CloudScale365 recognizes that any organization’s strength lies in its leadership’s expertise and strategic foresight. In an exclusive blog series, we will present in-depth conversations with the key executives steering CloudScale365 toward continued excellence in the IT services landscape.

Through these interviews, readers and customers will better understand our leadership principles, industry knowledge, and forward-thinking approaches that define our commitment to delivering exceptional value and innovation. Each interview will offer a unique perspective on how CloudScale365 addresses modern businesses’ complex challenges, focusing on enhancing operational efficiency, security, and customer satisfaction.

 

Meet Greg Hough – Chief Operating Officer at CloudScale365

Greg Hough is a network and business executive with a strong focus on network architecture and design tailored to meet the evolving needs of CloudScale365’s diverse client base. With over 20 years of experience in the electronics and telecommunications industries, coupled with a deep expertise in business development, he plays a critical role in shaping the company’s strategic direction and ensuring operational excellence.

Before joining CloudScale365, Greg Hough served as the CEO of Zthernet, where he successfully transformed the organization from a managed services provider (MSP) into a leading infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) provider. In July 2024, CloudScale365 acquired Zthernet, its sixth acquisition since 2021, expanding the company’s reach into key Dallas and Houston regional markets.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Greg Hough has extensive experience, both in the military and the private sector, which brings invaluable insight and leadership to CloudScale365 as the company continues to innovate and deliver top-tier IT solutions for its clients.

 

Interviewer: Thank you for joining us today, Greg. Can you tell us about your role at CloudScale365 and when you joined the company?

Greg Hough: I joined CloudScale365 in May 2024, following the acquisition of Zthernet, where I was the CEO. I currently serve as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at CloudScale365. My responsibilities cover all operations, engineering, and support across our divisions. I’m also involved in product development and play a key role in sales cycle discussions and solutions architecture. My background in solutions architecture plays a big role in ensuring our clients receive tailored, high-performing solutions.

 

Interviewer: Could you elaborate on the acquisition of Zethernet? Why was this a strategic move for CloudScale365?

Greg Hough: Zthernet was primarily an Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) provider, although we branded ourselves as a managed service provider (MSP). The acquisition allowed CloudScale365 to enhance its capabilities in delivering fully managed IT infrastructures to small and medium businesses. At Zthernet, we worked with some of the largest electronic medical record (EMR) providers globally—building dedicated private networks and custom IT solutions for them. The results were significant: by controlling the network, we reduced trouble tickets by 85%, improving performance and security for critical applications. This experience aligned perfectly with CloudScale365’s mission to provide high-performance, secure solutions for clients across various industries.

 

Interviewer: That’s an impressive impact. What would you say is the primary focus of your role as COO at CloudScale365?

Greg Hough: My main focus is on service levels and the customer experience. At CloudScale365, we see ourselves as an IT company and a service company. It’s critical that we attract and retain the best talent to solve customer problems efficiently. However, not all issues require highly specialized engineers—about 95% of customer issues can be handled by responsive, professional support staff. My role involves ensuring that we have the right balance between engineering and customer service, keeping costs low while maintaining high service levels.

 

Interviewer: What are the most common challenges CloudScale365 helps its customers overcome?

Greg Hough: One of the biggest challenges is availability. We can have the best technicians in the world, but if the customer can’t reach us when they need help, it doesn’t matter. Our job is to ensure that customers can quickly and easily report issues through chat, phone, or email and get fast resolutions. Whether it’s a server issue, network outage, or even a simple password reset, the impact on the customer is the same—they can’t operate. It’s our responsibility to handle the problem quickly and efficiently, without making them wait for specialized engineers unless absolutely necessary.

 

Interviewer: Could you highlight the key services CloudScale365 offers to the U.S. market?

Greg Hough: Our core services include comprehensive IT support, with a strong focus on proactive monitoring and security. Each client has different critical applications, so our approach is tailored to their specific needs. For example, many of our healthcare clients rely heavily on fax services for receiving referrals due to HIPAA regulations. While it may seem outdated, it’s still the most secure method for transmitting patient information. On the other hand, other clients may have entirely different priorities, such as voice or data security. Our job is to understand their critical applications, document them, and ensure we’re providing the necessary infrastructure to keep those systems running smoothly.

 

Interviewer: While healthcare seems to be a significant focus, what other industries does CloudScale365 serve?

Greg Hough: We serve a wide range of industries, though healthcare is one of our largest sectors due to the complexity of EMR systems and the unbeatable expertise we have there. Any business that relies on a critical application, whether it’s a point-of-sale system or financial software, can benefit from our services. Especially in today’s world, with businesses operating across multiple locations and remote work becoming the norm, companies need reliable, secure IT infrastructures. That’s where CloudScale 365 adds value, by providing hosting and IT support that ensures these systems perform consistently, no matter where the user is located.

 

Interviewer: Looking ahead, what are the biggest IT trends that businesses need to focus on?

Greg Hough: The demand for IT expertise is growing, and the skill cycle is becoming shorter. Technologies like Office 365, for instance, have evolved rapidly, requiring new skill sets and security measures. Businesses will need to adapt to faster cycles of change in both technology and security. We’re also seeing greater integration between larger enterprises and the smaller businesses they work with. Data security and seamless data exchange will be critical as industries continue to digitalize. CloudScale365 is focused on staying ahead of these changes, ensuring that our clients are secure and that they can adapt quickly to evolving technologies.

 

Interviewer: Talent retention of great IT talent is a major issue for many companies. How does CloudScale365 offer an alternative of internal IT teams?

Greg Hough: One of the ways we stand out as a managed service provider is by documenting all of our clients’ critical applications, systems, and processes. This ensures that any of our 60 technicians can step in when needed. For small businesses that rely on a single IT person, it can be a challenge when that person leaves or becomes unavailable. In those situations, knowledge can be lost, and operations can be disrupted. Our approach ensures that no matter who is on the job, we have the expertise and documentation to keep things running smoothly.

 

Interviewer: What makes CloudScale365 unique in the competitive IT services landscape?

Greg Hough: Our commitment to providing a personalized, high-quality customer experience sets us apart. We don’t just solve IT problems—we help businesses improve their overall operations by offering secure, scalable, and tailored solutions. Whether it’s healthcare, retail, or any other industry, we take the time to understand our clients’ critical applications and ensure they can operate smoothly and securely.

 

Interviewer: On a personal note, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Greg Hough: I’m a father of four, so free time is hard to come by! Most of my time is spent at my kids’ sporting events and activities. Like many of our clients, I understand the importance of balancing work with family time. On the professional side, I spend a lot of time staying up to date with developments in IT and security. I’m particularly interested in how AI is impacting the industry, both in terms of potential benefits and security risks. AI is a tool that can be used for good, but we’re also seeing it used for malicious purposes, and it’s something we’re constantly working to defend against.