Symantec buys MessageLabs

Symantec Corp. will acquire MessageLabs Ltd., a provider of online anti-spam software.

CA swoops on IDFocus

CA Inc. has acquired IDFocus LLC., an identity management technology provider, in a move to boost its information security capabilities.

Eagle fuels series of acquisitions

It is well known in the government that companies often turn to acquisitions as a way of accessing important markets and customers.

Infrastructure and people are critical to growth and independence

Small businesses need infrastructure and people to grow and stay independent.

Improve your company and raise its value at the same time

Being prepared to sell your company can make your company a better business whether or not you sell.

Escape the small business set-aside trap

Small businesses need to avoid the lure of set-aside contracts if they want to keep their value.

Contracting 101: Start with patience and value

Success for small businesses in the government market requires patience and understanding the value the firms bring.

Dos and don'ts of partnering with large companies

Know what to say and what not to say when forging partnerships with larger companies.

Small-business special report | Focus, partnership and know-how drive success

Skim the headlines of the Fast 50 portion of the 2008 Small-Business Special Report and you'll find insight into what it takes to succeed in the government market.

Know the problem, plan accordingly

ESCgov Inc. makes its debut on the Fast 50 list in the No. 1 spot, having recorded $46.5 million in revenue in 2007, for a five-year annual growth rate of 275.59 percent.

Relationships aid company's growth

Thomas Laskowski left the corporate world and founded Gantech Inc. in 1999 to provide information technology consulting and information technology security services.

Prove your worth as a partner

Partnership has been a central ethos for Ace Info Solutions Inc. since Jay Challa founded the business in his basement in 2001.

Earn a track record

Established in Atlanta in 1990 by four graduates of India's famed Indian Institute of Technology, Vector Consulting Inc. provides information technology workforce solutions and services. The company ranks No. 20 on the 2008 Fast 50 list, with a five-year compound annual growth rate of 102.7 percent.

Domain expertise equals success

Sentek Consulting, an 8(a) small disadvantaged business and a California certified disabled veteran business, ranks No. 33 on the 2008 Fast 50, having racked up $4.12 million in government contracts in 2007. That's a 78.91 percent growth increase over five years.

Focus lays groundwork for success

S4 Inc. specializes in information domain-based solutions and services for Defense Department clients. The Burlington, Mass.-based company reported $16.7 million in government contracting revenue last year, up from $9.15 million in 2006.

Diversity is a hallmark of 8(a)

A look at several of Washington Technology's Top 25 8(a) small businesses reveals the broad spectrum of services such companies provide the federal government.

O'Neill to run Siemens, Gores Group venture

James O'Neill will run a new joint venture created by Siemens AG and the Gores Group.

It's not just for start-ups

Since its founding in 2004, the American Small Business Coalition has grown to a membership organization that includes contracting professionals and even some large organizations.

Knowledge is power for small businesses

Know your small-business regulations. That's one of the first pieces of advice agency small-business directors give to companies trying to get a foothold in the federal market.

Small business 101

Experts offer advice and tips on the latest trends impacting small businesses in the government market.