Edinburgh-headquartered Quorum Cyber, the Microsoft-centric cybersecurity services provider, said it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Zurich-based Ontinue from Swedish private equity group EQT.
The Edinburgh firm said Ontinue is a “managed extended detection and response (MXDR) provider delivering non-stop managed security through its Agentic Security Operations Center (SOC).”
Boston-based 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 said: “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 organization 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.”
Quorum Cyber CEO Kevin Hanes said: “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.
“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.”
Quorum Cyber said: “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 organizations’ 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.”
Ontinue CEO Moritz Mann said: “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.
“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.”
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.
Christian Küpper, Director and responsible for the investment at EQT Private Equity said: “It has been a privilege to work with Moritz and the Ontinue team and experience first hand how agentic AI transformed the company.
“Since the carve-out from Open Systems in 2023, Ontinue has established itself as a standalone business, strengthened its financial profile and established itself as a leading MXDR player powered by its leading agentic AI and automation capabilities.
“We believe that the combination with Quorum Cyber creates a strong platform for Ontinue’s next phase of development and look forward to following the company’s continued progress.”