Decades of Digital Defense

Eric Near

Thoughtful Leader. Seasoned Advisor. Perpetual Student of Emotional Intelligence.

For over 25 years, I've been on the front lines of technology, turning complex challenges into strategic advantages. My career started in the MSP world, where I spent 12 years doing the work directly: managing client infrastructure, owning relationships, and learning what accountability actually looks like when you're the one who gets the call at 2am. From there, my path moved through Network Consulting and Infrastructure Engineering into Compliance Leadership and Cyber Liability, forging a comprehensive, 360-degree understanding of the IT landscape.

That breadth of experience is what makes Nearest Solutions different. I don't just speak the language of IT (I speak the language of business risk, executive accountability, and organizational trust). I've sat in the technical chair and the leadership chair, and I bring both perspectives to every engagement.

Most recently, I served as Lead Advisor for Cyber Liability at Galactic Advisors, where I oversaw compliance across 30+ frameworks for a partner base of 2,000 Managed Service Providers. During that time I successfully guided Galactic Advisors through two SOC 2 Type II audits (giving those 2,000 MSPs and their customers the verified assurance that the platform supporting their compliance programs met rigorous, independently-audited security standards). I also grew our policy library from 60 to over 120 documents (turning ambiguous frameworks into practical, enforceable governance). That experience is the direct foundation for Nearest Solutions' SOC 2 readiness and audit support engagements.

My approach is grounded in emotional intelligence: understanding that cybersecurity is ultimately about people (the people who build systems, the people who use them, and the people who lead organizations through uncertainty). That's why I focus on bridging IT execution with executive accountability, ensuring your leadership team and your technical team are aligned, informed, and prepared.