ploon.it group

What ploon.it group does

ploon.it group GmbH is a Hannover-based managed IT services provider (MSP) group that operates a federated "Local Hero" model: independently run regional IT companies retain their brands, customer relationships, and entrepreneurial identity while sharing centralized group resources, technology standards, and M&A support. Formed in July 2024 when founding member List + Lohr GmbH (Hannover, operating for 27 years, ~90–95 employees, 1,000+ KMU customers) partnered with Munich-based private equity firm PROM12, the group has since acquired STEP Computer- und Datentechnik GmbH (Lörrach/Basel/Schönau, June 2025), IT-Service MEDATA GmbH (Melle, August 2025), and bestserv GmbH (Marburg, November 2025), bringing combined headcount to 150+ across five locations in Germany and Switzerland.

The group's product portfolio is built on a Microsoft-centric technology stack (Azure, Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Intune, Teams, SharePoint) augmented by proprietary Hannover Cloud infrastructure, hybrid cloud capabilities from bestserv, WatchGuard-based managed security from STEP and List + Lohr, and DATEV accounting software support (List + Lohr positions as one of the largest DATEV partners in Northern Germany). Service lines span managed IT services (the recurring core), project-based IT consulting and migrations, IT hardware/software sales, and managed security — all targeted at the SME (KMU / Mittelstand) segment.

Revenue is generated through managed service contracts, cloud subscriptions (Hannover Cloud, Azure hybrid), project engagements, and hardware/license resale, sold exclusively via direct regional field sales at the individual subsidiary level with no indirect channel. The stated strategic goal is to achieve a leading managed IT services position in 8 key German economic regions, and in December 2025 the group was named "MSP des Jahres" (Managed Service Provider of the Year) at the CRN Channel Awards Germany, with the jury highlighting ARR growth and successful integration of acquired firms.

Name

ploon.it group

Legal name

ploon.it group GmbH

Website

https://ploonit.group

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ploon.it group GmbH is a Hannover-based federated MSP group serving German and Swiss SMEs through regionally autonomous "Local Hero" IT service companies (List + Lohr, STEP, MEDATA, bestserv) that share centralized resources, M&A support from PE sponsor PROM12, and a Microsoft-centric managed IT, cloud, and security stack.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Managed IT Services

NAICS

Computer Facilities Management Services (541513), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518), Management of Companies and Enterprises (5511)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Cloud Managed Services (M365/Azure/AWS/GCP) (BPAEABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

ITSM Managed Services (Run/Operate/Optimize) (BPAEAJAN), Data Security & Privacy Managed Services (DLP/Encryption) (BPAEADAL), Network Management (LAN/WAN/Wi‑Fi) Services (BPAEABAD), Service Catalog, Request Fulfillment & Self-Service Portals (BPAEAJAI)

Keywords

• Managed IT services
• Cloud infrastructure services
• Microsoft 365 management
• IT security services
• Modern workplace solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Hannover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Managed IT Services: Recurring managed services contracts providing ongoing IT infrastructure management, monitoring, support, and maintenance for SME customers. Core revenue driver across all group member companies including List + Lohr, STEP, MEDATA, and bestserv.
2. Cloud Services (Hannover Cloud & Multi-Cloud): Cloud hosting and multi-cloud solutions delivered from proprietary Hannover Cloud infrastructure and Azure-based hybrid environments. Provided by List + Lohr and bestserv for cloud-first strategies.
3. IT Consulting & Project Services: One-time project-based services including IT infrastructure implementation, migrations (e.g., Microsoft 365 migrations), security implementations, and digital transformation consulting for SME clients.
4. IT Infrastructure & Hardware: Sale and installation of IT hardware components, software licenses, and infrastructure solutions. MEDATA also provides ERP (GDI) support services.
5. Managed IT-Security Services: Managed security services including WatchGuard-based security solutions, security monitoring, and compliance management. STEP and List + Lohr are certified partners.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The ploon.it group is a federated Managed Service Provider (MSP) group that sells and delivers managed IT services, cloud infrastructure (Microsoft Azure, hybrid cloud, and its proprietary Hannover Cloud), Microsoft 365 / Modern Workplace management, managed IT security (WatchGuard-based), DATEV accounting-software support, and GDI ERP support primarily to small and medium-sized enterprises (KMU) across Germany and Switzerland. Customers contract directly with one of the group's regional member companies (List + Lohr, STEP, MEDATA, bestserv) under recurring managed-service engagements, with centralized group management providing shared resources, knowledge pooling, and M&A capacity.

Product overview

ploon.it group is a managed IT services provider group (MSP) that operates as a federated model of independently run regional IT companies united under one umbrella. The group combines multiple sub-brands and acquired entities — including List + Lohr GmbH (the founding member), Hannover Cloud, STEP, MEDATA, and bestserv — offering managed IT services, cloud infrastructure (Microsoft Azure, hybrid cloud, Hannover Cloud), IT security, Microsoft 365 services, DATEV accounting software support, and Modern Workplace solutions. Each subsidiary maintains regional brand identity and customer relationships while benefiting from group-level resources, shared best practices, and a consolidated technology stack.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Managed IT Services Recurring managed-services contracts covering IT infrastructure management, monitoring, support and maintenance for SME customers across all group member companies.
• Managed IT-Security Services Managed security services including WatchGuard-based network security, endpoint protection, security monitoring and security assessments for SME customers, delivered by STEP and List + Lohr.
• Hannover Cloud Cloud-based hosting and managed cloud services operated from the Hannover region, supporting SME customer workloads as part of the group's local cloud offering.
• Microsoft Azure & Hybrid Cloud Services Implementation and operation of Microsoft Azure environments and hybrid cloud architectures combining on-premises infrastructure with Azure, primarily delivered by bestserv GmbH.
• Microsoft 365 Services Administration, migration and ongoing optimization of Microsoft 365 environments including Entra ID, Exchange Online, Intune, Teams and SharePoint for SME customers.
• Modern Workplace Solutions Managed Modern Workplace services providing secure, device-managed collaboration environments for SMEs, covering identity, device management, communication and content collaboration.
• DATEV Services Installation, configuration, maintenance and technician-level support for DATEV accounting and tax software environments, serving accounting firms and SME customers using DATEV.
• ERP Support (GDI) & Managed Services (MEDATA) Managed IT services with transparent pricing plus IT infrastructure and ERP support for GDI ERP systems, delivered by IT-Service MEDATA GmbH to SME customers in the Osnabrück region.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150+ employees across the group serving SME customers across Germany and Switzerland
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WatchGuard TechnologiescoreTechnology or IntegrationWatchGuard Technologies is a renowned IT security vendor. List + Lohr GmbH (founding member of ploon.it group) is a certified WatchGuard partner and received the 'Most Inspirational Partner of the Year' award. WatchGuard provides security technologies that are integrated into the group's managed security service offerings.
• Microsoft (Solutions Partner)coreTechnology or Integrationbestserv GmbH is a certified Microsoft Solutions Partner with deep cloud expertise in Microsoft Azure and hybrid cloud architectures. The group's managed services heavily rely on Microsoft technologies including Microsoft 365, Azure, Teams, SharePoint, Intune, and Entra ID.
• LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe ploon.it group maintains a LinkedIn company page for business networking, employer branding, and industry thought leadership. LinkedIn is used for marketing and recruitment purposes.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SVA System Vertrieb Alexander: German IT system house specialized in data center, cloud and managed services, with strong Microsoft and Azure expertise. Closely comparable SME-focused managed IT services model in Germany.
• PRODYNA: German-origin IT consultancy and managed services provider with deep Microsoft Azure and cloud expertise, serving enterprise and mid-market. Comparable in Microsoft-centric cloud managed services delivery.
• AvePoint: Microsoft-focused cloud and data management provider serving SMEs and mid-market in Europe, with managed services offerings around Microsoft 365 and Azure. Comparable in Microsoft-centric managed services positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Avanade: Joint venture between Accenture and Microsoft specializing in Microsoft technologies including Azure, M365 and Dynamics. Comparable in deep Microsoft expertise but at much larger scale and enterprise focus.
• q.beyond: German mid-market IT services provider offering managed services, cloud and SAP consulting, with focus on SME and mid-market customers. Direct competitor in German regional managed IT services.
• CANCOM: One of the largest independent IT service providers in Germany and Austria, offering managed services, cloud and workplace solutions. Overlaps directly with ploon.it's Microsoft-centric managed IT services for SMEs but at significantly larger scale.
• Computacenter: UK-headquartered enterprise IT infrastructure provider with substantial German operations, providing managed services, cloud and workplace solutions. Comparable in Microsoft-aligned services delivery but focused on enterprise rather than SME segment.
• Allgeier: German IT services group with a portfolio of managed services and digital transformation offerings, also pursuing a roll-up strategy of regional IT providers. Closely comparable business model with similar M&A-driven scale-up.
• DATAGROUP: German IT full-service provider with strong managed services and cloud offering for SME and enterprise customers. Comparable in regional managed IT services model with established German footprint.
• Bechtle: Germany's largest IT system house with broad managed services, cloud and workplace offerings across the SME and enterprise segments. Direct competitor in German regional MSP markets, with substantially greater scale and vendor negotiating power.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ploonit-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries5 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 ploon.it group