Computex To Be Acquired By Calian Group: Everything As A Service Game Changer

“This is a great day for Computex,” said Computex President of Cloud and Cybersecurity Faisal Bhutto, the driving force behind Computex’s cloud and security managed services build out. “Calian is a highly regarded Canadian services provider with strong IT & cybersecurity services that is investing in our everything-as-a-service Brainware and talent.

Computex, one of the top managed service providers in the country, No. 187 on the CRN SP500, has been acquired for $30 million by publicly held Canadian IT service provider Calian Group as part of an aggressive expansion into the U.S. everything as a service market.

The addition of Computex - which will become part of Calian Group’s IT and Cyber Solutions Group - more than doubles the size of that fast-growing IT and cyber solutions division, adding 200 employees and two 24/7/365 day a year security and network operations centers manned by Computex engineers.

Computex, which has also been honored as a perennial CRN MSP 500 and CRN Tech Elite 150, has wide and deep cybersecurity services and certifications including Cisco Double Gold, Double Master, AT&T Cybersecurity, Okta, CloudFlare, and Cylance.

“This is a great day for Computex,” said Computex President of Cloud and Cybersecurity Faisal Bhutto (pictured above right), the driving force behind Computex’s cloud and security managed services build out. “Calian is a highly regarded Canadian services provider with strong IT & cybersecurity services that is investing in our everything-as-a-service Brainware and talent. We are their first major entry into the U.S. IT market which opens up future growth opportunities. It’s a very exciting time for all of us at Computex!.”

The deal is major phase of a U.S. expansion for Calian Group which is committed to building out its everything as a service IT charge with other acquisitions, according to Bhutto. “We are the US anchor, but Calian Group is going to be looking to buy other managed service providers,” he said. “The focus is on everything as a service with modern IT, cybersecurity and IT subscription. This is all about Calian Group becoming an everything as a service leader.”

The deal comes as Computex – which at $150 million is one of the largest security service providers in the Central and Southern Regions of the United States with a full suite of managed detection and response services - looks to increase its everything as a service footprint.

“This acquisition is going to allow us to double down on our security services, cloud services and digital transformation initiatives for our customers,” said Worth Davis (pictured above left), president of Computex’s Solution Provider business. “We are making it easy for our customers to consume everything as a service with our people and processes and our two world class security and network operations centers. This is going to allow us to accelerate our push into what is the hottest market segment right now.”

The entry of Computex into the Canadian market opens up a huge new opportunity for the company to sell its finely honed security and managed services to that market.

“We are incredibly excited about now being able to play in the large Canadian market with our managed services and enterprise solutions” said Bhutto, who was honored as one of CRN’s 2021 Next-Gen Solution Provider Leaders. “We’re going big time into Canada with a lot of capabilities that Calian Group doesn’t have right now. We are bringing all our services and products into Toronto, Ottawa and all of Canada.”

About 25 percent of Computex’s customer base are already doing business in Canada, said Bhutto.

Computex has won a number of awards for its services prowess including the Cisco Innovator of the Year and Regional Partner of The Year in 2021 and the Growth Partner of the Year for AT&T Cybersecurity.

“This is going to allow us to provide more complex solutions to the largest accounts in the world,” Davis said. “It is going to allow us to continue to scale and grow the business with expanded services and security offerings. It changes the game for our customers who are looking to us to manage their entire IT estate.”

Another benefit to the deal: the ability for Computex to invest in more emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, machine learning and operational technology, said Davis. “This is going to allow us to continue to invest in cutting edge technologies for customers, making sure they remain competitive in a fast-changing technology market,” he said.

Among the technology partnerships that Computex – which has more than 100 plus OEM partners- brings to Calian Group are Cisco Double Gold Double Master; a tier one Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider; Hewlett Packard Enterprise Platinum partner; and a top tier partner for both Nutanix and Pure Storage.

Calian Group’s IT and Cyber Solutions Group – which has purchased a number of security solution providers - reported a 42 percent increase in sales (in Canadian dollars) for its last fiscal year to $82.25 million, up from $58.06 million. The Ottawa headquartered Calian Group – which recently celebrated its 20th consecutive profitable year- is a $518 million company in Canadian dollars with four divisions: IT and Cyber Solutions, Health which delivers health services; Advanced Technologies which delivers technical solutions for the defense industry; and Learning, which provides specialized training for military and emergency management.

Calian Group said the acquisition will add $75 million in Canadian dollars in annual business and recurring revenue of $30 million in Canadian dollars in managed and IT security services.

Besides the cloud and security assets, Computex provides Calian Group with a seasoned enterprise sales force that has been delivering top technology solutions for 1,100 national and international customers including some of the biggest names in oil and gas, manufacturing, retail and healthcare and finance.

That is no small part to the talented team being led by Bhutto, a 23 year IT veteran who came to Computex eight years ago, and Davis, a 30-year IT veteran who joined the company a decade ago after heading up the IT business for a number of large energy companies.

“The deal immediately brings Computex’s U.S. customers new security compliance and risk assessment services and healthcare services”, said Davis. Furthermore, he said, it provides the additional financial and technology muscle for Computex to provide expanded services offerings for customers.

Ultimately the deal opens the door for Calian Group with Computex as a mainstay to become a leader in the everything as a service market, said Bhutto. “This marks the next big growth phase of our journey as we celebrate the 35th anniversary of Computex,” he said. “We are excited to be part of a mature, well-established IT services company which shares our core values. They are focused on delighting customers just like us. This is all about going above and beyond so customers become ambassadors that recommend us to other customers. That cultural value is absolutely shared by Calian Group. We couldn’t be more aligned. That is what really pumps me up!”