McKinney-based networking and security provider Cytracom has acquired Tentacle, a Plano-based platform that helps organizations manage cybersecurity assessments, monitor third-party risk, and operationalize governance, risk, and compliance programs.

Cytracom is provider of Secure Access Service Edge and Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) solutions for managed service providers. 

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“MSPs are increasingly being asked to manage risk as much as they manage technology,” Cytracom Co-Founder and CEO Zane Conkle said in a statement. “This shift creates both a challenge and an opportunity. With the acquisition of Tentacle, we’re giving our partners the platform they need to step into this evolving role with confidence—helping clients navigate compliance, track progress over time, and build programs that stand up to external scrutiny, while also enabling MSPs to clearly demonstrate the ongoing value of their services.”

Cytracom said the acquisition represents a significant advancement in its Security Risk Management (SRM) strategy and further aligns with the company’s mission to empower MSPs to grow beyond traditional IT services and embrace a more strategic advisory role, guiding their clients through the evolving discipline of risk management.

The company said that with increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies and mounting pressure from cyber insurers, MSPs are being asked to act as true risk advisors, helping clients meet compliance mandates and improve their overall security posture. Cytracom said that the integration of Tentacle into its platform delivers a robust response to this need, offering structured, repeatable, and collaborative tools that make it easier for MSPs to deliver value-added risk and compliance services.

Delivering security and compliance

Cytracom said it entered the SRM category via the acquisition of Telivy in January, introducing capabilities that enable MSPs to automate risk assessments, deliver recurring compliance documentation, and drive consultative engagements.

It said Tentacle builds upon that foundation by allowing partners to centralize security program data, collaborate in real time with clients and third parties, and map internal practices to industry frameworks such as HIPAA, PCI, and FTC Safeguards. Tentacle’s platform not only reduces the administrative burden of ongoing assessments but also provides the structure needed to move from one-time reviews to ongoing program management, Cytracom said.

Cytracom said that Tentacle’s ability to organize and share assessment data, manage third-party relationships, and ensure audit readiness positions it as a key component of Cytracom’s vision to simplify and scale SRM and GRC management for the channel.

“This is another step forward in building a complete platform that empowers MSPs to connect the modern workforce—securely, reliably, and within the evolving frameworks of GRC,” Cytracom Chief Commerce Officer John Tippett said in a statement. “Whether it’s unified communications, secure access, or risk management, our focus remains on making these capabilities accessible, intuitive, and impactful for the partners who deliver them every day.”

Integrating Tentacle into Cytracom’s broader infrastructure software platform deepens its investment in the tools MSPs need to succeed in a risk- and compliance-driven world, the company said.

“We’ve been investing heavily in Telivy as a platform for recurring cybersecurity assessments and compliance workflows,” added Rob McDonald, Chief Product Officer at Cytracom. “Bringing in Tentacle’s proven technology allows us to combine their robust architecture with our existing development strategy, resulting in a dramatic acceleration of what we can bring to market. It significantly advances our mission to give MSPs scalable, differentiated tools for security and compliance.”

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