Data Center POST had the opportunity to speak with Garry Connolly, Host in Ireland’s Founder and President, during HostingCon Global 2016, which took place between July 24-27 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The conference is the largest gathering of the hosting and cloud services community in the world. In our Q&A, Mr. Connolly speaks about recent developments at Host in Ireland and their biggest accomplishments.
Q and A with Data Center Post’s Contributing Editor, Kathy Xu
Data Center POST, Kathy Xu (DCP-KX) Question: What is Host in Ireland and what is its mission?
Host in Ireland, Garry Connolly (HOST IN IRELAND-GC) Answer: Host in Ireland is an industry-led initiative designed to raise awareness of Ireland as a premium digital asset hosting location. Our goal is to change and shape global industry perceptions through the provisioning of timely and accurate information. With the support of a growing team of partners, Host in Ireland has harnessed the “power of the collective,” fostering an environment of co-opetition where competing companies and organizations come together to achieve common goals through cooperation and collaboration.
Host in Ireland is sustained by the “5 Ps” – Policy, People, Pedigree, Pipes and Power. Representing the most important aspects of digital asset hosting, Ireland’s integration of these five key elements provides a structured foundation for companies of all sizes and markets. With an understanding of how to meet their requirements across the board, Ireland has the ability to offer companies the support they need when hosting their digital assets in the EMEA region
DCP-KX Q: What have been some of the initiatives biggest accomplishments?
HOST IN IRELAND-GC A: Since our launch in 2014 Host in Ireland has grown from five partners to 17 in 2016. While this may not sound impressive in its own right; it is the global success that the group has achieved that is most impressive. The Executive Council of Host in Ireland is made up of 17 of the industry’s most recognized leaders. The Council meets to act on industry issues that can be collectively promoted.
To date, our biggest accomplishment has been getting global leaders in the hosting, fiber, data center and services industries to take a holistic view on the market and work together in a co-opetition model that raises global awareness for Ireland and in turn their own operations in Ireland.
In June 2016, the initiative was awarded the “Global Innovative Location” award at DataCloud 2016 in Monaco. The judges commented that Host in Ireland demonstrated an understanding of the major aspects affecting site location selection and this was captured by our “5 P’s” ethos (Policies, Pedigree, People, Power and Pipes).
As the world continues to be monitored, managed and measured by data, the requirement to select a destination that protects the integrity of your data is not a need, it is a necessity.
DCP-KX Q: What do you hope you achieved at HostingCon Global this year?
HOST IN IRELAND-GC A: To have continues to promote the “5 P’s” and demonstrate that collaboration works.
DCP-KX: Thank you for your time. If you are interested in learning more about Host in Ireland, please visit http://hostinireland.com/
