National VAR ePlus Acquires Chicago Security Specialist

NCC will expand ePlus' information security footprint, adding vulnerability, web application, wireless and cloud-based security assessment capabilities. EPlus has a Cisco Master Security Specialization, and plans to bring NCC into its Advanced Security Solutions practice, as well as integrate ePlus' own Managed Services Center with NCC's security operations center (SOC).

NCC's Chicago office will become a new regional office for ePlus, which already has more than 20 locations, and is headquartered in Herndon, Va. Earl DeFrates, NCC's founder, general manager and principal, will join ePlus as Director of Security Sales, while Sam Curcio, NCC director of professional services and principal, is ePlus new director of professional services.

"We're pleased to welcome NCC to ePlus," said Phillip Norton, ePlus' chairman, president and CEO, in a statement. "Their demonstrated experience with security solutions is a strong complement to our existing security practice and managed services offerings. By combining our areas of expertise, ePlus will have greater capacity to deliver integrated security solutions to customers."

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. NCC's range of vendor relationships includes Check Point, Citrix, EMC, RSA, HP ArcSight, Sourcefire, FireEye, Zscaler, Websense and others.

NCC's acquisition is the latest in a series of expansion moves made by ePlus. Back in November, ePlus acquired Interchange Technologies and formed an Advanced Audio and Video Solutions practice to address A/V and collaboration technology sales.