT partner for organizations that can’t afford failure. That includes a deeper investment in AI‑driven threat detection and identity protection, while selectively expanding where our model—and culture—add real value. Growth matters, but precision matters more.

The “Fast 5” (Lightning Round)

• One piece of legacy tech that needs to retire? Unpatched on‑prem Exchange servers
• Most underrated cybersecurity tool right now? Vulnerability assessment reviews
• Remote, Hybrid, or In‑Office for the Xtek team? Hybrid by design, In office is very valuable for those local to Columbus. 
• Favorite spot in Columbus for a business lunch? BJ's or Skyline 
• One word to describe the future of Ohio Tech? Accelerating