Cloud Direct, the Bath-based cloud services firm, has hit the takeover trail for the third time in just over a year as it accelerates its growth.
The takeover of London-based managed service provider (MSP) Redblade gives Cloud Direct customers access to an increased level of technical expertise.
Cloud Direct sees this as strategically important at a time when businesses are looking to move more of their critical IT to the cloud, such as their business applications.
Its three acquisitions mean that Cloud Direct has now nearly tripled its 2014 staff numbers to more than 110 people.
The latest deal – financial details of which have not been disclosed – means Cloud Direct customers will benefit from Redblade’s highly technical professionals who can design, build and manage business critical solutions for high performance, agility and security.
At the same time, Redblade’s existing customers will benefit from Cloud Direct’s wide range of cloud IT solutions and services, which support business productivity, growth and security.
Cloud Direct’s packaged cloud services provide what it calls “the antidote to traditional IT” – they free-up businesses to compete and grow by driving better business continuity, productivity and infrastructure delivery.
Since 2003, Cloud Direct has helped 4,000 organisations move to the cloud.
Cloud Direct CEO and founder Brett Raynes said: “We’re really excited about bringing Redblade on board.
“Our focus for the coming months will be on integrating people, systems and processes. They’re a great bunch of people, who have some very impressive technical skills. We can now take our customers on that next, critical step in their cloud journey.”
Redblade technical director Mark Gold added: “The opportunities this creates for our people and customers is fantastic.
“A particular draw is Cloud Direct’s advanced, direct gold partner status with Microsoft – customers immediately benefit from the speed and access this allows. We’re really excited about the future.”
Last year Cloud Direct received £2.74m from funders including reputed technology investors including Nigel Wray, Rob Giles and Jamie Brooke, as well as Santander Bank, to fund its ambitious growth.
Cloud Direct acquired Datel Business Systems in June last year so it could offer customers in regulated industries highly secure and resilient VMware-based hosted, private cloud servers via a high-speed WAN connection.
Six months later it took over ihotdesk to add traditional on-premises IT support to its pure cloud portfolio.
