‘We’re embracing AI and automation’: SilverCloud director of automation and technology
Kenny Watson talks Scottish presence, the importance of new technology, and organic growth
Glasgow MSP SilverCloud intends to pursue steady growth thanks to the adoption of new technologies, according to Kenny Watson, director of automation and technology.
Founded in 2014 as a telecoms company, the firm has offered managed IT services for about four and a half to five years and is now reportedly starting to see the revenues between telecoms and IT equalise.
The service provider specialises in security, networking, technical support, and AI advice to SMBs across Scotland.
It reached £8.5m in FY24 revenue, with around £1m in EBITDA, driven by its focus on “embracing AI and automation” to support customers, Watson says .
Tech evolution and opportunity
Watson identifies AI as drastically driving demand in the past few months and sees it as one of the organisation’s main differentiators among competitors.
He also sees cybersecurity as a growth driver, alongside computer networking, mobile communications, and telephony.
“We cross-sell most of our services; a customer might start with mobile contracts or connectivity and then move on to IT support, telephone systems, or security solutions like firewalls or managed detection and response.”
To offer these solutions, the firm partners with distributors such as Gamma, Giacom, and TD SYNNEX, as well as cloud commerce marketplace Pax8.
In terms of vendors, it works with companies such as Microsoft and LG Cloud.
Evolving and resilient customer base
SilverCloud serves around 700 customers, 90 to 95 per cent of which are based in Scotland.
Most of these are telecoms clients, and roughly 120 of them are managed IT customers.
It also deals with businesses across England, including in Manchester, York, and further south.
“We support some customers with offices in England and further afield, but our core business is in Scotland,” says Watson.
While SilverCloud mostly focuses on SMBs, it also works with larger organisations such as Defence Union in Manchester, as well as charities and third-sector organisations.
“We don’t target a specific vertical, but the majority of our customer base is SMBs.”
He adds the MSP has recently gained “several large customers in Scotland”, such as James Frew, HFD Group, and Glasgow Women’s Aid.
The automation and technology boss tells CRN the company does not yet plan to expand further into the UK, as there remains significant opportunity in the Scottish SMB market.
Despite economic riffraff and political fisticuffs, the MSP has not been impacted by changing macroeconomics, mainly thanks to its Scotland-centric approach.
“So far, our customer base hasn’t been affected by wider economic shifts.
“We monitor the situation, but we’re not exposed to the same policy or currency fluctuations that affect international markets.”
Yoyoing workforce and Acumen Cyber split
While the firm has no acquisition plans in the near future, its CEO, Anthony Quinn, also created an MSSP called Acumen Cyber, which separated from SilverCloud recently.
The companies reportedly still work closely together.
Before the split, the organisation employed 70 to 80 staff, but its headcount has since decreased and is now rising again.
“We’ve recently hired more technicians as we’ve added new customers, and we’ll keep hiring as demand increases.
“That said, we’re also using automation and AI to help scale more efficiently and reduce the need for constant headcount growth.”
The MSP currently employs around 50 people, including about 16 in sales and account management and roughly 30 technical staff covering telecoms, projects, and service desk roles.
“We also have a small marketing team of two, plus senior management, finance, and administrative roles,” he adds.