Google has completed a previously announced investment in ADT Inc, the provider of security, automation, and smart home solutions. The $450 million Google investment arrives as ADT continues to also invest in managed security services for businesses.
ADT's cybersecurity arm was ranked 123 in among the Top 250 MSSPs for 2020, our research indicates.
The ADT-Google relationship involves these initiatives and focus areas:
- Google ($GOOG) acquired roughly a 6.6% ownership stake in $ADT.
- Each company will commit $150 million for co-marketing, product development, technology and employee training.
- The resulting products and services — spanning Google Nest hardware and ADT’s security monitoring services — will include do-it-yourself and professionally installed security offerings.
- ADT expects to offer certain Google devices to its customers beginning in 2020 and to expand the integration in 2021.
ADT Managed Security Services Strategy
ADT is more than a consumer and home monitoring service. The company has introduced managed security services for homes and small businesses. Key moves include ADT in 2018 acquiring Secure Designs Inc. (SDI), a well-known MSSP and SonicWall partner that manages firewall equipment for small business customers. More recently, ADT has:
- introduced digital security services;
- partnered with Xperteks Computer Consultancy;
- hired Apple veteran Bob Kupbens;
- launched an SMB-focused managed security service; and
- partnered with enVista for more SMB security services.
MSSP Alert is watching to see if or how ADT leverages Google Chronicle, an increasingly popular security analytics platform.
