‘This is a double down for us on managed services and cybersecurity,’ says Tusker CEO Matt Zafirovski. ‘Having a 24/7 SOC with a talented cybersecurity team is an amazing addition to our portfolio.’
The acquisition provides Tusker, which is mounting a national managed services and cybersecurity sales offensive, a SOC with 24/7 threat detection, analysis and remediation provided by a 48-member team of cybersecurity specialists.
“This is a double down for us on managed services and cybersecurity,” said Tusker CEO Matt Zafirovski. “Having a 24/7 SOC with a talented cybersecurity team is an amazing addition to our portfolio. This takes our credibility as a cybersecurity partner to new heights!”
Terms of the deal for Fortress SRM, Cleveland, Ohio, which was previously owned by Fulcrum IT Partners, were not disclosed.
CRN reached out to Fulcrum but had not heard back at press time.
The acquisition provides deeper market penetration into the midmarket security services market for Tusker with the addition of about 70 Fortress SRM customers.
For the more than 1,000 customers of Tusker it provides access to hard-to-get cybersecurity services and talent, said Zafirovski.
Zafirovski said the addition of Fortress SRM is focused squarely on addressing the increasing cybersecurity needs of customers in the midst of an ever-changing and complex threat risk environment.
“Every organization and every CEO, CFO, CIO, and CSO needs help from a risk management standpoint,” Zafirovski said. “This business is all about people. To add four dozen team members that are highly credentialed, credible and talented engineers is an amazing and humbling addition to our overall organization!”
The AI buildout has heightened the need for Fortress SRM cybersecurity services which include managed security, virtual CISO leadership, incident response and digital forensics and security consulting, said Zafirovski.
Fortress SRM, in fact, provides the cybersecurity muscle to address pressing AI questions around data sovereignty and how to protect AI from “bad actors,” said Zafirovski.
“Security complexity is only increasing with AI,” he said. “We have to help organizations manage the risk in an AI world. Fortress helps us do that. With a 24/7 SOC and fractional virtual CISO services we can be that trusted cybersecurity services partner to our customers.”
The acquisition adds to the already robust cybersecurity services provided by Tusker, which has met National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and SOC (System and Organization Controls) 2 compliance, said Zafirovski.
Fortress SRM began as a cybersecurity unit within SP500 powerhouse MCPc but was carved out as a separate business in 2021, and then acquired in 2024 by Fulcrum IT Partners.
The Fortress SRM cybersecurity business was the brainchild of solution provider visionary Andy Jones, who built out the SOC model well before the term MSSP was fashionable.
Jones, a beloved leader and philanthropist, led the company as the founder and CEO until his death in a helicopter crash in March 2025.
Fortress SRM President Jess Walpole, who took the helm after Jones, and the management team will remain with Tusker, said Zafirovski.
Zafirovski, who knew and admired Jones, said he sees the acquisition as carrying on his legacy. He credited Walpole and the entire Fortress SRM team for driving Jones’ legacy forward, while grappling with the grief that surrounded his passing.
“Andy founded the business and built and nurtured it,” said Zafirovski. “This was his idea and his baby. We have become the proud and humble stewards of Andy’s legacy. It’s amazing to be able to carry on his legacy with Fortress as part of the Tusker team.”
Zafirovski said he has already spoken to the Fortress SRM team who are excited about the growth potential ahead and the ability to bring their customers additional technology solution provider procurement and managed services from Tusker. “We want to grow that Fortress business by bringing the entire Tusker portfolio to them,” he said.
The acquisition is Tusker’s fifth since 2017 and its first since rebranding from ACP CreativIT to Tusker earlier this year, with plans for additional acquisitions as it builds out its platform.
Tusker now has 400 team members and more than $300 million in sales, said Zafirovski. “We are scaling out and building the managed services business and starting to see the tailwind and flywheel effect,” he said. “Managed services, cybersecurity and infrastructure are propelling our growth. The objective is to grow much faster than the market and we are on track to do that. It is very exciting. It is going to be fun to tell the Fortress story to our customers!”
