• Survey finds 85% of Irish companies currently deploying cloud technology
  • 91% are considering or planning increased cloud adoption in the next year
  • 60% of businesses quote security concerns as the biggest barrier to increased cloud adoption
  • More than three-quarters say legal jurisdiction in which data is held affects their cloud provider choice
  • More than 58% are using multiple cloud service providers

Dublin, 11 May 2017 – Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX), the global interconnection and data centre company, today announces the results of an independent survey* of senior IT decision-makers in Ireland, which found that the average medium to large enterprise will spend on average €190,000 on cloud technology and services in the next 12 months. The survey shows that about 85% of businesses are currently deploying cloud technology. More than half (53%) already have plans to increase deployment in the next year and a further 38% are considering increasing their cloud usage.

The findings show that cloud technology is widely deployed by Irish enterprises and as they embark on their digital transformation journeys, businesses are relying on their cloud service providers (CSPs) to help them become digitally competitive. When asked to list their top reasons for using cloud technology, 48% said it provides them with the ability and flexibility to scale, while 34% said it helps with speed of deployment.

Despite the clear competitive advantage of using cloud, businesses face barriers to adoption, or increased adoption. Security risks were listed by 60% of the respondents when choosing the top barriers. That was followed by loss of control of data and governance (50%) and the high costs associated with deployment (38%).

As the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) deadline approaches, businesses are exercising caution with regards to where their data in the cloud resides. More than half (52%) said the legal jurisdiction in which their data is held ‘always’ affects their choice of CSP, while 27% said it ‘sometimes’ does.

The survey confirms the growing significance of cloud within Irish organisations, with some 24% of respondents saying more than a quarter of their IT budget now goes on cloud spending. Irish businesses are also becoming more sophisticated in their deployment and are looking for ways in which different CSPs can serve their various digital transformation and overall IT strategy. Of those that are using cloud, some 58% of respondents said they are using multiple CSPs.

Maurice Mortell, managing director for Ireland and emerging markets, Equinix, said: “Irish businesses have really embraced cloud and you can see that in the amount they are investing in it and the increasing sophistication of their usage. Cloud is essential for all businesses today – not just IT companies. In fact, it’s quite hard not to be utilising the cloud in some form or another these days. However, businesses must ensure that they are using the cloud in a secure, efficient and innovative way that enhances their business and helps them compete in the digital era.

“One of the ways in which we are now seeing enterprises do this is through multi-cloud deployment – in other words, using more than one cloud service provider. There are many benefits to this but one in particular is performance. As data becomes increasingly distributed because of our mobile lives, businesses are now realising that capturing data closer to where it is generated improves the quality of service. Having multiple clouds in multiple markets to interconnect IT infrastructure at the digital edge is the way of the future. We expect this trend will continue to take hold of businesses’ IT strategies to the point where almost all are using multiple CSPs.

“Another benefit to a multi-cloud strategy is flexibility in where that data resides. The fact that more than half choose cloud service providers on the basis of the legal jurisdiction that data is held is very revealing. It shows how businesses are becoming increasingly aware of their obligations regarding where they host their data. We recognised this trend early on, as well as the need for global organisations to store data where their customers and businesses are based. With 179 colocation facilities in 44 markets, we can help our customers to securely manage their data where they need to.”

Earlier this year, Equinix launched its Cloud Exchange platform in Ireland, specifically designed for businesses that need direct access to multiple CSPs. Bypassing the public internet, it provides direct connectivity to the world’s leading cloud services providers – helping enterprises to embrace digital transformation by enabling them to  leverage cloud-based services to meet changing business needs – all from one location. The first CSP available on Cloud Exchange in Ireland was Microsoft Azure and Office 365, which was voted by 49% of survey respondents as the ‘most trusted’ CSP on the market.

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* This survey was commissioned by Equinix and carried out by TechPro in April 2017 among 120 senior IT professionals and decision-makers in Irish-based medium to large enterprises.

About Equinix

Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX) connects the world’s leading businesses to their customers, employees and partners inside the most interconnected data centres. In 44 markets across five continents, Equinix is where companies come together to realize new opportunities and accelerate their business, IT and cloud strategies. 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 centers and developing, deploying and delivering Equinix services; unanticipated costs or difficulties relating to the integration of companies we have acquired or will acquire into Equinix; a failure to receive significant revenue from customers in recently built out or acquired data centers; 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; and other risks described from time to time in Equinix’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see Equinix’s recent 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.

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Media Contact

Helen Morrogh
Comit for Equinix, Inc.
Tel: +353 1 2993000
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