Cork IT firm joins growing tech leader
By Liudmyla Bortok
This week brought positive news for Cork’s digital economy as Adapt IT was acquired by leading tech firm Ekco, an Irish-based managed cloud and cybersecurity provider.
This marks Ekco’s sixth acquisition in just two years, bringing its total investment in acquisitions to €57 million over that time.
Adapt IT, based in Blackrock, has been in business for more than 20 years. The company employs 37 people in Cork and supports more than 300 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across sectors such as manufacturing, retail, hospitality, legal, and finance.
With this latest deal, Ekco’s global workforce has grown to more than 1,000 employees. The company now operates from multiple locations in Ireland, including Dublin, Cork, Waterford, and Laois, as well as internationally in the UK, Netherlands, South Africa, and Malaysia.
Adapt IT brings specialist knowledge in Microsoft solutions, which will enhance Ekco’s services for modern working environments. Its customers will also gain access to Ekco’s full range of cloud, automation, and cybersecurity services.
Ekco helps organisations across Europe to manage digital risks, detect cyber threats, and secure their IT systems.
Cian Prendergast, CEO of Ekco, said: “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.”
John Levis, Managing Director of Adapt IT, added: “We are delighted to join the Ekco group, an Irish-founded business which is on an impressive growth trajectory. 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.”
This acquisition underlines Ekco’s commitment, the company said, to support growing businesses and further strengthen Cork’s role as a hub for technology and innovation.