---
title: "Cybersecurity Firm Datapath Acquires MSP Bright Bear"
date: 2020-07-14
summary: "ChannelE2E item on Datapath acquiring Bright Bear Technology Solutions, naming Nathan Phinney's transition from Bright Bear president to Datapath general manager of Southern California."
outlet: "ChannelE2E"
source: "https://www.channele2e.com/news/datapath-buys-bright-bear"
url: "https://nathanphinney.com/cybersecurity-firm-datapath-acquires-msp-bright-bear/"
author: "Nathan Phinney"
author_role: "COO, AllSafe IT"
author_url: "https://nathanphinney.com/about/"
same_as: ["https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanphinney", "https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0DKF16LDD", "https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/52091659.Nathan_Phinney"]
expertise: ["IT", "InfoSec", "Managed Services", "Cybersecurity", "Business Operations", "Technology for Escrow Companies", "Technology for Nonprofits"]
updated: 2026-10-12
---

ChannelE2E item on Datapath acquiring Bright Bear Technology Solutions, naming Nathan Phinney's transition from Bright Bear president to Datapath general manager of Southern California.

By Ty Trumbull, ChannelE2E, July 14, 2020. A short news item based on a company release; it contains no direct quotes from Nathan. Datapath CEO David Darmstandler and COO James Bates are quoted.

Title as printed: "Cybersecurity Firm Datapath Acquires MSP Bright Bear".

[Read the article at ChannelE2E](https://www.channele2e.com/news/datapath-buys-bright-bear)

## What Nathan said

Nothing in print. ChannelE2E reported: "President Nathan Phinney transitions to general manager of Southern California for Datapath, the company announced."

## Key facts

- "Northern California-based cybersecurity firm Datapath has acquired Bright Bear Technology Solutions for an undisclosed amount."
- "DataPath is headquartered in Modesto, California, and has offices in Irvine and Fresno."
- "Bright Bear Technology Solutions is a managed services provider based in Irvine, California."
- "The deal will create one of the largest MSP and cybersecurity providers in the state, the company said."
- "It represents the second in a series of planned acquisitions across California and the west coast of the U.S. as Datapath seeks to expand in the coming years, according to the company."
- "The deal took place 100 percent remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company said."
- Logged by ChannelE2E as M&A deal 285 of 2020.

[Read the original](https://www.channele2e.com/news/datapath-buys-bright-bear)

## About the author

**Nathan Phinney**, COO, AllSafe IT.

- Co-founded Bright Bear Technology Solutions (2010 to 2020), which reached the CRN MSP 500 and Ingram Micro SMB 500 lists before its 2020 acquisition by Datapath.
- 17 SOC 2 initiatives across six companies, never an exception on an effort he led
- Member of InfraGard
- Member of the XChange Advisory Board, The Channel Company (2018 to 2022 and 2026)
- Author of _CTRL ALT SURVIVE: The Secrets of My Small Business Success_

Expertise: IT, InfoSec, Managed Services, Cybersecurity, Business Operations, Technology for Escrow Companies, Technology for Nonprofits.

Featured in: CRN (7 articles, 2019 to 2026), Backblaze, Bigleaf Networks, ChannelE2E, GTIA, Orange County Business Journal. See https://nathanphinney.com/press.md

Recommended on LinkedIn by Brook Porter (Partner and Co-Founder at G2 Venture Partners; previously at Kleiner Perkins, where he worked with Al Gore) and Tim Acker (Former channel chief at Lumen).

More: [About Nathan Phinney](https://nathanphinney.com/about.md) | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanphinney) | [Amazon author page](https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0DKF16LDD) | [Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/52091659.Nathan_Phinney)