Novosco, a cloud services provider with offices in Dublin, Cork, Belfast and Manchester, has acquired UK IT security and managed services firm NetDef. The seven-figure deal will see Novosco increase its workforce to 140.

Cheshire-based NetDef counts a number of metropolitan police forces, NHS trusts and financial services organisations amongst its client base, as well as two Premier League football clubs.

Novosco is one of the fastest growing tech businesses in the UK and Ireland. Its clients include many of the UK’s largest health trusts, universities, and housing associations, over 50% of Northern Ireland’s top 100 companies and some of the largest organisations in the Republic of Ireland.

Novosco said that the acquisition of NetDef, which will continue to trade under its existing name, will help accelerate the company’s rapid expansion in the English market in particular.

Headquartered in Belfast, Novosco was founded by Patrick McAliskey and John Lennon. It provides virtualisation and cloud specialisms, with expertise spanning technologies such as EMC, VMware, Cisco, Citrix and Microsoft.

In Association with

Novosco has been ranked as one of the island of Ireland’s fastest-growing technology businesses by Deloitte for an unprecedented 16th year in succession. In 2015, Novosco grew its turnover by 7% to €25m, booking a net profit of €1.7m, up 30% year-on-year.

According to Patrick McAliskey, Novosco’s MD: “NetDef is a well-established provider of network and security solutions to some of the UK’s most high-profile organisations, and its expertise and competence have seen it entrusted with data and projects of the utmost public sensitivity.

“Working with Dave Beesley and his expert team will provide Novosco with added scale, and an important new dimension to our service offering as we seek to further grow our business across the UK and Ireland.”

NetDef’s MD, Dave Beesley, added: “Novosco is a business that we have long admired, and we felt that there was a very strong cultural alignment between the two companies.

“The complementary expertise that we have will allow us to further enhance and deepen the services that we offer to existing and new clients. We very much look forward to working with Patrick, John and their team.”

Photo (l-r): Dave and Sue Beesley of NetDef with John Lennon and Patrick McAliskey