Optiv Sells Consulting Business To Focus On Managed Services, Security Solutions

Optiv Security has completed the sale of its Advisory, Consulting and Transformation (ACT) business to technology-focused investment firm Vobis Ventures, resulting in the creation of a standalone entity named Optiv Consulting. The transaction transitions 500 employees and approximately 800 clients to the new firm, which will be led by former Capgemini and Coforge executive Anup Kumar. This strategic carve-out allows Optiv Security to prioritize high-growth managed security services while providing the consulting arm with dedicated capital to scale specialized advisory services in artificial intelligence and governance.

The newly formed Optiv Consulting launches with a significant market footprint, including 800 initial clients, a quarter of which are members of the Fortune 500. Headquartered in Ashland, Virginia, with a global workforce across the U.S., Canada, and India, the firm aims to bridge the gap between AI adoption and governance. CEO Anup Kumar indicated that while the consulting business was previously one of many units within Optiv Security, it will now serve as a core platform for Vobis Ventures to invest in "agentic implementation" and other emerging technology advisory services.

For Optiv Security, the divestiture represents a shift toward capital-intensive, high-return segments such as its Advanced Fusion Center security operations and managed detection and response (MDR) offerings. CEO Kevin Lynch emphasized that the move was independent of the company’s recent debt recapitalization and was instead driven by the desire to reinvest capital into managed identity security and governance. Despite the separation, Optiv Security retains its value-added reseller (VAR) business and its federal division, Optiv + ClearShark, while maintaining its proprietary Optiv Market System (OMS) for customer intelligence.

To ensure continuity and minimize disruption, the two organizations have entered into an exclusive one-year partnership and referral agreement. Under these terms, Optiv Security will direct consulting and advisory demand to Optiv Consulting, while the new entity will refer managed services and VAR opportunities back to its former parent. This arrangement allows both firms to maintain a unified front for existing clients while pursuing independent growth strategies. Lynch noted that the majority of the transitioning staff are remote workers, further smoothing the operational transition for the North American professional services team.