Ekco harbours ambition to be the leading security-first cloud service provider in Europe.
Irish cybersecurity and cloud player Ekco has acquired Irish tech firm Unity Technology Solutions for an undisclosed sum.
The deal will take Ekco’s annual revenue to €105m and staff numbers to just over 500 across Ireland, the UK and the Netherlands. Of that number, almost 400 are highly-specialised cybersecurity and cloud service engineers.
“Our strategy of acquiring highly-specialised cybersecurity and cloud service providers will continue”
Over 300 people are now employed at five locations across Dublin and Cork.
Unity of purpose
Unity is a well-established and successful managed cloud services provider, specialising in cybersecurity, infrastructure, applications and identity management.
With offices in Dublin and Cork and staff of 80, Unity has a particularly strong Microsoft practice and a high profile customer base that includes organisations such as Musgrave Group, SEAI, Sherry FitzGerald, the Residential Tenancies Board and Vodafone.
This latest acquisition by Ekco is a significant milestone and brings Ekco one step closer to its goal of becoming the leading security-first, cloud service provider in Europe.
It also enhances Ekco’s service portfolio with the addition of Microsoft’s full technology stack and offers Irish and European customers a strong value proposition across secure public and private cloud, backup and disaster recovery as well as a comprehensive suite of cybersecurity solutions.
“Unity is a natural fit for Ekco and complements our commitment of helping organisations make the transition to secure cloud in a way that strengthens their business and accelerates growth,” said Ekco CEO Eoin Blacklock.
“We’re ambitious for the new Ekco and look forward to bringing our clients the business benefits of our combined investment and technology innovation.”
Unity was established in 2011 as a full IT service provider and one of Ireland’s best-known enterprise technology brands. Unity acquired IT Force Limited in 2020.
“Ekco shares our customer-centric business philosophy, which has been a key driver in our success,” said David Hargaden, CEO of Unity. “I look forward to introducing Unity’s customers to the full portfolio of Ekco’s cybersecurity services and to joining the Ekco senior leadership team.”
Ekco has completed a number of other Irish acquisitions over the past year. Most recently, Ekco acquired cybersecurity services provider, Kontex Security Limited and with it a staff of 60 technology professionals. Prior to this, Ekco acquired Ward Solutions, one of Ireland’s most well-respected cybersecurity consultancies.
Ekco has successfully completed three funding rounds, the most recent of which was €20.25 million closed within the last year.
“Our strategy of acquiring highly-specialised cybersecurity and cloud service providers will continue,” explained Blacklock. “We look for organisations with teams of highly-skilled technology professionals that have the same DNA as us and share our business ethos of providing a local, personal service that large-scale providers can’t.”
Main image: Ekco CEO Eoin Blacklock
