hns in Berlin: synaforce acquires KRITIS expertise
5 min read
By acquiring hns hardware netzwerke software GmbH, synaforce is expanding its Berlin presence for the second time in 18 months. Behind the move is a buy-and-build strategy: maintaining regional proximity, securing KRITIS expertise, and scaling the company’s portfolio nationwide.
Key Takeaways
- Second Berlin acquisition. Following Herbst Datentechnik, hns now serves as another regional expansion for the synaforce Group.
- KRITIS as a lever. hns is certified to VdS 10000 and supports energy providers, municipal utilities, and care facilities, among others.
- Independence preserved. The team, culture, and customer relationships will initially remain intact, supplemented by the Group’s data-center and managed-services resources.
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25 years of Berlin IT expertise
hns hardware netzwerke software GmbH was founded in 2000 and ranks among Berlin’s established IT service providers. A 25-strong team supports SMEs locally and nationwide via its own data center.
Its service portfolio spans network technology and telecommunications to hosted workspaces and IT security. For customers, the full-service approach is key: planning, implementation, support, and monitoring all handled in-house.
What is hns? hns is a Berlin-based IT service provider with its own data center, 25 employees, and a focus on SMEs. The company supports networks, telecommunications, hosted workspaces, and IT security, including clients from regulated and critical infrastructures.
KRITIS shifts from niche topic to growth strategy
The real strategic lever lies in the KRITIS environment. hns is certified to VdS 10000 and serves customers in critical infrastructures, including regional energy providers and care facilities.
These very sectors are what synaforce is targeting for expansion. With NIS2 and tighter KRITIS requirements, demand is rising for providers that can demonstrably operate regulated environments securely.
What does KRITIS expertise in IT operations entail? It means the ability to run systems for critical infrastructures in a verifiably secure, available, and auditable manner. For customers, this translates into certifications, documented processes, responsiveness, and experience in regulated industries.
Tobias Lehner, CTO and CEO of synaforce, says: “hns embodies what drives synaforce: deeply rooted in the region, technologically at the highest level, and uncompromisingly customer-focused.”
What changes for customers
In the initial phase, hns will continue as an independent unit within synaforce. The team, corporate culture, and long-standing customer relationships will remain intact.
What’s new is access to a nationwide network of IT experts, state-of-the-art data center infrastructure, and additional resources for larger projects. This addresses a bottleneck many regional IT providers face: proximity to customers is there, but capacity and specialized knowledge need to grow.
For energy suppliers, municipal utilities, and care facilities, this combination is especially relevant. They need service providers who don’t just close tickets but can take on operational responsibility. That’s where the blend of local roots and a broader platform becomes a strategic advantage.
Norman and Birgit Goldmann, Managing Directors of hns, explain: “With synaforce, we’ve found a partner who not only shares these values but actively embodies them with cutting-edge data center infrastructure and a wide network of IT experts.”
Perspective for the Mittelstand
For mid-sized businesses, this case highlights a trend that will intensify in 2026: regional IT providers are consolidating into nationwide platforms to secure economies of scale, talent, and compliance expertise.
Local proximity isn’t just a sentimental remnant-it’s an anchor of trust. Especially in critical infrastructures, reliability in operations matters just as much as technology itself.
The second Berlin acquisition is therefore more than just a location update. It shows how consolidation in the IT Mittelstand can succeed without losing the relationship layer that often determines project success for SMEs.
For synaforce, this creates clearer access to regulated industries. For hns customers, the ideal outcome is greater depth without losing their familiar point of contact. It’s this balance that determines whether consolidation in the Mittelstand is seen as a risk or a relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is hns?
hns hardware netzwerke software GmbH is a Berlin-based IT service provider with around 25 employees and more than 25 years of market presence.
Why is KRITIS a strategic focus for synaforce?
Energy suppliers, municipal utilities, and care facilities require demonstrably secure operational models. hns brings regional customer proximity and VdS-10000 expertise to the table.
What does Buy-and-Build mean in this context?
synaforce consolidates regional specialists under a nationwide platform. Local customer relationships remain intact while the portfolio, data center infrastructure, and security expertise expand.
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Image source: synaforce / hns (June 2026)
