Irish Company CubeMatch Expands in India Creating 50 Jobs

CubeMatch, the Irish-owned global change and transformation consultancy is to create 50 new jobs in Chennai, India which will increase its workforce to 125 bringing total headcount to 450 over the next 12 months.

“The expansion of the development and test centre will accelerate growth globally and enable CubeMatch to support the company’s strategy to expand its offerings, provide value to customers in their change and transformation journey, and grow the business globally,” explains Tom Melville, Group CEO, CubeMatch.  

CubeMatch offers consultancy, resource augmentation and managed services enabling change programmes to be embedded in their clients’ businesses.  CubeMatch have experts in strategic change, business and digital transformation, risk and compliance, data and technology, quality assurance, managed services, business change, compliance and financial crime. 

The 50 new jobs will be created over the next 12 months to serve International clients and will include Dev/Ops and Automation engineers, .NET developers, Angular developers, SAP and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) specialists.

Santhosh Kumar has now been appointed CEO at CubeMatch-Claritaz while Mohan Thilak heads up a group role for Business Development for the Asia Pacific area including Australia and New Zealand.  Santhosh will lead the team which will strengthen its offshoring and managed service capability.  He has a successful track record of building and scaling businesses, growing teams, and creating value for customers.

“I’m thrilled to be joining CubeMatch-Claritaz and to have the opportunity to work with a team that has already accomplished so much,” says Santhosh Kumar.  “I am looking forward to taking CubeMatch to the next level in terms of developing our Development and Test Centre teams’ provision and growing our business.”

“We are delighted to have Santhosh join CubeMatch-Claritaz as CEO and Talik head up our Asia Pacific Business Development,” adds Jacob Koshy, Group CFO of CubeMatch. “Santhosh has an impressive track record of driving growth and building successful teams, and we believe he is the right person to lead CubeMatch into its next phase of growth.”

CubeMatch clients span major global financial institutions including Bank of Ireland, Rabo Bank, ABN AMRO, AIB, Ulster Bank, BCM Global, Commerzbank, Mars Capital, PTSB, Deutsche Bank, Nat West, BNP Paribas, Mizuho and UBS.

SHEIN Launches EMEA Headquarters in Dublin City

SHEIN, a global e-retailer of fashion, beauty and lifestyle products, has officially launched its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters, based in Dublin City Centre, Ireland. The Dublin office will host SHEIN’s strategic IT hub for EMEA and will function as the heart of SHEIN’s operations in the region, building on our
commitment to local economies, communities and consumers.

The opening ceremony was joined by Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, where he met with SHEIN’s Global Head of Government Relations, Leonard Lin, and other company leaders to discuss SHEIN’s strategy in Ireland. This included discussing the growth of SHEIN’s workforce in Dublin, to fill roles in data analytics, security engineering, finance management and legal, as well as expanding SHEIN’s graduate program in Ireland. SHEIN aims to fill 30 key roles in the Ireland office by end 2023, with a view to increase that number as the company grows.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney TD said: “I warmly welcome the announcement that SHEIN has launched their new EMEA Headquarters and IT hub in  Dublin, creating 30 new jobs in 2023. These positions will be in a range of specialist areas and no doubt SHEIN will have no problem filling these rolls from our skilled workforce. It is a vote of confidence that another global leader has chosen Ireland to launch their EMEA HQ and highlights that we have the environment to attract FDI companies to our shores. I wish all the team at SHEIN the very best in their new Dublin office and ventures.”

As part of SHEIN’s efforts to empower local entrepreneurs, SHEIN’s in-house fashion incubator programme, SHEIN X, has collaborated with 390 designers and artists across EMEA since its launch in January 2021, supporting them in their aspirations of launching a fashion collection by providing them with the knowledge, experience, network and global sales channel, so that they can focus on what they do best – create. SHEIN aims to continue to grow this number in the coming years.

In 2023, SHEIN plans to host around 30 pop-ups around the EMEA region, with the next Ireland pop-up happening from May 12 to 17, 2023, at the exciting Opera Lane, in Cork. Last year, SHEIN’s pop-up at Jervis Shopping Centre, Dublin, attracted over 4,000 visitors per day. These pop-ups form an integral part of the SHEIN business model, allowing consumers to experience products first-hand as well as allowing the brand to engage with consumers.

SHEIN’s nearshoring strategy has also seen three new distribution centres opening across EMEA in 2022, including a 40,000m2 distribution hub in Wroclaw, Poland, as well as centres in Italy and the United Arab Emirates, growing its nearshoring bases in EMEA to eight. By nearshoring its distribution hubs, SHEIN aims to improve the speed of fulfilment in the region. Both initiatives are prime examples of SHEIN’s dedication to offering the best customer service and experience for consumers in EMEA.

As part of SHEIN’s social impact efforts, SHEIN has made monetary donations and donationsin-kind, in the form of apparel, household items and home decorations, to various women’s and children’s charities across EMEA. These include Irish charities and NGOs such as The Marie
Keating Foundation and The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Ireland, which support causes that are aligned with SHEIN’s social impact focus areas.

Said Leonard Lin, Global Head of Government Relations for SHEIN, “I am delighted to launch our EMEA headquarters in Ireland. Ireland’s pro-business environment and great access to talent make it an excellent hub for companies, including SHEIN, to manage and grow our business in the region. Our Dublin office opening marks an important milestone in SHEIN’s growth in EMEA – which is one of our most important markets. We look forward to contributing to the growth of the local economies and to supporting local communities.”

Michael Lohan, CEO, IDA Ireland said: “The arrival of SHEIN in Dublin is a welcome addition to Ireland’s IT sector along with their plans to hire 30 people by the end of 2023. Ireland is an ideal location in terms of talent and experienced resources from which SHEIN can grow and expand their offering in Europe. I wish them great success here.”

How Private Equity Investors are Driving Growth in 2023

Overview of Private Equity Investment in 2023 

Katten’s 2023 Middle-Market Private Equity Report says that even though there are some hard times with money, private equity investors are still optimistic. They asked 100 people in the US to see how funds can make money and find growth opportunities in the next year.

Financial Services and Technology as Potential Opportunities for Private Equity Investors 

The survey found that dealmakers had different views on the 2023 mergers and acquisitions market. 40% expected no change, 33% expected an increase, and 26% expected a slowdown. However, they all agreed on some potential areas for growth. 54% of people said that the financial services industry has the best chance for success this year. Technology was second with 47%.

In addition, survey participants expressed optimism about the effectiveness of all-equity deals in creating successful deals in the next year

They cited all-stock deals as the most important factor, and most predict an increase in the number of such deals in the future one of the investment is gaining popularity India online casino game among players from around the world and provides an opportunity to earn a return on investment

Benefits of All-Equity Deals for Private Equity Firms in 2023 

Even though it has been a tough year, some investors are still finding good deals in the market. Our clients are also putting up a strong fight to secure deals, even with a cautious approach and outlook. Christopher Atkinson thinks investors are trying very hard even though the market is difficult right now.

Strategies to Unlock Value Amid Global Economic Headwinds 

Today trying to gain an advantage in the limited credit market in any way possible. Before, buyers wanted to be special by getting insurance for their deals. Now almost everyone is doing this. Now, the main goal is to make sure the sale of your home goes through quickly and without any problems. This is even more important because the market isn’t as stable as it used to be.

The private equity market is having a hard time. It is difficult to get enough money for deals and prices for things are going up, which makes it even harder. Interest rates are also getting higher. These challenges are influenced by macroeconomic trends and government policies. Investors may not buy a home because of rules and laws, money worries, and extra research.

Considerations when Investing in Tech with Private Equity Funds in 2023 

David Washburn, co-chair of Katten’s Mergers & Acquisitions/Private Equity practice, stated that although there are obstacles in the M&A industry, middle-market private equity firms have shown resilience in the past. He believes that even in a year of ups and downs, dealmakers with available funds can still find success and complete transactions. This is especially true for those who are willing to take risks by investing in companies with lower valuations, exploring new industries, or using different methods for acquisitions.

Private equity firms mostly have investments in financial services (58%), real estate (48%) and technology (43%)

Because of inflation, they are planning to put their money in more places. They want to invest in making things (50%), taking care of people’s health (46%), insurance (44%) and technology (43%).

How to Make the Most Out of Your Investments with a Professional Advisory Team 

After signing an agreement, two out of three people are more sure that the deal will happen like it was supposed to. 18% of dealmakers are significantly more confident than they were at this time last year. 

Most investors expect the same level of due diligence in the next 12 months as in the previous year

Most people who make deals said that buyers and sellers agree with important parts of the deal. When selling a home, make sure to check that no changes were made without permission. You should also get permission from the government. Double check everything is ready before it closes. This has stayed the same in the last year. This year, they have to do this even more.

Closing Thoughts on Private Equity Investment Opportunities in 2023

Kimberly Smith works at Katten. She said 2022 was a difficult year for companies who buy small businesses and invest in them. Despite economic, regulatory, and geopolitical challenges, investors still moved forward. To be successful in the future, people who make deals will need to consider different ways to finish them. This might involve exploring new deal terms, capital deployment methods, or investment sectors.  

 

Opportunities for dealmaking still exist, no matter how sponsors decide to adjust to the rapidly changing M&A environment.

Dexcom selects Ireland for first European manufacturing site in Athenry

IDA Ireland, together with Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, announced today that Dexcom, Inc., a global leader in continuous glucose monitoring for people with diabetes, plans to build its newest global manufacturing facility in Athenry, Galway. The project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland and represents an investment of €300 million over five years and the potential to create up to 1,000 high skilled jobs over the same period.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “Congratulations to all at Dexcom on this move, which is great news for local employment and the local economy in Galway and the wider region, both during the initial construction phase, and even more so thereafter with the creation of up to 1,000 high tech graduate and technician positions expected in the coming years. I was pleased to meet with Dexcom this time last year when I visited their headquarters in San Diego. This will be one of the biggest single private sector investments ever in the West of Ireland.  In addition to the thousand jobs being created by the company, it will bring many spin-off opportunities, jobs and contracts for other businesses in the region.  The announcement that Athenry is to become Dexcom’s first manufacturing site in Europe is very much in line with the Government’s policy of balanced regional development.  It has been enabled by major government investment in infrastructure in the area and a lot of hard work on the part of IDA Ireland.”

Attending the event, Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment Simon Coveney TD said: “I am delighted that Dexcom has chosen to make this major new investment in Ireland. It’s a huge vote of confidence in Ireland’s significant and growing talent pool and the world-class MedTech cluster that has developed in the West of the country. The very substantial employment opportunities that accompany the arrival of Dexcom in Athenry will be a considerable boost to the West MidWest and Midlands regions.”

Subject to planning permission, the Ireland site will be Dexcom’s first manufacturing site in Europe, expanding upon the company’s existing capabilities in the U.S. and Malaysia. The new facility will have the capacity to produce millions of Dexcom CGM sensors each year, helping to improve the lives of people with diabetes around the world. Subject to planning approval, the new facility will be located on the IDA Ireland strategic landbank in Athenry.

The facility in Athenry will contain a highly automated and efficient manufacturing operation with an emphasis on green technologies. Dexcom expects to provide about 500 construction jobs while the facility is being built and up to 1,000 high tech graduate and technician level positions once the site is running at full capacity.

With the continued success of our Dexcom G7 in Europe, we are pursuing an ambitious growth strategy that requires increased manufacturing capacity to support our rapidly expanding European user base,” said Barry Regan, Executive Vice President of Global Operations at Dexcom. “Ireland has an exceptional talent pool and an established MedTech sector, making Athenry the perfect location for us to establish a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.”

“This is an important strategic investment by Dexcom in Athenry, Co Galway, a regional location that will greatly benefit from the widespread economic and employment boost that an announcement such as this has the potential to deliver,” said Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland. “Ireland’s track record in attracting MedTech investments from major innovators, speaks for itself.  This latest investment only enhances that further. I wish Dexcom every success with this investment and assure them of IDA Ireland’s continued support.”

In October 2022, Ireland was one of the initial launch markets globally for Dexcom G7, the company’s next-generation CGM system that offers a powerful yet simple way to help people gain greater control of their diabetes. The system’s low-profile, all-in-one wearable sends real-time glucose readings automatically to a compatible smart device* or receiver, no painful finger sticks or burdensome scanning required. Dexcom G7 builds on the trusted performance of Dexcom CGM, which is clinically proven to lower A1C and reduce hyper- and hypoglycemia. ‡,1 

For information about Dexcom job openings in Athenry go to:  careers.dexcom.com/careers

To learn more about Dexcom or to get started with Dexcom CGM today, visit Dexcom.com.

Importance of Using an Eviction Notice Template

Landlords in Mississippi and Arkansas must follow strict eviction processes to legally remove tenants from their properties. One of the essential tools they need is an eviction notice, which serves as official notice to the tenant that they must vacate the property. Creating an eviction notice from scratch can be time-consuming, and there is a risk of errors that can result in the notice being invalid. That’s why using an eviction notice template is crucial.

An eviction notice template is a pre-designed form that landlords can use to create a notice quickly and easily. It ensures that the notice includes all the necessary information and is in compliance with state laws. Using a template can save landlords time and money while ensuring that they follow the correct legal procedures.

How to Choose the Best Eviction Notice Template

Choosing the best eviction notice template can be overwhelming, given the numerous options available online. However, there are a few factors that landlords should consider when making their selection.

First, landlords should ensure that the template is specific to their state’s laws. Mississippi and Arkansas have different eviction laws, so landlords must choose a template that complies with their state’s regulations.

Second, a quality eviction notice template should be easy to understand and use. The template should provide clear instructions on how to complete it and what information to include. It should also be customizable to allow landlords to add their unique details.

Third, landlords should look for templates that are up-to-date and compliant with the latest state laws. Outdated templates may not include the latest legal requirements or may no longer be valid.

Top Features of a Quality Eviction Notice Template

A quality eviction notice template should include key features to ensure that it is valid and effective. Here are some of the top features to look for:

  1. Clear and concise language: The notice should be easy to read and understand, with clear instructions on what the tenant must do.
  2. Compliance with state laws: The template should include all the necessary information required by state law, such as the reason for the eviction, the date the tenant must vacate the property, and the landlord’s contact information.
  3. Customizable fields: The template should allow landlords to add their specific details, such as the tenant’s name, the property address, and the lease agreement’s details.
  4. Proper formatting: The notice should be properly formatted and structured, with clear headings and sections.
  5. Professional appearance: A professionally designed template can help landlords create a positive impression and show that they take the eviction process seriously.

The Best Eviction Notice Templates in Mississippi

Landlords in Mississippi must follow strict eviction procedures to avoid legal issues. Here are some of the best eviction notice template Mississippi available for landlords:

  1. The Mississippi Notice to Quit: This template is specific to Mississippi and includes all the necessary information required by state law. It’s easy to use and customizable, making it an excellent choice for landlords.
  2. The Mississippi Eviction Notice: This template includes detailed instructions on how to complete the notice and what information to include. It’s also up-to-date with the latest state laws and requirements.
  3. The Mississippi 30-Day Notice to Quit: This template is suitable for landlords who need to give their tenants 30 days’ notice to vacate the property. It’s clear and concise, making it easy for tenants to understand their obligations.

The Best Eviction Notice Templates in Arkansas

Landlords in Arkansas must also follow strict eviction procedures to comply with state law. Here are some of the best eviction notice template Arkansas available for landlords:

  1. The Arkansas Notice to Vacate: This template is specific to Arkansas and includes all the necessary information required by state law. It’s customizable and easy to use, making it an excellent choice for landlords.
  2. The Arkansas 10-Day Notice to Quit: This template is suitable for landlords who need to give their tenants 10 days’ notice to vacate the property. It’s up-to-date with the latest state laws and requirements and includes clear instructions on how to complete the notice.
  3. The Arkansas 14-Day Notice to Quit: This template is suitable for landlords who need to give their tenants 14 days’ notice to vacate the property. It’s clear and concise, making it easy for tenants to understand their obligations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using an Eviction Notice Template

While using an eviction notice template can save landlords time and money, there are some common mistakes to avoid:

  1. Failing to customize the template: Landlords must add their specific details, such as the tenant’s name, the property address, and the lease agreement’s details. Failing to do so can render the notice invalid.
  2. Using an outdated template: Outdated templates may not include the latest legal requirements or may no longer be valid. Landlords must ensure that they use the most up-to-date template available.
  3. Failing to comply with state laws: Each state has different eviction laws, and landlords must follow them to avoid legal issues. Using a template specific to their state can help landlords comply with state laws.
  4. Failing to deliver the notice correctly: Some states require landlords to deliver the notice in person or by certified mail. Landlords must ensure that they follow the correct delivery procedures to avoid legal issues.

Conclusion

Using an eviction notice template can help streamline the eviction process for landlords in Mississippi and Arkansas. When choosing a template, landlords must ensure that it complies with state laws, is easy to use and understand, and includes all the necessary information. By using one of the best eviction notice templates available, landlords can save time and money while ensuring that they follow the correct legal procedures.

Unlocking the Power of AI: Enhancing Efficiency in IT Staff Augmentation

Imagine that your development team works almost twice as efficiently and fast with the same investment. It’s now not just the fantasy, but a good tone, taking into account the fact that a good deal of routine work can be done by the helper AI, which disrupted the global tech industry on all levels. According to a Gartner report, AI staff augmentation will generate $2.9 trillion in business value and save 6.2 billion hours of worker productivity by 2025.

Geniusee offers AI staff augmentation services to help you get top-notch code that’s both powerful and affordable. With our experience and proven track record, we can empower your team and products to boost business processes. In the article, we’ll take a closer look at how AI is improving IT staff augmentation services and what is leading the way with AI-based staffing solutions.

What is AI Staff Augmentation?

AI staff augmentation refers to the process of hiring AI professionals or teams to augment and enhance a company’s existing workforce. The main goal of AI staff augmentation is to fill gaps in knowledge, expertise, or capacity within an organization by bringing in skilled professionals to work alongside existing employees.

You can use AI staff augmentation to support a range of your business functions, including data analysis, natural language processing, machine learning, and software development. It can be an effective way to quickly bring in specialized skills and knowledge without investing in long-term training or recruitment.

Benefits Of AI Staff Augmentation For Your Business

Access to specialized skills

Just like with IT staff augmentation, AI staff augmentation allows you to access technical skills and expertise that might not be available in-house. This means you can work with top AI talent worldwide rather than being limited to your local area.

Increased productivity.

With AI staff augmentation, you can automate many repetitive and time-consuming tasks, allowing your team to focus on more complex and high-value work. It can lead to a significant increase in productivity and output.

Cost savings 

By using AI staff augmentation, you can avoid the costs associated with hiring and training new employees. Additionally, you only pay for the services you need, so you can avoid wasting money on underutilized staff.

Improved efficiency

AI staff augmentation can help you optimize your business processes and workflows, improving efficiency and reducing costs. With AI handling many of the routine and mundane tasks, your human staff can focus on higher-level work that requires creativity and problem-solving skills.

Faster time-to-market 

With the help of AI staff augmentation, you can speed up your product development and delivery processes. AI can help you analyze data, identify trends, and make predictions faster and more accurately than humans, giving you a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Scalability

AI staff augmentation allows you to scale your operations up or down as needed without worrying about hiring and training new staff. This means you can quickly respond to changes in demand or market conditions without incurring the costs and risks associated with expanding your workforce.

Improved customer experiences: AI can help you provide personalized and efficient customer experiences, from chatbots that can answer basic customer questions to AI-powered recommendation engines that suggest products or services based on customer preferences and behavior.

Accelerating Software Development with the Help of AI

Below Geniusee experts described some examples of how our developers use AI to improve every stage of software development and enhance business processes the same time.

Requirements management

Poor requirements management can significantly contribute to project delays, costs, and failure. To mitigate this risk, some vendors use digital assistants that use natural language processing and well-established rules to review requirements documents. These tools can identify inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and weaknesses such as incomplete requirements, missing units or tolerances, compound requirements, and escape clauses. 

Project management

Several startups have introduced tools that use advanced analytics to analyze data from a large number of previous software projects and predict the technical tasks, engineering resources, and timelines required for new software projects. This helps businesses enhance project management by using AI. It can improve project execution and planning.

Coding process

AI code completion tools suggest code snippets as developers type, reducing keystrokes by up to 50%. AI-powered code-review tools identify bugs and suggest code modifications automatically by comprehending code intent and recognizing common errors. For instance, Facebook’s bug-finding tool predicts and suggests solutions correctly 80% of the time.

Testing

Automated testing tools have long been used to run test scenarios created by quality assurance analysts. With artificial intelligence, tests can now be executed and test cases generated automatically, enabling more comprehensive testing and saving time for analysts.

Deployment

AI-powered tools can help anticipate deployment failures by analyzing data such as application logs and previous code release statistics. This can speed up root cause analysis and recovery in case of a failure.

AI revolutionizes the IT industry, resulting in increased efficiency, precision, and cost-effectiveness. Geniusee is leading this transformation by offering advanced AI-based development solutions to companies. By utilizing AI-driven approaches, you can easily fulfill your daily business operation in a more secure and scalable way. Are you interested in finding a more cost-effective approach to software development? The Geniusee team is here to empower your business processes with the help of AI tools. We have extensive experience using augmented coding on numerous projects, and we’re excited to help you leverage this technology to improve your own. Do not stay still! Take your business to the next level with Geniusee!

 

123ink.ie to bolster workforce with 25 new positions

Online printer supplies company 123ink.ie will hire 25 new people over the next 18 months as it continues to expand its business in Ireland.

The company, which has already doubled its workforce to 54 staff since 2021, will hire across sales, customer service, warehouse and content to meet the growing demand for its printer and office products.

123ink.ie has seen steady growth in its customer base and now boasts a total of almost 350,000 business and residential customers. The company, founded in 2006 by Frank Walsh, is now the largest supplier of ink, toner, and office supplies in Ireland.

123ink.ie’s recent rapid growth was driven by the Covid-induced shift towards remote work, as businesses needed to equip their home-based employees. This surge in demand prompted a significant expansion of its office and warehouse facilities in Finglas, Dublin, to over 23,000 square feet.

“We have achieved significant growth in our customer base, particularly in the past 5 years, allowing us to continue to invest in the business. Our planned new hires will be instrumental in helping us maintain our strong reputation and giving us the edge in a competitive market,” said Dave Doyle, commercial manager, 123ink.ie.

“Online ordering rapidly gained momentum during the pandemic, and as a result, many customers who were once hesitant to shop online embraced the convenience and efficiency of ecommerce platforms like 123ink.ie.

“We have proactively kept pace with this trend catering to the increasing demand for 3D printing in industries such as healthcare, education, and manufacturing, providing a seamless online experience to a wider audience.”

123ink.ie maintains the largest stock levels among all office supplies companies in the country, enabling it to provide unmatched delivery times, with over 90% of orders delivered the very next day.

As a part of the wider 123ink group of companies operating throughout Europe – including Benelux, Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, UK, Sweden, and Poland – it boasts significant buying power, which allows it to offer its products at highly competitive rates.

In addition, the company supplies a range of high-quality own-brand ink and toner cartridges that are among its biggest sellers due to their very competitive price point.

“Our vigorous commitment to customer service is at the forefront of our business model. It is at the heart of everything we do and we don’t just pay lip service to that. Given our exceptional service levels and keen pricing, every smart business in Ireland should really be considering buying from us,” added Doyle.

Skills shortage and low budgets considered biggest challenges for managing incident detection and response

Integrity360, Ireland and the UK’s largest cyber security services specialist, has today announced findings from a Twitter poll gaining visibility into the value of managed detection and response services (MDR). The poll, with 2,000+ responses and conducted between 8-10 March, highlights the pitfalls of existing detection and response, with the skills shortage and low budgets cited as the biggest challenges when it comes to managed detection and response – 28% respectively.

Furthermore, a third (33%) of respondents believe that threat detection is lacking most when it comes to cyber security and incident detection and response. This was closely followed by training and testing (27%). Meanwhile 26% of respondents said slow response times and 18% selected lack of visibility.

Richard Ford, CTO, Integrity360, comments: “Preventative measures, to protect and prevent threats targeting our critical systems and data are important, but not enough in this increasingly sophisticated cyber threat landscape. Organisations need security solutions and services that are effective peri-incident, that can detect, analyse and respond to threats that have bypassed preventative controls – threats both internal and external. Training and testing of these solutions, including platform tuning and training employees, is equally critical to maintaining a strong security posture.

“There remains a huge skills shortage in the cyber security industry, and particularly in high value skills and experience such as threat detection and incident response. MDR helps close the gap. In fact, organisations bridging the skills gap and utilising MDR services have a 62% reduction in the average number of security incidents per year”.

The poll did reveal that respondents look set to take action to address issues around incident detection and response, agreeing that MDR should be prioritised and highlighting that they will allocate the most cyber security budget to managed security (29%). A further twenty five percent noted that cyber security testing (25%) would receive a budget boost.

This is positive given that four in ten (40%) believe cyber security testing is best outsourced over handling in-house. Additionally, over a third (35%) believe a service provider better manages cloud computing security.

It appears in-house approaches may also require investment or improvement with the poll revealing that almost a third (31%) of respondents said that thirty percent of their cyber security budget is allocated to tools and solutions that are not used to their full potential.

When it comes to what people see as the most damaging impact of a cyber security breach, financial loss came top of the list (46%), followed by loss of trust (28%). Meanwhile, reputational damage was selected by twenty percent of respondents.

Ford adds: “We’re currently experiencing a time of economic downturn, when cyber security budgets are tight, and risks are heightened. However, slashing cyber security budgets can put a company at risk of losing their cyber security professionals which are already in short supply and can result in gaps in an organisation’s defences. Organisations are visibly assessing the value and efficiency of their security solutions and it’s great to see that they are looking to put budgets to good use by investing money and trust in service providers.”

Further, the poll found that over a third (36%) see increased defences as the most significant benefit of cyber security collaboration, with (36%) also seeing faster response times as being the biggest benefit of a managed detection and response service.

Integrity360’s MDR offering delivers real-time threat detection, proactive threat hunting, incident containment and response, security incident analysis and threat intelligence, compliance reporting, and 24/7 monitoring to businesses across Ireland and the UK. As well as enhancing organisations’ detection and response capabilities and enabling the protection of systems and data, the service provides businesses with access to on-demand and proactive support via Integrity360’s experienced security team.

Integrity360 leverages the latest threat intelligence and state-of-the-art solutions to deliver its MDR service to identify new threat actor Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) across networks, endpoints, servers, and the cloud.

Integrity360 has also recently announced that it has been named as a Representative Vendor in the 2023 Gartner Market Guide for Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Services.

Ford added: “As cyber threats continue to evolve in frequency, sophistication and efficacy, companies must roll out a comprehensive service to meet their security needs. That’s where MDR comes in. Through our offering we aim to deliver even deeper technical expertise and innovative technologies which enable companies to secure their operations and allow us to serve as an extension of their team.”

85% of organisations are not Digitally Optimised or Strategic

Digital Transformation Services specialist ActionPoint, A Viatel Technology Group Company, has published its second consecutive Digital Transformation Index Report. The report, which takes an in-depth look at the current state of digital maturity in Ireland, will allow business leaders to benchmark their organisations to identify blind spots and potential opportunities to respond to the developments and shifting trends of technology.

While the COVID-19 pandemic moved into the rear-view mirror in 2022, it has had a lasting impact on how organisations work, and how they embrace technology to improve performance. Yet, the report highlights that there is a risk that attitudes towards technology and digital capability regress to pre-pandemic levels.

The report is based on data gathered from 405 (234 Irish-based, 171 International) respondents from across 18 industries; who completed the ActionPoint Digital Maturity self-assessment, which focuses on six predefined pillars of an organisation’s overall digital maturity, giving them an insight into where they are leading, lagging, and how they’re doing overall. Organisations from Manufacturing, Retail and Technology make up 42% of survey respondents, and 57% of respondents analysed were Board Members, Director Owners, C-Level, VP, or Senior Managers.

Findings show that 85% of respondents are not Digitally Optimised or Strategic, which shows a huge opportunity for businesses to better leverage digital technologies. However, the report shows a 30% increase in low-code and no-code technology adoption year on year. No-code development is a type of web development that allows non-programmers and programmers to create software using a graphical user interface, instead of writing code.

Almost three in four organisations cite productivity and efficiency as a key reason behind technology adoption; while competitive advantage ranks second in this list at 63%.

While 70% of companies surveyed consider digital fundamental to their business strategy; less than one in three organisations (32%) have a digital training plan and budget in place; with just 27% considering development of digital skills during performance reviews.

David Jeffreys, CEO, ActionPoint explains “Our businesses are now faced with different economic challenges; we have high levels of inflation, COVID impacted supply chains, increasing input prices, and high levels of salary inflation; along with the continued challenges of managing a distributed workforce. Putting digital at the core of our business strategy means introducing a continuous digital transformation mindset, offering us a way to address many of these challenges by leveraging better insights from data, optimising processes, and improving resilience. 

“But a business cannot outperform its capability, and embracing a digital business strategy requires investment in digital capability. Yet this year’s report shows the lowest average score across the six dimensions of digital maturity was for digital capability, coming in at just 35%. There are many more interesting insights in this year’s report showing where there are opportunities for Irish businesses to embrace a digital transformation mindset, to improve productivity, and remain competitive in the face of economic challenges.”

27% of Irish companies are increasing technology investment to help with sustainability goals. This figure has increased from 23%, marking an increase in organisational focus on the climate emergency. However, internationally, 29% of respondents are prioritising similar initiatives.

Adoption of HR Management Systems has increased 16% year on year, indicating the growing importance of EX (employee experience). Another key factor in adopting such systems is a renewed focus on managing the remote workforce more efficiently. And with Hybrid working here to stay, 57% of organisations are sticking to collaboration tools like Teams and Zoom, with the uptake remaining close to 2021 levels.

Risk and Compliance received the highest self-assessment score, pointing to a wide understanding of the critical-nature of data and information security. 70% of organisations follow data backup best practice. Furthermore our data shows that 61% have a disaster recovery plan in place. Almost one in two (47%) of organisations conduct regular security audits through third parties to assess their vulnerability.

65% of organisations have indicated digital still remains a priority in the marketing of products and services. However, this number has dropped from 70% in 2021. And when it comes to engaging with their customers, social media continues to grow as a preferred CX (customer experience) tool. The live nature of platforms like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Messenger enables customers to ask questions and receive responses on their preferred medium. ChatBots have become easier to integrate, programme, and cheaper to operate meaning more organisations are pressing ahead with this increasingly ubiquitous CX technology (+54% YoY).

In the past 18 years, Limerick based ActionPoint has delivered Digital Transformation to more than 500 organisations at all levels of digital capability; helping them to implement new processes, transform customer experiences and bolster their data security.

For more information on ActionPoint’s work in Digital Transformation, visit www.actionpoint.ie/digital-transformation.