‘REAL Security ticks every box’: Westcon-Comstor enters the Balkans with new acquisition

The deal expands the distributor’s footprint across eight countries

Westcon-Comstor has purchased value-added cyber distributor REAL Security to expand its footprint in the Balkans.

Founded in 2002, the Slovenian firm operates in eight countries across the Balkans, including Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia, where it partners with cybersecurity vendors, VARs, MSPs and MSSPS.

By combining the company’s offering with Westcon-Comstor’s data-focused and digital capabilities, the move will aim to provide a platform to gain new value across the region.

“REAL Security ticks every box; profitable, respected, culturally aligned and operating in a high growth cybersecurity environment,” Westcon-Comstor CEO David Grant tells CRN.

“As we look to expand our footprint, we believe the Balkans is an underserved, fast-growing market.

“From a European perspective, this acquisition strengthens our ability to support vendors and partners consistently.

“Cybersecurity demand in the Balkans is rising rapidly, and now we can engage with that opportunity in a joined up, meaningful way.”

He highlights the acquisition also reflects how the firm thinks about scale, as it wants to have the right capabilities in the right places, with teams who understand the nuances of their local markets.

Renato Uhl, CEO and co-founder of REAL Security, added: “Today marks an exciting step in the evolution and continued success of REAL Security.

“In addition to Westcon-Comstor’s unrivalled channel reach and global cybersecurity strength, we have huge respect for the way the company has retained its emphasis on people and culture.

“It’s time to take our business to the next level by harnessing Westcon-Comstor’s unique data-led approach and digital maturity in partnership with our new colleagues.”

The deal is Westcon-Comstor’s first acquisition since its buyout of AWS consultancy Rebura in early 2024.

Grant tells CRN the time between the two investments is a reflection of the distie’s M&A strategy.

The business intends to remain “highly disciplined” instead of “being acquisitive for the sake of it”, as every deal has to make strategic sense and add value.

The move comes after a positive period of evolution for the organisation, with gross sales increasing 9.8 per cent to $2.78bn (£2bn) in H1 FY26 compared with $2.53bn at the same time the year prior.

It also recently updated its European strategy with the appointment of Stephane Reboud as European sales SVP in September.