AVG Acquires Level Platforms To Push Deeper Into RMM, MDM Space

AVG Technologies N.V., an Amsterdam-based IT security company, has announced an agreement to purchase Level Platforms, Inc. for an undisclosed price.

Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Level Platforms is a well-known remote monitoring and management (RMM) software company that leverages a hybrid, agentless platform designed to provide channel partners and MSPs with a comprehensive management and views of client IT infrastructures, including a wide range of devices and applications delivered either through the cloud or on-premise.

The move positions AVG to extend itself into the RMM and mobile device management (MDM) spaces, where the two companies' management sees a great deal of synergy.

[Related: AVG CloudCare: 5 Cool Features For Remote Virus Protection ]

"We think of it as a convergence of security and IP management," said Level Platforms CEO Peter Sandiford. "Both companies have been pursuing the same goal, so the synergy was obvious. The RMM market is mostly made up of smaller companies that are extremely fast-growing because there is a tremendous opportunity here. And we've reached the point where [this market] can scale globally at a much more rapid basis. So, there's a very powerful alignment between the two companies."

The most imminent change will likely be the integration of Level Platforms' Managed Workplace platform with AVG's CloudCare, which enables devices and cloud services to be managed from browsers.

"I think this acquisition is going to work really well for us," said Kevin Kilpatrick, principal of Kilpatrick IT Solutions, LLC, a Merrimack, N.H.-based partner of both companies. "We will be able to do a lot of things out of a single pane of glass that we were previously using two different products for. Currently AVG's CloudCare product allows us to manage antivirus across our customer base from their user console. While we can do some of the management for AVG out of the Level Platforms user console as well, now those consoles will be integrated and we won't have to bounce back and forth between the two products any longer."

Partners and customers should also expect AVG to move into a variety of other managed services beyond security, RMM, and MDM.

"Over the years, AVG, as a company, has moved into areas beyond pure antivirus," said Mike Foreman, general manager of AVG's SMB Group. "We've added things like mobile security, secure search and optimization capabilities. We want to simplify IT management and provide a very good value for our partners and customers. I think you will see us providing more tools for the service provider and reseller community in the future."

The move also helps AVG to establish relationships with more than 1,500 Level Platform managed service providers, which would more than double its current network of partners.

PUBLISHED JUNE 12, 2013