Flow Communications acquires Welsh MSP Capital Network Solutions

Cisco and Microsoft partner to form new base for Flow’s SOC capabilities, CEO Etienne Greeff tells CRN

Flow Communications has acquired Welsh MSP Capital Network Solutions which its CEO claims will become its hub for secure operations centre (SOC) services.

Hemel Hempstead-based Flow Communications was founded around 12 years ago, but new leadership joined the business in 2020 to kick-start a new growth strategy for the business.

Former SecureData and Orange Cyberdefense exec Etienne Greeff joined Flow Communications as CEO at the end of 2020, while former Daisy and Dimension Data boss Mike Gowen was appointed as chief revenue officer earlier this year.

Its first acquisition under new leadership is in the shape of Capital Network Solutions (CNS), a Premier-level Cisco partner and a Microsoft, Barracuda Networks, Gemalto and Dell partner based in Vale of Glamorgan in Wales.

The deal gifts Flow Communications with a secure operations centre (SOC) as well as skills across cloud, cybersecurity and infrastructure.

CNS is also a CREST penetration testing company and one of the largest IASME Cyber Essentials certification bodies in the UK having issued more than 3,000 certificates, Flow Communications claims.

Speaking to CRN, Greeff said that CNS will become the company's secure operations centre hub as it continues to expand and make acquisitions.

"With people moving to the cloud and with Covid - the whole world changed. We're assisting customers in this journey but they don't have the same level of assurance in this new world. In the new world of the cloud, it's not so simple; you've got serverless and microservices and containers and kubernetes,"

"We were looking for a way of offering the same level of assurance in this new world. And to get that you really need a unique combination of skills and understanding.

"CNS is one of those companies that probably doesn't even realise how unique they are, and the combination of skills they've got. For me, it plugs a very specific gap, because we can now really go towards this cloud assurance issue which for me is the next big thing."

CNS' founders, Sarah and Mark Edwards, will stay on with the business and take senior roles in the Flow Communications business.

Sarah Edwards will lead the integration efforts in bringing Flow and CNS together while Mark Edwards will become Flow Communications' group CTO.

"Mark and myself are very excited about joining the Flow group and the fantastic opportunities it brings to our customers and staff through the combined services and skills of both companies," said Sarah Edwards.

Mark Edwards added "I am excited to be joining the Flow team and have access to the additional skill set from the expert team at Flow. The acquisition allows us to scale at pace with our clients and gives us a greater ability to develop transformational propositions".

Greeff added that the new location in the South of Wales will enable Flow Communications to tap into a relatively untouched talent pool as a way to address a shortage in cybersecurity skills.

"Wales is one of the undiscovered secrets when it comes to talent; you've got great universities here. It's much easier to be the best technical employer in the Vale of Glamorgan than it is to be the best technical employer in London or in Reading. Which means you get the smartest people in the local area."

Greeff previously told CRN that he wishes Flow Communications to hit a revenue run rate of £20m over the next three years through a combination of small acquisitions and organic growth. He previously put the business' revenue run rate at £7m.