IT consultancy Kerson Wallaw acquires two cybersecurity specialists

Kerson Wallaw, a Montreal-based IT consulting firm, has acquired Montreal cybersecurity specialist firms Ubitrak and ACCEL-PCI.

Founded in 2017, Kerson Wallaw delivers IT consulting services to a range of clients. The boutique firm – which lists two employees on LinkedIn – offers services in project management, development and programming, training, and audits and compliance. The firm specifically offers deep expertise in PCI DSS (payment card industry data security standard) compliance, which ensures compliance standards for companies which handle branded credit cards from major providers. Kerson Wallaw also supports clients with information security audits and compliance for SOC and SSAE 16 standards.

The firm’s acquisition of Ubitrak and ACCEL-PCI is part of its strategy to expand its position in the Canadian cybersecurity market.

Ubitrak provides IT security services, including assessment and testing, attack response, preparation of policies and standards, compliance and certification, and training. The firm, which is a qualified security assessor (QSA), serves e-commerce merchants, financial institutions, payment service providers, payment terminals, call centres, and travel sector clients.

ACCEL-PCI, which is backed by Ubitrak, supports small- and medium-sized merchants with PCI DSS compliance and certification. The company provides a web portal to help clients complete a self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ) and an attestation of compliance (AOC), which are the two requirements for PCI DSS compliance.

"Acquiring Ubitrak and ACCEL-PCI is an exciting leap in expanding our operations,” said James Barnard, president and CEO at Kerson Wallaw. “This acquisition helps us position our auditing division as a rising leader and confirms our presence and commitment to this industry. We have a fantastic team and we will continue to deliver top-notch bilingual services to our growing customer base.”

The two acquired companies will operate as divisions of Kerson Wallaw, under their current business names. Christian Richard, the former CEO of Ubitrak, will work closely as an advisor to ensure a smooth transition during the firms’ integration.

"I've been building the auditing expertise in these companies since 2001 and James has been an early contributor to our success. I worked with him for the past 10 years and I know he is the best person to carry on my legacy," Richard said.