Global Information Distribution

What Global Information Distribution does

Global Information Distribution (GID) GmbH is a Cologne-based IT systemhaus founded in 1994, specializing in datacenter infrastructure, enterprise storage, backup and recovery, archiving, virtualization, hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI), and IT security for mid-to-large enterprises and the German public sector. The company resells and integrates products from a deep partner stack led by Dell Technologies (where it holds Titanium status and is a first-hour VxRail partner), supplemented by VMware/Omnissa, Veeam, Fortinet, Cohesity, Arctera, FAST LTA, macmon, Keepit, Quantum, and Rimage. GID augments this third-party portfolio with proprietary software tools (GID CDxPress, GID PST Migration Controller, GID Exchange Analyse) and a services layer including GID Proactive Update Services, GID Assessments, and a migration practice.

GID operates across seven German cities — Cologne (HQ), Augsburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Jever, Stuttgart, and Halle/Saale — through a direct enterprise field-sales motion and certified technical integration teams, with all revenue generated domestically. The business model combines hardware resale, software licensing, professional consulting and implementation services, and recurring maintenance/support contracts, with multi-year service agreements and a 4-hour response-time SLA. Since 2023 GID has been a subsidiary of the Medialine Group, and in January 2026 long-tenured CEO Friedrich Förster departed after 30 years, with CFO Rainer Kempf and CTO David Heissler continuing in operative management.

Name

Global Information Distribution

Legal name

Global Information Distribution GmbH

Website

https://gid-it.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GID is a German IT systemhaus founded in 1994 that resells, integrates, and supports enterprise datacenter, storage, backup, archiving, virtualization, and security solutions for mid-to-large enterprises and public-sector clients across Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of IT hardware including servers, storage systems, networking equipment from partners like Dell Technologies
2. Software Licensing: Resale of software licenses from vendors including VMware, Veeam, Cohesity, Fortinet, and Arctera
3. Consulting and Implementation Services: Professional services for planning, conception, and implementation of IT infrastructure projects
4. Maintenance and Support Services: Ongoing technical support, maintenance, and managed services for hardware and software systems
5. Hardware Service: Full hardware service including preventive maintenance, repairs, parts replacement, and 4-hour response time during business hours
6. Software Service: Software maintenance including error resolution, updates, patches, hotline support, and remote service with 4-hour response time

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Global Information Distribution (GID) is a German IT system integrator that plans, delivers, and operates enterprise datacenter, storage, backup, archiving, virtualization, and IT security solutions. It combines hardware and software resale from leading vendors (Dell Technologies, VMware, Veeam, Cohesity, Fortinet, Arctera, Omnissa, FAST LTA, macmon, Keepit, Quantum, Rimage) with proprietary tools (GID CDxPress, GID Exchange Analyse, GID PST Migration Controller) and consulting, migration, assessment, proactive update, and managed services for mid-to-large enterprises and public sector clients in Germany.

Product overview

Global Information Distribution (GID) operates as a system house (IT solutions integrator) rather than a single-product company, offering a broad portfolio of hardware, software, and services centered on enterprise data management, datacenter infrastructure, backup and recovery, archiving, virtualization, and IT security. The portfolio spans Dell Technologies products (servers, hyperconverged infrastructure such as VxRail, all-flash storage including PowerStore and PowerMax, data protection appliances such as PowerProtect DD, and networking), Arctera/Veritas backup and archiving solutions (Backup Exec, Enterprise Vault, eDiscovery Platform, Insight), Cohesity data protection, VMware by Broadcom and Omnissa Horizon for virtualization and VDI, FAST LTA silent archiving storage, Rimage disc publishing systems, Fortinet security fabric, macmon network access control, Keepit SaaS backup, Quantum tape and backup appliances, and Veeam. GID augments these third-party products with its own proprietary software tools (GID CDxPress, GID Exchange Analyse, GID PST Migration Controller) and a suite of professional services including proactive update services, IT assessments, and migration services. The company acts as a reseller, integrator, and managed service provider, delivering solutions from multiple vendor brands through a unified services layer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GID Proactive Update Services
• GID Assessments
• GID Migrationsservice
• Arctera Enterprise Vault (GID-Systembetrieb)
• GID CDxPress Software
• GID Exchange Analyse
• GID PST Migration Controller
• Hardware Service (GID)
• Software Service (GID)

Quantifiable outcome

• 4-hour response time for hardware and software service requests
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Dell TechnologiesflagshipTechnology or IntegrationDell Technologies is GID's premier technology partner with Titanium Partner status. GID resells the full Dell portfolio including PowerEdge servers, PowerStore, PowerMax, PowerProtect, VxRail, Unity XT, PowerScale Isilon, and other enterprise solutions. GID has been a VxRail partner from the first hour.
• VMware by BroadcomflagshipTechnology or IntegrationGID maintains a strategic partnership with VMware, providing virtualization solutions, VxRail implementations, and VMware-related consulting services.
• OmnissacoreTechnology or IntegrationGID holds Platinum Partner status with Omnissa, providing Horizon VDI and related desktop virtualization solutions.
• VeeamcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGID is a Gold Value-Added Reseller for Veeam backup and data management solutions.
• FortinetcoreTechnology or IntegrationGID holds Expert Partner status with Integrator and MSSP designations for Fortinet security solutions.
• FAST LTAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGID is a Preferred Partner for FAST LTA, reselling Silent Bricks and Silent Cubes data storage solutions.
• KeepitcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGID is a Value Added Reseller Elite partner for Keepit SaaS backup solutions.
• macmoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGID holds Platinum Partner status for macmon Network Access Control (NAC) and SDP solutions.
• CohesitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGID resells Cohesity NetBackup and NetBackup Appliance solutions.
• Arctera (formerly Veritas)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGID is a Silver Partner Force partner for Arctera solutions including Backup Exec, Enterprise Vault, eDiscovery Platform, and Insight.
• QuantumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGID resells Quantum DXi-Series Backup Appliances and Scalar Tape Library solutions.
• RimageminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGID is a Service Provider partner for Rimage disc publishing solutions including Catalyst, Everest, Maestro, and Producer V systems.
• Medialine GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGID became part of the Medialine Group in 2023. The group includes Medialine AG (IT Infrastructure, Business Solutions, Cloud & Managed Services), interface systems GmbH (complex IT infrastructures), and itk communications GmbH (Business Communications). Medialine is represented in Austria and Romania. Martin and Stefan Hörhammer are the current owners.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SVA System Vertrieb Alexander GmbH: SVA is a German owner-managed system integrator specializing in datacenter infrastructure, storage, backup and virtualization. It is one of the closest head-to-head German competitors to GID in Dell-based infrastructure, HCI and data protection projects.
• Computacenter plc: Computacenter is a UK-headquartered but Europe-heavy IT infrastructure provider with deep enterprise relationships. It competes with GID for mid-to-large enterprise datacenter, storage and end-user computing contracts, particularly with global vendors Dell, VMware and Veeam.
• SWS Computersysteme AG: SWS Computersysteme is a German medium-sized system house focused on enterprise storage, virtualization and IT security. It targets similar mid-to-large enterprises and competes with GID on Dell storage, backup and HCI deployments.
• Bechtle AG: Bechtle is Germany's largest IT system house and E-commerce provider, offering IT infrastructure, datacenter, workplace and software solutions through more than 100 locations across Europe. It directly competes with GID across Dell-based infrastructure, managed services and public-sector contracts in Germany.
• Controlware GmbH: Controlware is a German system integrator and managed service provider specializing in datacenter, network and security solutions. It competes with GID directly in enterprise and public-sector infrastructure deals across Germany.
• ACP Group (Avanade/Atos origin): ACP (formerly part of the Atos/Avanade channel network) is a German IT system house offering datacenter, workplace and cloud solutions. It is a comparable mid-to-large German integrator competing for similar Dell-led infrastructure customers.
• Cancom SE: Cancom is a leading German IT services and system integrator focused on hybrid cloud, managed services and digital workplace. It is one of the closest direct competitors to GID in mid-to-large enterprise and public-sector infrastructure deals across Germany.
• Axians Germany (VINCI Energies): Axians is the ICT brand of VINCI Energies operating in Germany across datacenter, cloud, networks and security. It directly competes with GID in enterprise and public-sector infrastructure modernization projects.

Broad incumbents

• Allgeier SE: Allgeier is a German IT services group offering enterprise IT, software development and digitalization across multiple brands. It overlaps with GID in enterprise IT infrastructure and managed services but operates at much broader scale and scope.

Others

• Medialine AG: Medialine AG is GID's parent group and sister IT services company specializing in cloud and managed services. It is included as an ecosystem/affiliated peer because, while distinct, it shares customer relationships and joint go-to-market within the Medialine Group.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GIDKOELN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-information-distribution-gmbh

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Information Distribution