Integrity360 acquires Grove to expand global cyber security presence

Integrity360 has acquired Grove Group, a cyber security and cloud services company based in Cape Town, South Africa, in a move aimed at expanding its global footprint and bolstering its service offerings. The financial specifics of the transaction have not been disclosed.

The acquisition brings approximately 600 additional customers from 51 countries into Integrity360's fold and adds another Security Operations Centre (SOC) location to its existing operations. This acquisition takes the total number of SOCs to five, including facilities in Dublin, Sofia, Stockholm, and Naples.

Ian Brown, Executive Chairman at Integrity360, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, "We are delighted to be welcoming Grove to Integrity360. The enhanced group significantly expands our existing activities and cyber services across other continents including Africa and the Caribbean in addition to bolstering our existing markets throughout the UK and continental Europe. The addition of another Integrity360 regional hub in Cape Town will further enable us to serve the local needs of customers, and the SOC will add to and expand our already considerable 24/7 SOC operations."

Grove, established in 2005, employs approximately 50 people and has experienced growth with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of over 22% over the past five years. In 2023, the company reported sales of approximately GBP £17 million. The integration of Grove's operations will significantly increase Integrity360's annual revenues to around GBP £130 million, up from approximately GBP £85 million in 2022, and boost the combined workforce to over 500 employees.

Grove's technical support operations, already robust with a focus on leading cybersecurity tools, will serve as another vital SOC for Integrity360. The Cape Town SOC will work in tandem with Integrity360's other locations, where over 140 dedicated engineers, consultants, and cyber experts provide a range of managed services including Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), Extended Detection and Response (XDR), and Managed Detection and Response (MDR).

In addition to bringing in a broad customer base, Grove also has strong relationships with several cybersecurity vendors such as Darktrace, Proofpoint, ESET, and Mimecast. Grove has been recognised for its expertise, winning the "Darktrace Partner of the Year" award for three consecutive years. This will complement Integrity360's own partnership with Darktrace, established early in 2024.

Pip Witheridge, Founder and Chairman of Grove, commented on the acquisition, stating, "I am delighted that Grove is joining Integrity360 and continuing the growth journey that we started some 19 years ago. Thanks to the support of our customers, partners and employees Grove has grown and flourished during that time and I am confident will continue to do so being part of the Integrity360 group."

James Vintin, CEO of Grove, also offered his perspective, noting, "The connection between Grove and Integrity360 has developed over an extended period of time, and we could not be more delighted to be joining the group and working closely with Ian and the Integrity360 team over the coming years. I am excited about the future for us as an organisation, for our people and in particular for what the enhanced group can provide our customers and partners moving forward."

This strategic acquisition aligns with Integrity360's broader global expansion efforts. The move aims to strengthen the company's position across various regions, including Africa, the Caribbean, the UK, and continental Europe. The integration of Grove into Integrity360's operations will enable both companies to offer a wider array of services and reinforce their collective cybersecurity capabilities.