Blue Crystal Solutions, a proudly 100% Australian-owned and Adelaide-made IT Managed Services and Consulting Company, is turning 20 this August. From its modest beginnings in a Port Adelaide loungeroom, the company has grown into a national powerhouse with its headquarters in Adelaide and delivering to clients in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Canberra, London, Singapore and New Zealand.
Founded in 2004 by South Australian Managing Director Vito Rinaldi, Blue Crystal Solutions has navigated the ever-changing IT landscape with resilience and innovation. Initially focused on Oracle Database Management, the company first expanded to manage all varieties of databases, then onto managing Operating Systems and Cloud, along with Application support and development services including Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) markets. Blue Crystal Solutions are now expert navigators of AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, Linux & Windows technologies, with a full complement of local consultants to support their clients in overcoming their business change and adapting to and thriving in a world of constant change.
Reflecting on the journey, Rinaldi recalls leaving his role as a Database Administrator and MIT Manager at EDS to start Blue Crystal Solutions with then-business partner Cathryn Ayliffe from the living room of his house. “Celebrating 20 years is a significant milestone,” said Rinaldi. “It highlights our dedication to staying relevant and reliable in an industry that never stands still. We are proud to be an Australian company that not only supports businesses nationwide with tailored IT solutions that enhance security, efficiency, and growth but also supports our community with jobs of the future.”
Vito serves as a Board Director for the Australian Industry Information Association (AIIA), a peak representative body and advocacy group for those in the digital ecosystem. His passion for digital transformation and advocacy for AIIA reach not only large multinationals but also small to medium organisations punching above their weight. This aligns perfectly with this mission to represent small to medium-sized organisations in Local, State, and Federal Governments, and as a result, Vito has successfully influenced the direction of ICT in Australia.
His passion for supporting his community extends beyond IT. As a father of three daughters, Rinaldi is particularly passionate about supporting women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Blue Crystal Solutions is committed to fostering an inclusive environment that embraces diversity, especially around encouraging young women to pursue careers in technology, striving to bridge the gender gap in the industry. “Supporting my community with career paths in STEM is not just a professional commitment for me; it’s personal. I want my daughters and all young women to see technology as 100% a field where they can thrive and make significant contributions. Australia is a powerhouse of innovation regarding IT breakthroughs, and Adelaide has been pivotal in driving that home truth.”
What adds a special touch to Blue Crystal Solutions’ story is that their Adelaide headquarters is housed in a building that once belonged to the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA Australia). The YWCA is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to the empowerment, leadership, and rights of women and girls in over 100 countries. This legacy aligns perfectly with Blue Crystal Solutions’ commitment to fostering local talent and encouraging women in STEM.
“The reason why I chose IT so many years ago, and why I love IT, is because it is an industry where I can throw a pebble at the beach of Semaphore and cause a tidal wave in Japan,” Vito Rinaldi, Managing Director
Blue Crystal Solutions was a finalist in the 2023 Impact Awards, a platform that recognises South Australian-headquartered companies that positively impact their industry and community through innovative and sustainable practices. Blue Crystal Solutions received a Business Growth Scholarship from the Australian Centre for Business Growth at the University of South Australia.
Looking ahead, Blue Crystal Solutions is excited about the future. The company plans to continue innovating and expanding its service offerings, focusing on emerging Cloud technologies and sustainable and secure IT solutions whilst staying the market leader in Database Management. “Our goal is to stay at the forefront of the industry, embracing new technologies and methodologies that will help our clients succeed and be safe in an increasingly digital world,” said Rinaldi. “We love what we do. With two decades in the industry, I’m proud to say that we’re good at it, and our customers know us for delivering what we promise. So, we look forward to continuing to do just that,” Rinaldi said.
One of the secrets to Blue Crystal Solutions’ success is its award-winning BlueDiamond platform. This outage protection platform ensures clients’ operations are shielded from unexpected interruptions by alerting our technical experts to act before incidents, reinforcing our reputation for reliability and excellence. Automation enables Blue Crystal Solutions to keep their best-of-breed managed services affordable for their client base, providing them with peace of mind that their critical business systems are being monitored carefully and constantly.
With security at the forefront of everything Blue Crystal Solutions does, they have the unique ability to operate from the database level up—a niche service that not many local organisations can offer. They regularly work with cyber teams to improve an organisation’s security posture to deliver their recommendations.
Additionally, Vito is currently enrolled at Harvard Business School on the Owner/President Management (OPM) course – a course centred around building, leading, and growing successful businesses. “Enrolling in the OPM program at Harvard Business School has been one of the most invaluable experiences for me and Blue Crystal Solutions. A kickstart was provided by the Industry Leaders program 6 years ago. I am honoured to represent Australia amongst the like-minded global leaders who make up my course classmates. Learning through dynamic discussions has been exceptional, and bringing these learnings back to drive further success at Blue Crystal Solutions has been extremely rewarding,” shared Rinaldi. Vito is set to graduate from the course in 2025.
Blue Crystal Solutions remains committed to its clients’ success, leveraging a powerful ecosystem of technology partners to provide best-of-breed services and solutions.
For more information about Blue Crystal Solutions and their 20-year journey, visit bluecrystal.com.au/our-history
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About Blue Crystal Solutions
Blue Crystal Solutions is an IT-managed services and Consulting company that gives organisations the technology they need to maximise security, efficiency, productivity, and growth. They provide managed services and consultancy for database, cloud, application, and infrastructure services to clients in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Canberra, London, Singapore and New Zealand. In IT, it’s all about the numbers, so Blue Crystal Solutions’ are:
- 1,000’s of databases, servers, and applications under support
- 60+ contracts actively in management
- 30+ Cloud Projects delivered
- Over 60 staff across the country
- Excellent Customer Satisfaction NPS +67
- 60+ staff in 5 locations across Australia
- 3 major technology partners
Media Features
- AiiA Connector Magazine 2024 From Humble Beginnings in IT to Harvard: Blue Crystal Solutions turns 20.
- CRN Australia: Adelaide’s Blue Crystal Solutions celebrates two decades in business
