The tech people you want to work with.
IT and security support for small businesses in the Puget Sound.
Your computers, accounts, and data, looked after by a human, reliable team.
Serving small businesses across the Puget Sound and beyond, including Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, Olympia, Puyallup, Lacey, and Federal Way.
Sound familiar?
Most people call us when something just happened.
A customer sent a security questionnaire.
Nobody on your team knows how to answer it, and the deadline is next week.
Your IT person left.
Now nobody has the passwords, and nobody is sure what is set up where.
Your insurer is asking questions.
Or a regulator, or a new client, wants to know how you protect your data.
Your IT provider is slow or confusing.
Tickets sit, answers are full of acronyms, and you leave every call feeling talked over.
If one of these sounds like your office, you are in the right place. We will sort it out one step at a time.
What we do
Three ways we help your team get on with its work.
Everyday IT support
A real person who answers when something is not working. We set up Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace the right way, or clean it up if it is already messy. We look after your laptops and phones, and we get new hires up and running in a day.
Email and accounts, laptops and phones, new hires and departures, backups, software, vendors.
Security done right
We find the real gaps and tell you which risks matter and which you can ignore, with no scare tactics. Then we build security into the tools and routines your team already uses.
Security check-ups, safer logins, scam-email protection, backup and recovery, staff training.
Compliance help
When a customer, insurer, or regulator asks about security, we help you get ready. We turn the questionnaire into clear answers and the paperwork into a short to-do list.
Questionnaires, insurance requests, written policies, vendor reviews, readiness for SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA.
How it works
Simple to start. Easy to follow.
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Step 1
A free 20-minute chat
Tell us what is going on. We listen, ask a few questions, and tell you honestly whether we can help. If it is useful, we can also start with a free IT and security check-up.
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Step 2
A simple plan with a clear price
You get a short written plan that says what we will do and what it costs. Monthly support is one simple price based on your team size. No long contracts, no upsells.
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Step 3
Ongoing support from one person
Your questions go to someone who knows your team and your setup. Real support, not a ticket queue, and nobody to start over with each time.
Pricing
Simple, transparent pricing.
One monthly price based on the size of your team. No tiers to decode and no surprise fees. Move the slider to see yours.
Teams larger than 50? Book a chat and we will put together a quote.
Your estimate
This is an estimate. We confirm your exact price on a free chat.
One-time projects, like setting up devices across your team or preparing for a SOC 2 review, are quoted as a fixed fee so you know the full cost up front.
Just need a hand for a few hours? Hourly help is $150 an hour, or $100 an hour for nonprofits.
Why Palay
You should never feel talked over.
We explain everything
If we use a term you do not know, we stop and explain it. Questions are welcome.
Local to the South Sound
We live and work here, and we understand the local businesses and organizations we serve.
One person accountable
You know who is responsible for your account, and you can reach them directly. Fast responses and clear answers.
Sized for small business
No long contracts, no upsells, and no services you do not need. We grow with you.
Women- and minority-owned
Palay Consulting is a women- and minority-owned business, proudly based in Washington.
About Vanessa
Hi, I'm Vanessa. I started Palay to make IT feel less intimidating.
I have spent more than seven years building IT and security systems from the ground up, for environmental consultancies, tech startups, and a global gaming company. Small businesses deserve high-quality IT help without enterprise pricing, and should never be talked over, oversold, or left waiting on hold.
I want to be the person you call when something feels off, when you are hiring, or when a customer asks about your security.
Palay is the Tagalog word for unhusked rice, the grain before anything is built on it. It is how I think about tech: get the foundation right from the start, and it quietly runs in the background. It also honors my family's rice-selling roots in the Philippines.
What clients say
Kind words from people we have worked with.
“Vanessa has a keen eye for details and is a solution oriented and tenacious problem solver.”
Director of Operations
“Without Vanessa's help we would not have come close to the final product.”
HR Program Manager
“She's quick to respond but equally quick to resolve — she's awesome.”
Writer & Narrative Designer
Client story
We helped a company save $30,000 in storage costs.
A company had 25+ years of digital files piling up and a storage bill that kept growing. We cleared out old file versions, set retention policies that run on their own, and built automation tailored to their needs. We also left clear documentation and held short sessions so the team understood why. The result: $30,000 saved.
Years of unmanaged data sitting in the cloud? Let us take a look at your setup.
Questions we hear a lot
Straight answers to common questions.
We're a small team. Do we really need IT help?
If your team uses email, stores customer information, or depends on computers to get work done, yes. Small teams have fewer people to notice problems, which is exactly when a little steady help matters most.
How much does it cost?
Monthly support is one simple price based on the size of your team, and compliance help is an optional add-on. One-time projects are a fixed fee, quoted up front. If you just need a few hours of help, hourly work is $150 an hour, or $100 an hour for nonprofits. Try the calculator above to see your price. No long contracts, no upsells.
Can you work with the person who already handles our IT?
Yes. Some teams have a helpful coworker or an outside provider they like. We can work alongside them, fill the gaps, or take over completely. It is your call.
What happens in the free 20-minute chat?
You tell us what is on your mind and we ask a few questions about your team and the tools you use. You leave with a clearer picture and an honest view on next steps, whether or not you work with us.
Can you guarantee we'll be fully secure or compliant?
No one can honestly promise that. What we do is help you get ready, reduce your risk, and keep clear records of what you have done, so you can answer questions from customers, insurers, and regulators with confidence.
What is managed IT support?
It means a team looks after your computers, accounts, software updates, backups, and security for one steady monthly price, and is there when something breaks. Instead of calling someone only in an emergency, you have a regular, accountable partner who already knows your setup.
Can you help us answer security questionnaires from customers or insurers?
Yes. A questionnaire from a customer or cyber insurer is one of the most common reasons people call us. We help you understand the questions, pull together what you already have in place, and close the gaps that matter most.
What areas do you serve?
We work with small businesses across the South Sound and greater Puget Sound, including Tacoma, Olympia, Puyallup, Lacey, Federal Way, Kent, Auburn, Seattle, and Bellevue. Not sure if you are in our area? Ask on a free 20-minute chat.
Let's find the right next step.
Tell us what's on your mind, whether it's a specific problem or you're still figuring out what your business needs. We'll reply with a time for a free 20-minute chat.
Rather pick a time yourself? Book on our calendar
Prefer to start on your own? Download the checklist
Loading the form. Or book a time directly.
Not ready to talk yet? How safe is your business?
A free 25-point checklist of the everyday tech basics that customers and insurers ask about. Check what's true today and see where you stand.