Ekco acquisition of Adapt IT is Dublin tech firm’s sixth deal in two years.
Dublin-based managed service provider Ekco has acquired Adapt IT, a Cork-headquartered IT services company, marking the sixth acquisition in the company’s two-year expansion drive that has now totaled €57m in investment.
The deal brings Ekco’s global workforce to more than 1,000 employees and adds Cork as the company’s seventh Irish location.
“The acquisition of Adapt IT is the latest move in our aggressive expansion strategy which targets key acquisitions combined with sustained business growth”
Founded more than 20 years ago, Adapt IT employs 37 people and serves approximately 300 customers across manufacturing, retail, hospitality, legal, and finance sectors.
Scaling enterprise business
Ekco, recognised as a Deloitte Fast 50 company, positions itself as a security-first managed service provider serving clients across Europe and beyond.
The business now operates from three Dublin sites plus locations in Cork, Waterford, and Laois, with additional offices across the UK, Netherlands, South Africa, and Malaysia.
It said that the latest acquisition strengthens Ekco’s presence in Ireland’s small-and-medium enterprise market and adds Microsoft solutions expertise to its service portfolio.
“The acquisition of Adapt IT is the latest move in our aggressive expansion strategy which targets key acquisitions combined with sustained business growth,” said Cian Prendergast, CEO at Ekco MSP.
“This strategy reflects an investment in innovation that will make us in Ekco, and our acquired companies, stronger as a result. We’re building a modern, security-first MSP that helps ambitious businesses to operate with confidence and resilience.”
Prendergast emphasised the strategic value of the Cork location: “Adapt IT, like us, is a cloud-first business that reflects our culture and has had tremendous success in building a nationwide customer base.
“By bringing our two companies together, we will enhance our regional footprint in a location where we see vast opportunities for our expansion, while also combining our knowledge and services to pioneer the demands of the modern enterprise. It strengthens our position as the go-to IT partner for businesses who want the reliability of a national partner with the responsiveness of a local team.”
The acquisition provides Adapt IT’s customers access to Ekco’s advanced cloud services, automation capabilities, and cybersecurity offerings including security information and event management (SIEM), security operations centers (SOC), and backup services. The company also offers compliance services to help businesses navigate evolving cybersecurity regulations.
John Levis, managing director of Adapt IT, welcomed the partnership: “We are delighted to join the Ekco group, an Irish-founded business which is on an impressive growth trajectory. This will enable us to continue to deliver top-tier services to businesses, backed up by the skills and resources of a larger group.
“We are seeing that even smaller businesses are seeking enterprise-grade IT and cybersecurity solutions – Ekco’s expertise will help us to meet this growing demand as the volume and complexity of cyber threats continues to rise.”
The acquisition continues Ekco’s recent expansion activity. Earlier this year, the company purchased Predatech, a UK-based cybersecurity consultancy. In 2024, it acquired UK legal IT specialist CTS, while 2023 saw the addition of managed service providers Radius and Bluecube, along with cloud migration and cybersecurity specialist iSystems.
Image at top: John Levis, managing director, Adapt IT and Cian Prendergast, CEO, Ekco
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