Hybrid cloud tech company Converge Technology Solutions (CTS.V) has been on a considerable M&A spree since October 2017, with its latest acquisition being Solutions P.C.D and P.C.D Consultation, which are collectively called PCD Solutions.
The roll of information technology in 2020 is largely centred around ease of access and delivery of applications to businesses and end-users. What Converge is doing is positioning themselves to be Canada’s premier hybrid IT provider.
This requires a little unpacking. At its most basic level, hybrid IT is a blend of cloud-based and on-premises IT services. So you have your intranet, for example, built and maintained by your in-house IT department to handle interoffice communication, but you also have your stored cloud-based information where proprietary information is often stored. Plenty of companies are looking to outsource their IT department’s responsibilities to companies like Converge.
“‘We expect PCD Solutions’ sales and solutions strength to enhance our capabilities in becoming a dominant software-enabled Hybrid IT provider in the Quebec and Canadian marketplace as it builds on the platforms we have created with our previous acquisitions. PCD Solutions also brings a level of expertise around VMware that will allow us to continue to drive value with our Converge Hybrid cloud offerings to our clients,” said Shaun Maine, CEO of Converge.
Cloud computing in Canada
In general, Canada lags behind other developed markets, including the United States, in cloud adoption. One of the chief barriers to widespread adoption is the perception of Canada’s IT environment, especially involving issues surrounding data sovereignty and security, as a highly regulated sector. The truth is that there are no direct regulations on cloud computing, at least not yet, but there are some potential privacy issues, such as those found in the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), to be considered.
For example:
To ensure your business complies with PIPEDA, let’s look at what this regulation really means:
- Transfer: When information is transferred for processing, it must only be used for the original purpose of collection (for instance, marketing).
- Comparable Level of Protection: The third party processor must provide an equivalent level of protection the data would have received if it remained with the Canadian company.
- Transparency: The organization must be transparent about their practices handling personal information. Organizations must tell customers that their data is sent elsewhere for processing, and state that personal information sent to another jurisdiction may still be accessed by Canadian law enforcement, courts, or national security personnel.
There are a number of indicators that the transition will happen within the next five years. The cloud is expected to grow across a wide variety of verticals, including industries such as financial services and the public sector, which are anticipated to lead the next stage of cloud growth.
This is the opportunity that Converge is looking to jump on.
Converge is a cloud-based consultancy primarily using Microsoft Azure, but also leveraging the abilities of blockchain technology, to address the business and IT issues that both public and private sector organizations have to deal with on a day to day basis.
PCD Solutions marks the twelfth acquisition completed by Converge since October 2017.
Converge’s run of acquisitions includes:
- Corus Group, LLC;
- Northern Micro, Inc.;
- 10084182 Canada Inc. operating as Becker-Carroll;
- Key Information Systems, Inc.;
- BlueChip Tek, Inc.;
- Lighthouse Computer Systems, Inc.;
- Software Information Systems LLC.;
- Nordisk Systems, Inc.;
- Essex Technology Group, Inc.;
- Datatrend Technologies, Inc.;
- VSS, LLC.
The company will introduce its software enabled hybrid IT solutions, including identity-based cognitive, cybersecurity, resiliency managed services, multi-cloud solutions, and enterprise blockchain to both new and existing PCD Solutions customers. What they get in return is the ability to offer PCD Solutions specializations ranging from software defined data center and cloud architecture, storage and high availability and protection mechanisms to their clients across North America.
—Joseph Morton