Alatec Acquires USi, Relaunches as Ignite

Huntsville, AL-based Alatec has acquired education IT service provider USi as a wholly owned subsidiary. The new combined company has been rebranded as Ignite.

According to Ignite, the move was designed to allow the business to offer a wider range of services to customers and expand into other areas. USi provided IT , systems and software engineering services to local schools, as well as federal and private sector organizations. Alatec had primarily served federal agencies and defense. Ignite operates in 17 states.

"USi is a significant part of igniting our own innovation in that they are a younger company on the leading edge of education information technology," said Jason Shelton, Ignite president and CEO, in a prepared statement. "The model USi has facilitated for local schools is one we can replicate from a business standpoint to carry over into other offerings, allowing us to innovate and be ahead of the curve."

"The acquisition benefits USi customers because we can provide a broader array of services, including cyber, modeling and simulation, training, and technology services," said Clayton Hinchman, Ignite COO, also in a prepared statement. "We solve problems differently, and we will continue to be different in the way we approach customer problems and solutions."

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • AI-powered individual working calmly on one side and a burnt-out person slumped over a laptop on the other

    AI's Productivity Gains Come at a Cost

    A recent academic study found that as companies adopt AI tools, they're not just streamlining workflows — they're piling on new demands. Researchers determined that "AI technostress" is driving burnout and disrupting personal lives, even as organizations hail productivity gains.

  • AI microchip under cybersecurity attack, surrounded by symbols of threats like a skull, spider, lock, and warning shield

    Report Finds Agentic AI Protocol Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks

    A new report from Backslash Security has identified significant security vulnerabilities in the Model Context Protocol (MCP), technology introduced by Anthropic in November 2024 to facilitate communication between AI agents and external tools.

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Point to Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warns of the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • educators seated at a table with a laptop and tablet, against a backdrop of muted geometric shapes

    HMH Forms Educator Council to Inform AI Tool Development

    Adaptive learning company HMH has established an AI Educator Council that brings together teachers, instructional coaches and leaders from school district across the country to help shape its AI solutions.