Resources

Client Portal

Case Study

How Gatekeeper Became a Trusted IT Partner for Serenity Place

If you want security, if you want HIPAA compliance, if you want the best, then you need to contact Gatekeeper IT.

Image

Esther Vanderwal

President - Serenity Place

From Solo Practitioner to Regional Mental Health Leader

Serenity Place began eight years ago as a solo practice led by licensed clinical social worker Esther Vanderwal. Within a year, she brought on additional staff to meet surging demand. The practice rapidly expanded from a single office to the largest mental health provider in Maryland’s Tri-County area. Today, Serenity Place employs over 40 staff members and offers care through 28 licensed clinicians.

The organization is deeply embedded in the community. They partner with the Department of Social Services and the Child Advocacy Center, offer walk-in services during community crises, and provide pro bono counseling after tragedies like school shootings or local disasters. While Serenity Place is a for-profit entity, its mission remains centered on service. As Esther explained, "We do this because people matter to us, our community matters to us. We’re not in it to get rich—we’re in it to provide a service and make a living wage while keeping the lights on."

Replacing In-House IT That Was Straining to Keep Up

As Serenity Place grew, their technology needs became more complex. For a time, they relied on an internal junior-level IT staffer, but it became clear he lacked the experience to keep pace with the organization’s requirements. “He was on salary with benefits, but when we started tracking what he was actually doing, we realized we weren’t getting what we needed,” said Vanderwal.

The decision was made to seek an outside IT provider. After a trusted recommendation, Esther met with Gatekeeper IT & Security Solutions. It was immediately clear to her that the team, led by Jeff , shared Serenity Place’s values. "My agency is faith-based, and I have to feel it’s a good fit," Esther said. “When I met with them, I just knew they were good people all the way through.”

Seamless Transition & Instant Results

The difference was apparent from the start. Gatekeeper brought structure, clarity, and expertise that immediately lifted the burden from Serenity Place’s leadership.

“They told us exactly what needed to be done,” said Vanderwal. “Jeff took over all the things that were weighing on me—and I’m not an IT specialist, I’m a therapist.”

One of the most important upgrades was the migration from Google Workspace to Microsoft Teams. Gatekeeper handled the transfer of files, systems, and configurations for all 48 employees without disrupting a single workday. “It was a huge project,” Esther recalled. “We lost no data, no services went down. It was seamless.”

Gatekeeper’s ability to anticipate problems and install preventative solutions proved equally valuable. At one point, an email was mistakenly sent that raised concerns about HIPAA compliance. Before Serenity Place could react, Gatekeeper’s built-in protections had already contained the issue. "We thought we had a problem, but their safeguards had already kicked in," Esther explained. “They had it handled before we even reached out."

A Relationship Built on Trust

What Gatekeeper delivers goes beyond technical service—it’s partnership. “They’re not just contractors,” Esther said. “They’re part of our team. They’re part of our family.”


Esther highlighted the responsiveness and reliability that define the relationship. Whether it’s provisioning new laptops, onboarding staff, or addressing off-hours issues, Gatekeeper consistently goes above and beyond. Even outside their core scope, they offer guidance and take ownership of finding solutions.


Gatekeeper also helps Serenity Place stay compliant and secure. “They help us sleep at night,” Esther said. “I trust them implicitly with my business—and that’s key.”

Replacing Salary and Overhead With Expertise and Value

Replacing the in-house IT role with Gatekeeper was not only a functional improvement—it was a financial one. “We’re paying them far less than a full-time employee with benefits,” Esther said. “And they’re more efficient, more knowledgeable, and quicker. It’s a better investment all around.”

The Microsoft Teams migration alone—a project that took roughly one month—would have been far beyond what their previous employee could have handled. “He wouldn’t have gotten it done even in a couple years,” Esther said. “Gatekeeper did it without any problems, and we hit the ground running.”

Why They Recommend Us

Esther has already referred other behavioral health professionals to Gatekeeper. Her endorsement is straightforward: “If you want security, if you want HIPAA compliance, if you want the best, then you need to contact them.”

That trust doesn’t come lightly. As Esther put it:

Image

“I trust them implicitly, and I can sleep at night knowing I’ve got them on the team.”

Esther Vanderwal

schedule an appointment

Case Study

Image

Client:

Serenity Place

Image

Industry:

Behavioral Health

Image

Interview Subject:

Esther Vanderwal, President

Image

Company Size:

40+ employees