“It turned obvious that our prospects are asking about this stuff and actually making an attempt to determine it out,” Walsh mentioned. “They’re making an attempt to ensure they’re compliant and that they are protected, and that is after we noticed the necessity to enter an space that we have by no means actually gone into.”

Headquartered in Raleigh, NC, and based in 2014, Proton affords sellers an inventory of cybersecurity instruments, resembling outsourced IT departments, safety operations facilities, distant assist desks, and on-site assist groups.

Founder Brad Holton is the only proprietor and mentioned he intends to proceed main Proton for the long run below the Reynolds umbrella.

Proton has about 600 seller prospects, 98 p.c of that are franchisees, Holton mentioned. Walsh mentioned there’s loads of room to develop Proton’s services in Reynolds’ buyer base, even perhaps to “100%” of it. Reynolds doesn’t disclose the variety of prospects at his dealership.

This yr, Walsh mentioned Reynolds would step up its acquisition exercise and construct out its product portfolio.