Thoma Bravo Building MSP Software, Cybersecurity Empire

Private equity firm Thoma Bravo continues to bet heavily on the MSP software and cybersecurity technology markets. The latest move: Thoma Bravo has acquired Centrify, a major provider of identity and access management technology, the companies confirmed today.

Centrify launched a new partner program last month. But the bigger question -- and opportunity -- may involve potential synergies across the additional Thoma Bravo portfolio companies. The private equity firm also owns such MSP-friendly software and technology companies as:

Private Equity Firms: Calling The Shots?

I'm not predicting any rollups or forced synergies between all those firms. But private equity owners typically inspire portfolio company CEOs to talk with one another at least quarterly. Those types of conversations can sometimes trigger partnerships or wholesale acquisitions.

A case in point: Kaseya and Unitrends -- two Insight Venture Partners portfolio companies -- merged earlier this year. That deal seeks to promote Unitrends cloud business continuity software to MSPs, and Kaseya IT management software to midmarket IT professionals. Meanwhile, Vista Equity Partners recently acquired Datto and then tucked portfolio company Autotask into that business.

No doubt, Thoma Bravo is preparing more moves. The private equity firm says it plans to grow Centrify both organically and through acquisitions. Also, there are signs that portfolio company SolarWinds is preparing for an IPO later this year. For its part, SolarWinds earlier today confirmed the Trusted Metrics acquisition for threat monitoring and SOC software that MSPs and MSSPs can leverage.