We are proud to announce that XL.net has been named a winner of the 2026 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®, earning recognition on both the Chicago regional list and the national list.

Announced by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR), this dual honor places XL.net among an elite group of organizations across the country that are setting the standard for workplace excellence, people-first culture, and innovative human resource practices.

For XL.net, this recognition is more than an award. As a Milwaukee IT company, we know client service starts inside the team: how people communicate, take ownership, solve problems, and support each other under pressure. That culture shapes the way we serve our clients every day.

What the Best and Brightest Recognition Means

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® program is one of the most respected workplace recognition platforms in the United States. With more than 25 years of experience identifying top workplaces, NABR evaluates applicants through an independent research firm that scores companies across a rigorous set of categories, including:

• Compensation, Benefits, and Employee Solutions

• Creative Wellness and Wellbeing Solutions

• Employee Enrichment, Engagement, and Retention

• Employee Education and Development

• Recruitment and Selection

• Employee Achievement and Recognition

• Communication and Shared Vision

• Civility and Inclusion

• Work-Life Blend

• Community Initiatives and Corporate Responsibility

• Leadership, Strategy, and Company Performance

The program operates on a roughly ten-to-one ratio of applicants to winners, meaning only the most innovative and intentional workplaces receive recognition. Earning a place on the Chicago regional list is a meaningful achievement on its own. Earning a place on the national list at the same time is a distinction reserved for a smaller circle of organizations whose people practices stand out at the highest level.

As Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO of NABR and the Best and Brightest Programs, shared in the official announcement, “these companies exemplify the power of a people-first culture. Their commitment to creating exceptional workplaces has established them as role models of excellence nationwide.”

Why This Recognition Matters to XL.net

At XL.net, we have always believed that great service to clients begins with a great experience for the people delivering it. Managed IT is a relationship-driven business. When our team members feel supported, challenged, and invested in, our clients feel the difference in every interaction, from the technician answering a 2 a.m. call to the XL Tech Officer guiding a leadership team through a long-term technology roadmap.

This recognition validates the culture we have intentionally built around three core ideas:

People come first: We invest in our team because they are the reason our clients trust us. From ongoing professional development to a healthy work-life blend, we work hard to make XL.net a place where talented people can grow throughout their careers.

Continuous learning is non-negotiable: Our team holds more than 70 technology certifications and adds new ones every quarter. This is only possible in an environment that prioritizes education, curiosity, and the time and resources needed to keep growing.

Excellence is a shared mission: Whether it is achieving our ISO 27001 cybersecurity certification, maintaining a 97.09% client satisfaction rating, or answering 99.3% of calls live, our standards are built and held by every person on the team.

How a People-First Culture Translates to Better IT Outcomes

The link between workplace culture and service quality is not abstract. It shows up in measurable ways for our clients every single day.

When you build a workplace where engineers, technicians, and analysts are deeply engaged with their work, you get a different kind of managed service provider. You get a team that:

• Resolves issues before they become problems: Our proactive monthly technology audit and alignment process is built on the kind of attention to detail that only an engaged team can sustain. This process is how we reduce IT issues by 79.8% and improve productivity by at least 7% for the businesses we support.

• Picks up the phone and actually solves the problem: Live human support is only as good as the humans answering the call. Our 99% first-call resolution rate is the direct result of a team that knows their craft, supports one another, and stays for the long term.

• Acts as a true business partner: Every client is paired with a dedicated XL Tech Officer and has access to system analysts who meet with them monthly. That kind of consistency only exists in companies where people choose to stay and grow.

• Holds the highest standards in cybersecurity: Our ISO 27001 certification, achieved in June 2022 and held by very few MSPs in Chicago, was the result of a coordinated, company-wide commitment. That is what a strong culture makes possible.

Explore Our People And IT Insights

A Thank You to Our Team and Our Clients

This recognition belongs first to the XL.net team. Every certification earned, every late-night ticket resolved, every monthly audit completed, every strategic conversation with a client leadership team, it is all the product of people who care deeply about doing excellent work.

We also want to thank our clients. The trust you place in us is what makes the work meaningful. Your partnership is what gives our team the opportunity to grow, learn, and pursue mastery in their craft.

Being recognized as one of the 2026 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in both Chicago and the Nation is a milestone we will carry forward. It is also a renewed commitment to our people, to our clients, and to the standard of excellence we have set for ourselves.

Ready to Partner with a Top-tier IT Company in Milwaukee

If you are a small-to-medium-sized organization in the greater Chicagoland area looking for a managed IT partner with a proactive approach, a deeply engaged team, and a culture built for the long haul, we would love to talk with a trusted Milwaukee IT firm.