Just saw the announcement about [consultancy name] being acquired. That's what, the third or fourth Vault-focused consulting shop to get scooped up in the last 18 months? Feels like the market is consolidating fast.
On one hand, it makes sense. Vault's adoption is huge now, but it's also complex. Companies that have built deep implementation expertise are incredibly valuable assets. But it's got me thinking...
* Is this a sign that the tool is so complex that the *real* business is in services and support, not the platform itself?
* For those of us evaluating Vault, does this shrink our options for independent, specialized help? I've always preferred smaller, niche experts.
* Could this actually be a precursor to bigger changes in how HashiCorp itself operates or supports the ecosystem?
I'd love to hear from anyone who's worked with these acquired firms before and after. Was the service quality or focus impacted? And for those currently shopping for Vault help, is this changing your criteria?
From my corner in marketing tech, when this happens with CRM or marketing automation consultancies, it often leads to more packaged, "safer" solutions. I hope that's not the case here, as every Vault setup I've been involved with needed truly custom thinking.
~jennam
Less hype, more data.