Auckland-headquartered specialist, managed security services provider Securecom, has acquired Hawkes Bay network solutions provider Prophecy Networks as it grows its national presence. Prophecy Networks will operate as Securecom Hawkes Bay, bringing valuable additional capabilities to the acquiring organisation. A new business plan incorporating the combined managed services, networking, cloud and security solutions strengths of both companies is in development, with Prophecy senior manager Rachael Price appointed General Manager of the company’s Hawkes Bay operation.
Securecom Managing Director Greg Mikkelsen says “While we’ve specialised in security, network, cloud, and general managed services, the acquisition provides the opportunity to diversify geographically and to further expand our rapidly growing Network and Managed Services capability. With added enterprise networking capabilities, especially in Wellington, our growth aspirations are well served.”
As a New Zealand owned and operated managed security services provider with more than 200 clients across all industry sectors and a 21-year history of success, Securecom is looking beyond Auckland for continued scale. The ambition is accelerated with the acquisition; founded in 2001, Prophecy is a recognised brand with offices in Napier and Wellington.
With Prophecy’s founders looking to exit the business and move into consultancy roles, Mikkelsen says there was a desire to put the business in good hands and see staff well looked after. “There’s a strong alignment of values and culture between our organisations, and we have retained all operational staff and are employing additional staff in both Hawkes Bay and Wellington to meet demand. The synergy we’ve found with Prophecy is a combination of capabilities reflecting the ongoing convergence of network and security functions.”
Promoted to Regional General Manager, Price recently celebrated 12 years with Prophecy Networks, most recently as CFO and Head of Managed Services. “Joining forces with Securecom extends our footprint and solutions and services capabilities, resulting in an enhanced value proposition for the customers of both organizations,” she says. “With the expanded solutions on offer from Securecom, Prophecy’s existing clients can move towards a single services provider for all their IT needs – and with security a pressing concern for every business today, an integrated approach delivers a real advantage.”
All contracts with existing Prophecy clients remain in place, while the Securecom product set is expected to accelerate growth in the new regions. Mikkelsen notes an anticipation of significant growth in Hawkes Bay for security, network and hosting services given innovation and growth within the region. By the same token, he says Securecom customers now enjoy access to solutions and services now on board from Prophecy. “Specifically, we expect new demand for CATO Secure Access Service Edge solutions, reflecting the convergence between security and networking,” Mikkelsen notes.
While the acquisition was completed by March 31, work continues in bedding down the structure and service alignment, with Securecom investing in growing its presence in the wider Hawkes Bay region extending from Gisborne down to Central Hawkes Bay and across to Manawatu, consolidating data centres, and introducing clients to the full solutions portfolio now available from the combined entities. “As this acquisition beds in, we’ll be looking for further opportunities which come with scale, breadth of services, and a more complete offering which accurately meets the needs of our customers,” Mikkelsen concludes.