Vistorm steps onto global stage with EDS

Vistorm will gain a stronger international presence and will have more clout to tender for larger contracts now it is part of services giant EDS.

This is the view of Vistorm chief executive Jim Kent, who spoke exclusively to CRN last week about the acquisition.

As revealed by CRN Online, managed security services player Vistorm was snapped up by EDS earlier this month for an undisclosed sum.

“Right off the bat I knew that EDS was the best answer for Vistorm,” said Kent. “They wanted a distinctive security capability to run alongside the existing EDS business, but we will keep the Vistorm brand, which is important.”

He said Vistorm has no plans to broaden its skills into general IT services, it will instead remain focused on security, operating as a separate unit in EDS.

“There is no value in broadening our skills because that would dilute what EDS is trying to achieve,” he said. “What I am hoping to do now is have an even more powerful international footing. Security not just a one-point solution.

“Some of the contracts in which we are involved require international delivery capability and we have always used partners. Now we will be able to address those requirements ourselves.”

Kent added that more than 100 EDS security professionals will become part of Vistorm, deployed at various locations around the globe, but said the firm is still looking to grow headcount even further.

Mark Evans, commercial director at rival VAR Imerja, said the Vistorm sale mirrored the changing direction of the market.

“The bigger players are looking to make strategic acquisitions to broaden their own offerings and there are some attractive players to target. I am confident that there is still a place for the smaller players such as Imerja, and the chancellor’s comments in the last budget about awarding more public sector contracts to smaller players is encouraging,” he said.

“In certain markets it will get harder as bigger players expand their portfolios to compete against us.”