Advantio acquired by Integrity360 to expand European footprint and provide complementary cyber services capability

As part of its Pan-European expansion plan, Integrity360 has acquired major European PCI QSA (Payment Card Industry Qualified Security Assessor) and cyber security services company Advantio.

Pan-European expansion

The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The acquisition will enable Integrity360 to expand further into continental Europe and provides an additional cyber services practice focused on PCI compliance complementing Integrity360’s existing service practices which include cyber risk and assurance, cyber security testing, incident response, infrastructure, end-point and SIEM professional services and a highly comprehensive range of cyber security managed services. 

ZeroRisk for payment

Integrity360 has formed a strategic partnership with the Advantio founders to expand the footprint of ZeroRisk

Advantio will continue to operate from its existing wide-ranging European facilities but with the benefit of the full resources and capability of the existing Integrity360 business. 

In addition, Integrity360 has formed a strategic partnership with the Advantio founders to expand the footprint of ZeroRisk, an innovative SaaS platform providing compliance and cyber risk management profiling services for the payment industry. 

About Advantio

Advantio was founded in 2009, and employs approximately 115 employees and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and operates from facilities in Italy, Spain, the UK, Lithuania, and Ukraine serving more than 250 customers across Europe, the USA, and Asia. 

For the last three years Advantio has achieved growth rates of circa 25% pa, and during the next 12 months expects revenues of circa €10m.

Revenue, cyber services capabilities

The combination of Advantio with Integrity360 brings group revenues to approximately €115m in 2023

The combination of Advantio with Integrity360 brings group revenues to approximately €115m in 2023 from circa €85m in 2022 and expands group resources to approximately 450 employees.

Advantio’s cyber services capabilities include PCI compliance, cyber security testing, cyber risk and assurance, and MDR services (Managed Detection and Response) and are both expansive and complementary to those of Integrity360. 

SOC operations and managed services

Advantio’s existing SOC (Security Operations Centre) operation in Naples will be combined with Integrity360’s other three SOCs in Dublin, Sofia, and Stockholm, operating with over 100 dedicated engineers, consultants, and cyber experts in delivering a wide-ranging set of managed services for customers including EDR, XDR, and MDR (Endpoint Detection and Response, Extended Detection and Response, and Managed Detection and Response).

Integrity360’s innovative range of services was recently recognised for a third time in a Gartner market guide, namely as a Representative Vendor in the Gartner market guide for Managed Detection and Response services. 

PCI compliance

Advantio has a pioneering position in PCI compliance and operates as one of the major Qualified Security Assessors

Advantio has a pioneering position in PCI compliance and operates as one of the major Qualified Security Assessor organisations in Europe and across the world. 

Its position is reflected by its standing as being the No. 1 most-chosen QSA organisation by Visa service provider organisations across Europe, and No. 4 most chosen by Mastercard service provider organisations.

PCI GEAR member, ISO27001

Advantio has also been a proud member of the PCI GEAR (Global Executive Assessor Roundtable) since 2018 helping to refine and define PCI standards for the benefit of the industry.

Advantio’s PCI expertise adds to Integrity360’s existing regulatory and cyber framework services capability including ISO27001, Cyber Essentials, cyber security strategy, and third-party risk management. 

New PCI DSS 4.0 standard

The two businesses provide a powerhouse of technical cyber and security payments expertise"

Ian Brown, Executive Chairman at Integrity360 commented, “We are delighted to be welcoming the Advantio team to Integrity360. The enhanced group will now significantly expand our existing activities and cyber services throughout continental Europe, and further develop Advantio’s considerable expertise in PCI compliance."

"The combination of the two businesses provides a powerhouse of technical cyber and security payments expertise for the group’s customer base including preparing for the impending arrival of the new PCI DSS 4.0 standard which requires comprehensive threat detection and incident response services."

Cyber assurance, testing, and MDR

"The two companies are highly complementary, with common strengths in cyber assurance, cyber security testing, and managed detection and response, and share the same customer service ethos."

"We look forward to delivering our expanded and extensive range of services for the benefit of our combined customers over the coming weeks and months."

QSA and cyber service provider

Advantio is excited to continue that journey but also with Integrity360’s support, allowing us to expand our services"

Marco Borza, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Advantio commented, “I am delighted that Advantio is joining Integrity360 and continuing the growth journey that we started some 14 years ago."

"Thanks to the support of our customers and employees Advantio has become a pioneering QSA and provider of cyber services across Europe and other overseas markets. Advantio is excited to continue that journey but also with Integrity360’s support, allowing us to expand our services and market coverage." 

Measure risk and manage compliance

"Our skills combined with those of Integrity360 will provide an extension of our portfolio of professional, support, and managed services. This is great news for employees, customers, and partners."

"I am also delighted that we are forming a strategic partnership with the wider Integrity360 group to expand ZeroRisk’s merchant management platform, currently enabling merchants and merchant service providers to measure risk and manage compliance. I look forward to working closely with Ian and the wider Integrity360 team over the coming years."