62% of Irish enterprises working to digitalise infrastructure

Dublin – Apr. 09, 2020 – Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX), the global interconnection and data centre company, today published the findings of a global survey exploring IT decision-makers’ insights into the biggest technology trends shaping the worldwide economy. The results of the global study—which gathered responses from 103 Irish IT decision-makers—show that Irish companies are well on their way to preparing for a more connected world, the need for which has been highlighted by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The survey findings revealed that even before the current crisis, Irish organisations were taking significant steps to embrace digital business. The study showed that almost two-thirds (62%) of Irish IT decision-makers view digitalising their infrastructure as a priority for their organisation’s technology strategy. In addition, 55% cited moving their infrastructure to the digital edge—where population centres, commerce, and digital and business ecosystems meet and interact in real time—as a priority, while 50% highlighted their desire to connect to more digital ecosystems.

 

More than two-thirds (68%) said they plan to move more of their IT functions to the cloud, with 57% of these planning on doing so within the next 12 months, despite 50% of respondents still seeing perceived cybersecurity risks around cloud adoption as posing a threat to their business.

 

Cloud strategies considered include a dispersed multicloud approach where a single company will use different cloud providers for different functions. This is a major trend emerging in the marketplace and corroborated by the study. 37% of Irish IT leaders say they are prioritising a multicloud approach in their technology strategy, which will have significant implications for the industry as businesses continue to diversify their portfolio of cloud providers.

To cater to the rapid adoption of hybrid multicloud solutions, Equinix recently announced that it has acquired bare metal automation platform leader Packet. Coupled with Equinix’s flagship cloud connectivity platform, Equinix Cloud Exchange Fabric™ (ECX Fabric™), which supports hybrid multicloud strategies by directly, securely and dynamically connecting distributed infrastructure and digital ecosystems globally, the service enables companies to bypass the public internet and make the move to the digital edge—whilst avoiding unnecessary cybersecurity risk.

Implementing an interconnected fabric of network and cloud hubs at the digital edge in this way simplifies the complexity of hybrid IT and provides the choice, scale and agility required for current and future digital business requirements. By providing this critical infrastructure in 55 markets across the world, Equinix is ensuring its customers are better equipped to securely reach everywhere, interconnect everyone and integrate everything that matters to their business.

The third volume of the annual Global Interconnection Index (GXI) forecast that private connectivity at the edge would grow by 51% compound annual growth rate (CAGR)—exceeding a remarkable 13,300+ Tbps by 2022.

Maurice Mortell, Managing Director for Ireland, Equinix, said:

“Our research shows that Ireland’s IT leaders have been gearing up for a more digital, interconnected era for quite some time. That preparation is now proving to be well-timed, as in order to navigate these uncertain times, many Irish and global enterprises have transformed into digital businesses almost overnight.

Every day, we are seeing Irish organisations roll out innovative solutions in order to meet an entirely new set of customer requirements and in turn, help others to weather the storm too. The ability to adapt, innovate and scale quickly, relies on IT infrastructure that sits at the digital edge and private connectivity that doesn’t rely on the now-overburdened public internet to function. The enterprises that succeed in doing this are not only protecting themselves in the short-term, but they may emerge as stronger, more competitive digital businesses of the future, too.”

Claire Macland, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing, Equinix, said:

“A worldwide shift towards hybrid multicloud deployments was well underway ahead of the COVID-19 outbreak, with enterprises looking to gain a competitive business advantage through scalable solutions accessible from dispersed locations. It will be interesting to see how quickly this accelerates given current digital demands. Rearchitecting IT infrastructure, including the adoption of cloud, is a pivotal reason why companies come to Equinix—to deploy hybrid multicloud architectures which securely transmit data over dedicated, private networks; thus, optimising IT infrastructures whilst shrinking attack surfaces.”

About the study

The independent study, commissioned by Equinix, surveyed 2,485 IT decision-makers in 23 countries across the Americas (Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, U.S.), EMEA (Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, UAE, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, U.K.) and Asia-Pacific (Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore). Respondents were selected for participation from Dynata’s online panel. The survey was conducted online between 1 and 16 August 2019.

Additional resources

Equinix 2019-20 Tech Trends Survey [report]

Global Interconnection Index Volume 3 [report]

IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Colocation & Interconnection Services Report [report]

Learn more about Equinix Cloud Exchange Fabric™ [website]

Equinix Completes Acquisition of Bare Metal Leader Packet [press release]

DVSA Deploys to the Cloud, Reduces Latency with ECX Fabric [case study]

About Equinix

Equinix,Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX) connects the world's leading businesses to their customers, employees and partners inside the most-interconnected data centers. On this global platform for digital business, companies come together across more than 50 markets on five continents to reach everywhere, interconnect everyone and integrate everything they need to create their digital futures. www.Equinix.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from expectations discussed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the challenges of acquiring, operating and constructing IBX^® data centers and developing, deploying and delivering Equinix products and solutions; unanticipated costs or difficulties relating to the integration of companies we have acquired or will acquire into Equinix; a failure to receive significant revenues from customers in recently built out or acquired data centers; a failure to complete any financing arrangements contemplated from time to time; competition from existing and new competitors; the ability to generate sufficient cash flow or otherwise obtain funds to repay new or outstanding indebtedness; the loss or decline in business from our key customers; risks related to our taxation as a REIT; and other risks described from time to time in Equinix filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see recent Equinix quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available upon request from Equinix. Equinix does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.