Build trust all the way around when going through an acquisition – How Xceptional acquired Altitude Integrations

About The Interviews

JumpCloud’s MSP partners are at the forefront of providing essential IT services to small and medium-sized businesses globally. In our interview series, we delve into conversations with these partners, exploring the dynamics of their MSPs and how JumpCloud plays a pivotal role in their operations.

In today’s feature, we had the opportunity to speak with Chris McKewon of Xceptional and Brett Ramberg of ElephantHop about their successful acquisition. Join us as we uncover insights into their MSP journey and the impact of JumpCloud’s solutions.

Here are my 5 key takeaways:

Why Xceptional Acquired Altitude

The acquisition of Altitude by Xceptional was their first foray into the world of M&A. It was the culture fit and the geographic location of Bretts company that first excited Chris and the Xceptional team.

The acquisition expanded capabilities

Xceptional had traditionally operated in the Windows world and Altitude had experience in multi-platform environments, cloud environments and Identity and Access management.  These capabilities enhanced the offering from Xceptional. 

Trust of staff is vital

Brett explained that selling a business is a very personal experience and that ensuring staff are going to be treated well is one of the most important factors.  As soon as Brett met Chris he just knew there was a great opportunity for all his team within Xceptional. The deal also opened up more opportunities for existing staff within Xceptional – It was a Win/Win in Bretts view.

JumpCloud were in our backyard

In the very early days of Altitude a tech spoke to Brett and said “We need to look at JumpCloud”. This was before JumpCloud had a partner program but as they were based in the same area Brett said “Let’s do it” and started to investigate.  They began by implementing internally to understand how it all worked and then began to sell to clients as part of their product stack. 

JumpCloud is now woven into the Xceptional service

At the time of the acquisition Chris wasn’t aware of JumpCloud but after speaking with Brett he got certified on the platform and it’s now woven into their product offering.  They discuss JumpCloud with all existing clients and prospects and believe it gives them a leg up on a lot of the competition. 

About Chris McKewon

Chris’ experience in Information Technology spans over twenty years. He spent much of that time as an IT manager, engineer, project manager, etc. In 2007, Chris founded Xceptional. He has worked tirelessly to develop a culture that values and develops its employees, and provides the highest level of service to its stakeholders. Under his leadership, Xceptional has been transformed from a Value-Added Reseller into a growing, award-winning Managed Service Provider. 

About Brett Ramberg

Brett Ramberg, a dynamic business consultancy leader, is the CEO and co-founder of ElephantHop and Ramberg Labs, specializing in Identity & Access Management and Generative AI. He’s also the Managing Partner at SB Ventures, focusing on M&A for small to medium-sized businesses. Brett’s expertise extends to operational improvements and financial management, evident from his tenure as CEO at Altitude Integrations. Brett’s passion lies in business transformation through AI, M&A and strategic leadership.

Thanks to Chris & Brett for taking part in this chat.

To find out more about JumpCloud and how it can help your MSP you can email us or read more here.