ConnectWise Acquires BDR Providers Axcient and SkyKick

Sharon Florentine contributed to this article.

After months of rumors, we have official confirmation: ConnectWise will acquire data protection and disaster recovery provider Axcient in a transaction expected to close in the coming weeks, the company announced. In addition, ConnectWise has acquired SkyKick, a cloud backup and management software company.

ConnectWise said the acquisitions significantly enhanced its cybersecurity and data protection offerings, reinforcing the critical role of data protection as the last line of defense against cyberthreats such as ransomware and phishing. ConnectWise has been the last holdout among the big three MSP tools providers in offering its own data protection and disaster recovery solution. Kaseya famously acquired Datto in 2022. N-able offers a cloud-first data protection solution for MSPs called N-able Cove.

In a prepared statement, ConnectWise CEO Jason Magee said that the deals will help MSPs' data protection and cybersecurity posture.

"By integrating Axcient and SkyKick into the ConnectWise portfolio, we are offering MSPs a complete technology stack that improves both data protection and cybersecurity. This integration empowers MSPs to safeguard clients with confidence and scale their businesses," he said.

On the ConnectWise site, Axcient CEO Rod Mathews and co-founder and CTO Kevin Hoffman shared a letter to partners that said, in part, "We recognize that many MSPs have had deeply painful experiences in the past after a key vendor gets acquired and the integration goes bad. Axcient and ConnectWise commit to retain your trust and partnership in the coming weeks and months by our actions," according to the statement. "Together, we want to make Axcient stronger and even better, not break what you love!"

ConnectWise and Axcient said in the statement they are mutually committed to a seven-point commitment to MSPs, which includes:

Continuing simple, predictable, usage-based billing

Continuing month-to-month contracts

Continuing the ecosystem where you can purchase Axcient

Accelerating product innovation

Deepening integrations while remaining open

Investing in support

Listening and learning from mistakes

You can read the full text here.

ConnectWise said the key benefits of the acquisitions and additions to the portfolio include the following:

Enhanced Data Protection for MSPs and SMB Clients: Data protection is critical to MSPs. Axcient’s trusted Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) solutions and SkyKick’s Microsoft 365 Cloud Backup empower MSPs to fortify cybersecurity and data resilience, ensuring protection against evolving threats.

Comprehensive Technology Offering: MSPs gain access to a complete suite of purpose-built solutions from a single proven provider, including professional services automation (PSA), remote monitoring and management (RMM), cybersecurity, and data protection underpinned by generative AI and robotic process automation (RPA).

Seamless Integration: Axcient’s and SkyKick’s integration into the ConnectWise Asio® platform will streamline management, reduce operational complexity, and enable MSPs to focus on growing their businesses.

Ongoing Innovation and Commitment: ConnectWise is dedicated to driving innovation across its expanded portfolio while maintaining strong support for Axcient and SkyKick partners, ensuring an enhanced customer experience.

The Axcient/ConnectWise relationship is not a new one. The two companies have partnered for years.

"Our shared commitment to partner success has create significant alignment between our companies, and this acquisition strengthens our combined offerings," said Axcient CEO Rod Mathews in a prepared statement.

ConnectWise said that existing Axcient and SkyKick customers will continue to receive full support for their deployments, while existing ConnectWise partners can seamlessly integrate these solutions into their technology stack.