Quorum Cyber today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ontinue, a managed extended detection and response (MXDR) provider delivering non-stop managed security through its Agentic Security Operations Center (SOC).

In an era when AI has redefined cybersecurity exploits and countermeasures, the proposed transaction would unite two Microsoft-focused companies with complementary strengths in managed detection and response, proactive risk reduction, incident response, professional services and AI-first security operations.

The combined organisation would move beyond point AI tools embedded in individual workflows to unlock the broader value of AI innovation: intelligent, agentic security systems that continuously perceive risk, reason across context, and defend at machine speed, while keeping people in control of strategy, guardrails and critical decisions.

“AI has changed the speed, scale and economics of cyber defense. The future is not security teams managing more tools; it is experienced defenders directing AI-powered systems that can work continuously and act at machine speed, with humans firmly in control,” said Kevin Hanes, Chief Executive Officer at Quorum Cyber.

“The union of Quorum Cyber and Ontinue is a major step forward in evolving our portfolio for that future and bringing to market the largest Microsoft-first MXDR combining machine intelligence with the judgment, expertise and accountability customers need to move forward with confidence.”

Following closing, the combined company is expected to deliver a broader, full-lifecycle approach to cyber resilience, spanning secure AI adoption, proactive security improvement and 24/7 threat detection through incident response and recovery.

Rather than treating Microsoft security tools as isolated products, the Agentic SOC enables them to work as part of an integrated, continuously learning operating model.

This approach allows customers to consolidate security operations, reduce operational burden and establish a clearer, more responsive path from detection to decision and action.

The transaction would also extend the organisations’ reach across North America, the UK and the DACH region, strengthening support for customers operating across borders and navigating regional regulatory, compliance, and data-governance requirements.

“In the Autonomous Threat Era, when attackers operate at machine speed while most defenses still decide at human speed, Ontinue was founded on the conviction that AI must be intrinsic to security operations, not a bolt-on,” said Moritz Mann, CEO of Ontinue.

“Our Agentic SOC platform overcomes the human-decision bottleneck by letting AI agents investigate, decide and act at machine speed within customer-defined guardrails, while people stay in control of risk and accountability.

“Quorum Cyber shares that belief and brings global scale, deep threat intelligence and a proven ability to turn Microsoft innovation into stronger security outcomes.

“Together, we will set the standard for how security operations are run in the AI era – giving customers broader protection, greater resilience and the confidence to adopt AI securely, while creating an exciting new chapter for our people.”

A Shared Commitment to Microsoft Security

The combination of Quorum Cyber and Ontinue would bring together two of the industry’s most experienced Microsoft Security partners and a shared vision for helping organisations reduce risk, strengthen resilience, and get more from their Microsoft Security investment.

Quorum Cyber is a Microsoft Solutions Partner for Security holding all Microsoft Security specialisations, a member of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) and the 2025 Microsoft Security MSSP of the Year. Ontinue is also a first wave MISA member, five-time Microsoft Gold Partner, and recipient of several key Microsoft awards, including MSSP Partner of the Year.

Recommended reading

• Elevator Targets Scotland’s ‘Growth Gap’ With New SME Survey
• Edinburgh-founded Quorum Cyber Appoints New CEO
• 81% of Scottish Businesses Seeing AI Productivity Gains
• Majority of Scottish SMEs Expect AI to Boost Productivity

This deep expertise will help customers operationalize Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender and the wider Microsoft Security and collaboration portfolio.

The proposed combined company intends to help customers establish the secure foundations, governance, observability and human oversight needed to put Copilots and agents into the flow of work and scale them with confidence.

Through the proposed combined company, Quorum Cyber has the capabilities, expertise and operational scale to help organisations take advantage of this next era of Microsoft Security.

The intended portfolio evolution would deepen support for Microsoft Azure, Defender XDR, Sentinel, Entra, Purview, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft Security Copilot, Microsoft Scout, Agent 365 and emerging agentic security capabilities.

The focus will be on helping organisations adopt and operate these technologies securely, improve security outcomes and realize more value from their Microsoft investments.

Eterna Growth Partners, a private investment firm and current majority investor of Quorum Cyber will be the majority investor of the combined company.

Quorum Cyber was advised by Mintz, Macfarlanes, and Schellenberg Wittmer and Ontinue was advised by Raymond James and Bär & Karrer. The transaction is expected to close after customary closing conditions and any required approvals. Until then, Quorum Cyber and Ontinue will continue to operate as independent companies. Financial terms were not disclosed.