High demand for cloud computing good for Ireland

GROWING demand for cloud computing helped the Irish-based operations of global technology giant, EMC, to grow by 21% in the three months to the end of September.

The data storage and technology support services giant — co-founded in the late 1970s by former US ambassador to Ireland, Richard Egan — said yesterday that total group revenues jumped by 18%, on a year-on-year basis, in the third quarter, reaching $4.98 billion (€3.64bn). Net income, for the three month period, was up by 28% year-on-year to $606 million.

But the third quarter saw record revenue generated from its US operations; with a 17% year-on-year rise amounting to $2.7bn and 54% of the quarter’s total revenue. Revenues from outside of the US amounted to $2.3bn, up by 20% on the same period last year. The company employs 50,000 people worldwide — 2,500 in Ireland.

The 21% year-on-year rise in third quarter Irish- based revenues shows, according to the company, that the growth in demand for private cloud solutions in Ireland continues to surge.

“With the strategy, products and momentum in our favour, EMC is well-positioned to help customers in Ireland and across the world accelerate their journey to the cloud, helping IT leaders to store, manage, protect and analyse their most valuable asset — information — in a more agile, trusted and cost-efficient way,” said Bob Savage, vice-president and managing director of EMC’s Centre of Excellence in Cork.

Mr Savage said the results show EMC is at the heart of a shift in the global IT industry, where hybrid cloud computing is gaining momentum as the most important high-tech revolution since the internet.

“Through our Centre of Excellence, EMC’s largest manufacturing site outside the US, we are helping customers to discover the value of big data and transform IT into a source of greater efficiency, agility and control.”