Internet Solutions (IS) has acquired a majority stake in Synaq, the Johannesburg-based managed Linux service provider and messaging company, for an undisclosed sum.

IS says the deal will help it address the demand from the small and medium enterprise market for managed communications services.

Synaq specialises in Linux and open-source software delivered on a software-as-a-service basis, mainly targeting small and medium businesses.

IS executive for communications services, Wayne Speechly, says the deal gives IS flexibility in terms of its prices due to “less onerous” licensing fees associated with open-source software.

“As Linux and open source have historically not been IS’s area of expertise, it made more sense to acquire a company that has the skills and track record to cater to the growing demand for these services,” Speechly says.

The decision to acquire a stake in Synaq was driven largely by the “rapidly increasing adoption of hosted services by small and medium enterprises”, he says. “The corporate governance, legal and regulatory requirements around the management and storage of data and information, especially e-mail, are driving the adoption of hosted services.”

Synaq MD Yossi Hasson says the deal will give his company the ability to grow much faster on the back of IS’s infrastructure. “We are now also better positioned to expand into other markets, as we now have strong backing and support, and can tap into the African and global footprint of IS and its parent company, Dimension Data.”

Synaq’s operations, structure, management and staff will remain unchanged. — Staff reporter, TechCentral