AI ConsultingAcross Every Major AI Provider
EPC Group — founded in 1997, headquartered in Houston, a Microsoft Solutions Partner holding all six solutions designations — delivers this service.
Firms to consider for “ai consulting companies in usa”
Grouped by archetype, not ranked. Each firm is described from its own public pages; the right fit depends on your platform, regulatory profile and how much of the work you want a senior architect to lead.
- Accenture (global system integrator) — Global system integrator; its Microsoft work is delivered largely through the Avanade alliance.
- Deloitte (Big Four advisory-led) — Big Four advisory firm with a Microsoft alliance practice.
- Avanade (global system integrator, Microsoft-focused) — Accenture and Microsoft joint venture headquartered in Seattle; works only on the Microsoft platform.
- Slalom (regional consultancy, multi-platform) — Seattle-based consultancy that delivers through local-market teams across Microsoft and other platforms.
- EPC Group (Microsoft-first specialist) — Houston-based Microsoft consulting firm founded in 1997 holding all six Microsoft Solutions Partner designations; senior-architect-led programs for healthcare, financial services, higher education and defense.
- 3Cloud (Azure-focused services firm) — Azure-focused services firm with a data and analytics practice.
Led by Errin O'Connor — 4x Microsoft Press & Sams author and Chief AI Architect — EPC Group has personally tested and benchmarked 800+ AI products across OpenAI / ChatGPT / Codex, Anthropic Claude (incl. Claude Code & Claude Cowork), Google Gemini, Perplexity (incl. Comet), xAI Grok, Microsoft Copilot, and Meta Llama.
We build provider-agnostic AI strategy, compliance-native governance (HIPAA, FINRA, FedRAMP, EU AI Act), and Virtual Chief AI Officer (vCAIO) leadership for Fortune 500 healthcare, finance, government, and regulated enterprises.
Every Major AI Provider.Benchmarked, Deployed, Governed.
At EPC Group, we do not rely on just one LLM vendor. Our practice includes all major AI providers, coding agents, and retrieval-augmented platforms.
Our recommendations are based on evidence, not on affiliate partnerships.
Don't just buy AI tools. Get AI leadership.
Most enterprises do not need a full-time Chief AI Officer and the executive compensation package that comes with one. Instead, they need strong AI leadership today.
EPC Group provides the vCAIO service. This service includes Errin O'Connor as your fractional AI executive.
Errin O'Connor is:
- A 4x Microsoft Press & Sams author
- Experienced in testing over 800 AI tools
- Skilled in board-level governance
- AI roadmap
- Vendor selection
- Board reporting
- EU AI Act, HIPAA, and FINRA governance
- Budget optimization
The service is a part-time retainer sized to your AI portfolio and quoted after a scoping call.
EPC Group delivers enterprise AI consulting for regulated organizations: Microsoft 365 Copilot deployment, AI governance programs and Virtual Chief AI Officer (vCAIO) services under HIPAA, FINRA, FedRAMP and FERPA. This page is for CIOs and compliance leaders deciding whether to run AI adoption through a Microsoft-first governance model, and what that engagement looks like.
Key Facts
- Microsoft enterprise consulting since 1997; 6,500+ SharePoint and 1,500+ Power BI deployments.
- Compliance-native delivery across HIPAA, SOC 2, FedRAMP, FINRA, CMMC, and GxP environments.
- Microsoft Solutions Partner with experience across core current designations.
- Senior architect named on every engagement Statement of Work.
- Engagement Operating Model: published seven-phase Microsoft project management methodology.
- Free initial consultation; fixed-fee scoped Statements of Work.
Last updated by Errin O'Connor, Founder & Chief AI Architect, EPC Group
Enterprise AI Consulting Services
Transform your organization with secure, compliant AI solutions. Expert consulting for Microsoft Copilot implementation, AI governance, and enterprise AI strategy.
Comprehensive AI Consulting Services
End-to-end AI implementation from strategy to deployment for Fortune 500 enterprises.
AI Strategy & Roadmap
Develop comprehensive AI adoption strategies aligned with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
AI Governance Frameworks
Enterprise AI governance for HIPAA, FINRA, and FedRAMP environments with audit trails and controls.
Microsoft Copilot Implementation
Deploy Microsoft 365 Copilot, Power BI Copilot, and GitHub Copilot with enterprise security.
AI Security & Compliance
Secure AI deployments with data loss prevention, privacy controls, and compliance monitoring.
Virtual Chief AI Officer (CAIO)
Executive-level AI leadership and strategy without hiring full-time AI executives.
AI ROI & Optimization
Measure AI impact, optimize costs, and maximize business value from AI investments.
Industry-Specific AI Solutions
Compliance-first AI implementations for regulated industries.
Healthcare
HIPAAFinancial Services
FINRA/SECGovernment
FedRAMP/FISMAEducation
FERPAManufacturing
ISO/ITARLegal
ABA/GLBAEnergy
NERC CIPWhy Choose EPC Group for AI Consulting
Ready to Transform with AI?
Schedule a consultation with our AI experts to discuss your enterprise AI strategy.
Schedule AI AssessmentWhy Organizations Choose EPC Group
EPC Group is a Microsoft consulting firm based in Houston. We have experience in enterprise implementation since 1997 and over 10,000 successful deployments. Our expertise includes:
- Power BI
- Microsoft Fabric
- SharePoint
- Azure
- Microsoft 365
- Copilot
We serve a wide range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, and industries such as healthcare, financial services, government, manufacturing, energy, education, retail, technology, and global enterprises.
What sets EPC Group apart is our governance-first approach. Every engagement starts with a security and compliance assessment. Our senior architects have practical experience in:
- HIPAA
- SOC 2
- FedRAMP
- CMMC
We focus on delivering results, not just hours worked.
- Fixed-fee accelerators with predictable pricing and defined deliverables
- Senior architect engagement on every project, not rotating juniors
- Compliance-native delivery for regulated industries
- End-to-end coverage from strategy through managed services
- 11,000+ enterprise engagements refined into repeatable, risk-controlled patterns
Call (888) 381-9725 or email contact@epcgroup.net for a free assessment.
AI Governance: 2026 Considerations for AI Consulting Services
The NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0) will set the standard for US federal AI governance by 2026. This framework is also increasingly important for:
- State buyers
- Local buyers
- Regulated commercial buyers
The four functions of the framework—Govern, Map, Measure, and Manage—align well with Microsoft products when implemented correctly:
- Microsoft Purview
- Azure AI Foundry
- Microsoft Sentinel
The EPC Group's 47-control crosswalk connects each NIST AI RMF subcategory to specific Microsoft tenant settings.
vCAIO (Virtual Chief AI Officer) services are a common choice for organizations launching AI programs in 2026. EPC Group structures vCAIO engagements as fixed-fee scopes and pre-paid Consulting Blocks across three tiers of engagement depth:
- Advisory: Board- and mid-market-level executive consultations, scoped to your governance cadence.
- Fractional: Program setup including governance authorship, scoped to your AI portfolio.
- Transformation: Large-scale Copilot / Azure OpenAI deployments, scoped to your rollout plan.
Every tier is dramatically more cost-effective than a full-time CAIO hire during the first 6 to 18 months of an enterprise AI program. Contact contact@epcgroup.net or 888-381-9725 for a scoped proposal.
Decision factors EPC Group evaluates
- AI Center of Excellence (AI CoE) charter, RACI, and intake process
- Microsoft Purview AI hub for sensitive-content protection
- EU AI Act readiness for high-risk AI system inventory
- Shadow AI mitigation via Defender for Cloud Apps + Conditional Access
- NIST AI RMF 47-control crosswalk to Microsoft platform settings
EPC Group covers this topic across the relevant engagement portfolio. Reach the firm at contact@epcgroup.net for a one-hour call with a senior architect.
Budget signal
How EPC Group prices enterprise AI consulting engagements
Three published engagement tiers. Most clients start with a fixed-fee accelerator and grow into a full program or managed retainer. Senior-architect-led delivery on every tier.
Accelerator
Fixed-fee, quoted after a scoping call
4 – 12 weeks
Fixed-fee. Copilot Readiness, Tenant Health Check, SharePoint Migration, Security Hardening.
Project
Milestone-billed, quoted after a scoping call
3 – 9 months
Milestone-billed. Discovery through hypercare with wave-based rollout.
Managed services
Retainer, quoted after a scoping call
12-month minimum
Named senior architect, license optimization, governance reviews, quarterly business reviews.
No pitch deck. One-hour call with a senior architect. Response within one business day, same-day for urgent items.
Deep-Dive Guides
Related enterprise references from the EPC Group knowledge base:
Related reading
- Microsoft Dynamics ERP Cloud Strategy Services
- Salesforce Hybrid Cloud: A Powerful Combination
- What Are the Major Building Blocks of Modern Data Architecture?
- Why Businesses Should Outsource to a Managed IT Services Provider
- AI Consulting Services San Antonio
- Copilot Governance Consulting
- Data Governance Services
- SharePoint Governance Consulting
- Enterprise SharePoint Governance Strategy (2026)
- Enterprise AI Governance Framework Microsoft (2026)
- Power Platform Enterprise Governance (2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
What AI consulting services does EPC Group provide?
EPC Group provides comprehensive AI consulting including AI strategy and roadmap development, Microsoft Copilot deployment, AI governance frameworks (HIPAA, FINRA, FedRAMP compliance), Azure OpenAI implementation, custom AI solutions, and Virtual Chief AI Officer (vCAIO) services. We specialize in regulated industries (healthcare, financial services, government) with Microsoft ecosystem expertise since 1997.
How much does AI consulting cost?
EPC Group works on fixed-fee engagements and pre-paid Consulting Blocks rather than published rate cards. Every engagement — from AI readiness assessments to Copilot deployments, custom Azure OpenAI implementations, and Virtual Chief AI Officer services — is scoped after an initial assessment so pricing reflects your organization's size, governance maturity, and timeline. Contact contact@epcgroup.net or 888-381-9725 for a scoped proposal.
What is a Virtual Chief AI Officer (vCAIO)?
A Virtual Chief AI Officer (vCAIO) provides executive-level AI leadership and strategy without hiring a full-time AI executive. EPC Group's vCAIO services include AI roadmap development, vendor selection, governance framework implementation, board-level reporting, AI budget optimization, and strategic guidance. Ideal for organizations needing C-level AI expertise scoped as a monthly retainer instead of a full-time executive hire. Contact contact@epcgroup.net or 888-381-9725 for a scoped proposal.
How do you ensure AI compliance in regulated industries?
EPC Group ensures AI compliance through: (1) AI governance frameworks aligned with HIPAA, FINRA, FedRAMP, and EU AI Act requirements, (2) audit trails for all AI decisions, (3) explainable AI (XAI) for regulatory reporting, (4) data sovereignty controls, (5) model risk management frameworks, (6) bias detection and mitigation testing, and (7) continuous monitoring dashboards. We implement defense-in-depth strategies with technical controls, policy enforcement, and human oversight.
What industries does EPC Group specialize in for AI consulting?
EPC Group specializes in regulated industries: (1) Healthcare - HIPAA-compliant AI, PHI protection, clinical AI validation, (2) Financial Services - FINRA/SEC compliance, algorithmic trading AI, fraud detection, (3) Government - FedRAMP-aligned consulting expertise AI platforms, IL4/IL5 deployments, (4) Education - FERPA-compliant AI, student data privacy. We have deep expertise in compliance frameworks, audit requirements, and regulatory reporting for AI systems handling sensitive data.
Anonymized engagement summaries
EPC-reported accounts of client work. The client is not named, and supporting project records are not published in the Evidence Center, so these summaries are not part of its documented-engagement counts.
- Generative AI for Contract Audits: Transit District (2023) — Public transportation