8. MSPs Boost Cloud, Data Center Prowess Through Strategic Acquisitions

The industry's leading MSPs went on an acquisition spree in 2016 to strengthen their cloud, data center or vendor-specific expertise. 

Carousel Industries, No. 64 on the 2016 CRN Solution Provider 500, acquired Atrion, No. 196 on the 2016 CRN Solution Provider 500, to take advantage of its robust, Cisco-focused managed services practice. Infrastructure management MSP Ensono purchased 270-person cloud platform provider Attenda to bolster its capabilities around VMware, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.  

MSP powerhouse Synoptek purchased the IT services business of EarthLink, No. 35 on the 2016 CRN Solution Provider 500, for $29 million to obtain the data center infrastructure necessary to support customers from coast to coast. AWS pioneer Datapipe, No. 105 on the 2016 CRN Solution Provider 500, purchased Adapt, the United Kingdom's fastest-growing MSP, to beef up its overseas capabilities, skill sets and talents around cloud services.

And Cal Net Technology Group, No. 454 on the 2016 CRN Solution Proivder 500, bought inhouseIT to get more technical expertise and a private cloud service that relies on a local data center to enhance speed and flexibility.