Databarracks returns to M&A trail with Acumen takeover

The deal adds more than 100 customers and boosts the MSP’s business resilience managed services offering

London-based MSP Databarracks has acquired the assets of Acumen Business Services Ltd to enhance its business resilience managed services.

Founded in 1997 by Andy Osborne, Worcestershire-HQ Acumen provides independent business continuity management, crisis management, risk management and information security management consultancy services to more than 100 clients across financial services, healthcare and manufacturing.

“Technology and cyber risk are absolutely central to business continuity, and Databarracks is leading the industry in an approach that brings them together,” said Osborne.

“This is the right next step for Acumen and our clients, combining our business continuity expertise with Databarracks’ strength in business and technology resilience and recovery solutions.”

Chris Butler, resilience director at Databarracks, added: “Acumen has delivered business continuity and resilience services to some of the largest organisations in the UK and around the world.

“We share a common vision of embedding resilience and making BC practical and simple, while adding real value for our customers.”

He also said the takeover will provide more value to Acumen’s customers through Databarracks’ recovery confidence assurance concepts and business resilience managed services approach.

This marks the firm’s return to the M&A trail since late 2024, when it acquired Derbyshire-based COOLSPIRiT, which was described at the time as Commvault’s largest solution provider partner in the UK.

The move was aimed at enhancing the acquiring company’s cloud data protection and cybersecurity services.

That same year, it bought out Glasgow-HQ PlanB Consulting to strengthen its operational resilience and cyber continuity consulting practice.

The firm has also rejigged its leadership team over the past 12 months.

In January, it appointed Michelle Green as marketing director.

In November, it onboarded Darren Tingley as services and technology director.

In August, it promoted Lee Denham to infrastructure and technical operations director.

That same month, Databarracks also hired Jason Renshaw as operations director.

The deal also follows a series of acquisitions by UK-based MSPs since the start of the year, including Claranet, Kubus, Redsquid, Rydal Group, Axians UK, Everything Tech Group, Chess ICT, Logiq, Aspire, TalkTalk Business, Flotek and Arc Group.