Tag: managed

Ekco acquires Datalogix as it accelerates expansion strategy

Ekco, one of Europe’s leading security-first managed security service providers (MSSP), today announces the acquisition of Cork-based Datalogix. Ekco, founded and headquartered in Dublin, is continuing its ambitious acquisition trail, following a busy year in 2025 with three strategic acquisitions.

Datalogix is a Cork-headquartered operational technology (OT) business with over 20 years’ experience delivering proactive OT services to enterprise customers across Ireland, the UK, and the US. It provides secure OT infrastructure design, implementation, and support services that automate industrial processes for companies in the life sciences, pharmaceutical, general manufacturing, and critical national infrastructure sectors.

The company’s team will join Ekco’s workforce of more than 1,000 people globally across Ireland, UK, the Netherlands, Malaysia, and South Africa. Datalogix will form part of Ekco’s security division, bringing the division’s revenues to a €100 million share of Ekco’s overall group revenues of €200 million. The acquisition will significantly expand Ekco’s OT capabilities in the Irish, UK, and US markets, under the leadership of Ekco Ireland CEO Steve MacNicholas. It will enable Ekco to increasingly secure IT and OT convergence for customers amidst a growing OT threat landscape and a complex regulatory backdrop.

As part of Ekco’s rapid growth strategy, Datalogix marks the eighth company to be acquired by Ekco in the last two years. The acquisition follows the 2025 purchases of cybersecurity consultancy Predatech, and managed service providers (MSP) Solsoft and Adapt IT. It signifies another milestone in Ekco’s ambition to build a security-first unified MSP platform across Europe.

Datalogix is led by Managing Director Der Cremen and Chief Technical Officer Damian White, who will bring over 50 years’ combined industry experience to Ekco.

Steve MacNicholas, CEO of Ekco Ireland, said: “Having known Datalogix well for many years, we have always admired their highly specialised and client focused capabilities as trusted OT advisors in the life sciences, pharmaceutical, and critical national infrastructure markets. With Ekco’s world class expertise in security-first managed services and cutting-edge technology, this partnership is a perfect match – and we are looking forward to growing and learning together.” 

Der Cremen, Managing Director of Datalogix, added: “Joining Ekco enables us to increasingly invest in and develop our OT capabilities to bring enhanced resources and resilience to our customers, backed by Ekco’s scale—while maintaining the responsiveness they value.”

Ronan Murray, EY M&A Partner, said: “EY were delighted to provide sell side M&A lead advisory and tax services to the shareholders of Datalogix on the company’s sale to Ekco. Congratulations to the combined team.”

Ekco invests €10M in Caribbean expansion and new office

Ekco, one of Europe’s leading security-first managed service providers, today announces that it is opening a new office in Trinidad and Tobago, in the Caribbean, representing an investment of €10 million over the next two years. The company’s expansion in the Caribbean will lead to the creation of 18 jobs by the end of 2027. It will enable Ekco to more than double its revenues in the region from €2 million to €5 million over the same period.

This expansion builds on Ekco’s strong presence across the Caribbean over the past 12 years. The Irish-founded and headquartered company, with a global workforce of more than 1,000 people across the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the U.S., will use its new base to deepen relationships with long-standing clients and strengthen its regional presence in countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Jamaica.

Ekco works with Caribbean-based organisations in highly regulated industries such as financial services, legal, and government. Driving demand for Ekco’s services among these industries is the growing volume of increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks, ever-evolving regulatory requirements, and a shortage of technical skills and internal resources to keep pace with rising threats.

In addition, the company will continue to build on its strong relationships with leading industry partners including the Caribbean Telecoms Union and Digicel to further enhance its capabilities and drive business growth in the market.

The new jobs will be created globally, all with a sole focus on the Caribbean market. They will cover sales and technical roles to support Ekco’s continued growth in the Caribbean.

Mark Donnellan, Head of Business Development – Caribbean, Ekco, said: “Ekco is currently on a path of accelerated global expansion which is being driven by organic business growth and a number of strategic acquisitions. As we continue to scale up our operations in the Caribbean region, we are excited to boost our offering for businesses, grow our customer base, and forge deeper relationships with valued partners in the market.

“Against a rising tide of cyber threats and a backdrop of increasing regulations, our team can help to fill widening technology skills gaps and enable businesses to remain competitive. We believe that the region will provide rapid business growth opportunities for Ekco and support the continued expansion of our skilled team. We are looking forward to strengthening our footprint in the Caribbean and, in doing so, supporting its growing economy.”

One-in-five consumers in Ireland cut back online purchases due to cyber threats

Ekco, one of Europe’s leading security-first managed service providers, today announces the results of new research which reveals that one-in-five (22%) consumers in Ireland are purchasing fewer items online because they fear cyberattacks. For the same reason, 19% say they have started to pay in-person, in cash, when they can.

The research, commissioned by Ekco and carried out by Censuswide, surveyed 1,000 adults in the Republic of Ireland, exploring their attitudes to online spending as the volume of cyberattacks and scams continues to rise. It comes at a time when major fashion retailers are considering a return to the high street after declining footfall, exacerbated by the pandemic, drove both shoppers and retailers online. The research suggests that cyber fears could drive more to physical stores this festive season.

Despite year-on-year growth in online spending, just 30% of those surveyed believe they know how to check if a retailer’s website is safe or not. In fact, in the last 12 months, more than one-in-10 (14%) have entered their payment details on a fraudulent website, thinking it was legitimate, while 26% have found themselves on a fake website which was attempting to mirror a real one.

Ekco’s research suggests that the constant desire for convenience could be making consumers less focused on security. When offered, 31% opt to store payment details on websites to save time during the check-out process, and the same percentage have payment details stored on multiple websites.

However, many consumers are unforgiving when retailers suffer a cyberattack. In the last 12 months, a quarter (25%) of consumers have avoided purchasing from, or using the services of, a retailer because it suffered a cyberattack. Two-thirds (66%) say they would stop shopping with a retailer permanently if their data was stolen in a breach, even if no money was taken.

Conor Scolard, Director of Cyber Resilience at Ekco, said: “Our research shows that while consumers want a hassle-free shopping experience – with conveniences such as having their payment details stored – they are also concerned about the security of their information. It is vital that retailers have the robust infrastructure in place that enables them to assure customers that their data is safe, regardless of how they choose to pay: in-person in cash, or online (with or without stored card details).

“As we have entered the busiest time of the year for shopping, retailers need to ensure that their systems can both stay online and protect customers’ data from cyberattacks. Our research highlights that a cyberattack will not only have a negative impact on operations, but it can also cause lasting damage to a business’s reputation. In addition, shoppers evidently lack confidence in identifying safe websites from compromised or fraudulent ones, which will undoubtedly lead to hesitation. The retail sector must consider this and its own role in providing convenience and confidence.”

Dell and Microsoft roll out integrated file storage for AI-era workloads

Businesses in Ireland can now leverage Dell PowerScale for Microsoft Azure, a scalable, high-performance enterprise-class file storage solution, integrated with Azure to support modern AI workloads.

Co-developed with Microsoft as an Azure Native Integration, Dell PowerScale provides a fully managed cloud-native deployment of PowerScale software on Azure infrastructure. The solution aims to accelerate AI initiatives, manage media production, and ensure business continuity, empowering organizations to achieve their next breakthrough.

“In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, enterprises need more than just storage, they need a platform that drives innovation, scales effortlessly, and adapts to their most demanding workloads. Dell PowerScale for Microsoft Azure is purpose-built to meet these needs,” said David Noy, Vice President of Product Management at Dell Technologies. “Co-developed with Microsoft, this enterprise-class file storage solution delivers high performance, robust security, and seamless integration, empowering organisations to achieve their next breakthrough. From accelerating AI and managing media production to ensuring business continuity, PowerScale for Azure is the foundation for success in the data-driven era.”

Built on a proven foundation, Dell PowerScale for Microsoft Azure is an Azure Native integration co-developed with Microsoft and built on a legacy of storage leadership. This is enterprise-class file storage, purpose-built for today’s most demanding workloads and managed by the experts at Dell. With NVRAM-enabled custom compute SKUs engineered exclusively for Dell, PowerScale for Azure delivers blazing-fast performance up to four times greater than the closest competitor.

The solution has been designed to offer ultra-low latency and optimized to handle even the most data-intensive applications with ease. PowerScale for Azure allows organisations to scale out rapidly and efficiently, supporting up to 8.4PB of storage in a single namespace. It also supports NFS, SMB, and S3 protocols running simultaneously, so teams can support a broad range of applications and avoid the limits of single-purpose solutions or vendor lock-in.

The familiar, unified PowerScale interface ensures operational simplicity and a consistent user experience whether data is on-premises or in Azure. Fully managed by Dell experts, PowerScale handles deployment, upgrades, monitoring, and support, delivering robust, proactive management every step of the way. With zero-trust architecture, always-on encryption, continuous backup, and built-in ransomware recovery, organisations can face threats with a hardened defence posture.

PowerScale supports production workloads across every industry vertical. Media & Entertainment companies can handle massive video files, real-time editing, and tight production timelines with high-speed hybrid data environments. Production teams can scale up for big releases, scale down when projects close, and focus on creativity, while robust security protects critical media assets. Electronic design automation produces massive datasets and demands fast, collaborative workflows.

PowerScale accelerates simulation, modelling, and design workflows, enabling global design teams to work together, handle simulation spikes, and move products to market faster. Life Sciences organisations can analyse large datasets, run simulations, and drive discoveries with high-performance access and secure, compliant storage. PowerScale allows scaling as clinical projects advance without service disruption.

Downtime and data loss aren’t options. PowerScale for Azure streamlines disaster recovery by enabling asynchronous replication into Azure with SyncIQ, extending data protection across environments to ensure compliance and rapid recovery in the event of disaster.

Ekco launches new Dublin HQ

Ekco, one of Europe’s leading security-first managed service providers, today announces the opening of its new headquarters, featuring a state-of-the-art Security Operations Centre (SOC), in Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock. The opening comes as Ekco is targeting revenues exceeding €100 million in Ireland and €200 million globally by year-end 2025. Together, the new HQ and SOC will enable Ekco to accelerate its growth in Ireland, boost cyber resilience for businesses, and deliver an enhanced offering to customers.

This is Ekco’s third global SOC and builds on the success of its existing cybersecurity facilities in the UK and Malaysia. It will help to meet growing customer demand for advanced cybersecurity products and services. The SOC will combine advanced threat detection capabilities with Ekco’s expert analysts to identify and respond to threats quickly, and protect businesses from evolving cyber risks. It will also support compliance and enable businesses to align with regulatory requirements, while safeguarding personal and company information.

The SOC can automatically take action when serious threats are detected, including isolating affected devices without the need for manual intervention, helping to ensure faster protection. Ekco’s incident response team has also grown in order to respond to security incidents more effectively, with responses to potential threats increasing by more than 200% over the past six months.

Following a number of strategic acquisitions in Ireland – amounting to seven in the last two years – the new HQ will provide a central hub for Ekco’s approximately 500 employees in Ireland. It will contribute to enhanced collaboration between teams to facilitate more comprehensive customer solutions, while also streamlining processes and service delivery.

In addition, the new HQ provides boosted capacity and will enable the company to expand its customer base in Ireland, with plans to increase the number of customers by 15% in 2026. This will include growth in the public, finance, legal, and professional services sectors. Ekco is also on a path of aggressive global growth and is continuing to expand in key international markets including the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the U.S.

Steve MacNicholas, CEO Ireland, Ekco, said: “The opening of our new Dublin headquarters signifies our commitment to safeguarding businesses and driving consistent growth for Ekco in Ireland. We are on an exciting acquisition path, supplemented by planned organic growth, and this new hub will provide a central location for employees to collaborate. Furthermore, as our team continues to grow internationally, this state-of-the-art facility cements our commitment to Ireland as a leader in cybersecurity.

“The launch of our third SOC represents a significant step for our business as we look to meet the ever-increasing demand for future-ready cybersecurity services. This will enable us to deliver an enhanced service to our customers, ultimately helping businesses to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats, and provide our solutions to an increased client base.”

3 Ridiculously Fast WordPress Hosts That Leave Competitors in the Dust

WordPress site speed determines success or failure. When pages take too long to load, visitors leave and search engines penalize rankings. After analyzing performance data from independent testing authorities throughout 2024 and 2025, GreenGeeks emerges as the fastest WordPress host at its price point. The company achieves 395ms average time-to-first-byte speeds while charging only $2.95 monthly for entry-level plans.

Most hosting companies promise fast speeds. Few deliver consistent performance under real-world conditions. Independent testing from Hostingstep, Pingdom, and other monitoring services reveals which hosts actually perform when traffic spikes hit and databases strain under load.

GreenGeeks Takes First Place With LiteSpeed Power

GreenGeeks runs every WordPress site on LiteSpeed Web Server technology. This server software processes requests up to 50 times faster than Apache servers that most budget hosts use. The LiteSpeed architecture supports HTTP/3 and QUIC protocols, reducing the time browsers wait for initial server responses.

Independent benchmark tests show GreenGeeks achieves 158ms average time-to-first-byte in optimal conditions. Global load times stay under 1.2 seconds even when tested from 40 international locations. The company maintains this performance through data centers in Chicago, Montreal, Amsterdam, and Singapore. Each facility uses SSD storage exclusively, eliminating the mechanical delays that traditional hard drives create.

Premium plan customers see even better results. Sites hosted on GreenGeeks Premium plans load up to 200% faster than traditional shared hosting setups. This speed boost comes from combining LiteSpeed servers with Redis caching technology. The system automatically installs the LiteSpeed Cache plugin when you set up WordPress, requiring no manual configuration to activate these performance gains.

 

Load Handling That Matches Premium Hosts

Traffic spikes destroy most budget hosting services. Servers slow to a crawl when multiple visitors arrive simultaneously. GreenGeeks handles sudden traffic differently. Stress tests sending 50 concurrent users to test sites show GreenGeeks maintains 26ms response times under maximum load. This performance matches results from WP Engine and Kinsta, companies charging five to ten times more for managed WordPress hosting.

The remarkable aspect of GreenGeeks’ load handling appears when you examine the testing conditions. While other top performers relied on content delivery networks during stress tests, GreenGeeks achieved elite response times using only its core server infrastructure. Pages loaded quickly during traffic spikes thanks to the combination of SSD storage, LiteSpeed cache, and free Cloudflare CDN integration that comes standard with every plan.

Real users confirm these laboratory results. Customer testimonials describe sites remaining fast even when running heavy backend builders and processing complex WordPress operations. One user reported their site loads in under one second according to Pingdom tests, faster than 94% of all tested websites on the internet.

 

Rocket.net Delivers Managed WordPress Excellence

Rocket.net specializes exclusively in managed WordPress hosting. The company maintains the fastest time-to-first-byte performance among all tested hosts, averaging 335ms in independent benchmarks. This speed comes from their custom-built infrastructure designed specifically for WordPress requirements.

Every Rocket.net account includes automatic updates, daily backups, and proactive security monitoring. The platform handles all server maintenance and optimization tasks, letting site owners focus on content creation rather than technical management. Their support team consists entirely of WordPress experts who understand plugin conflicts, theme optimization, and database tuning.

Rocket.net pricing starts higher than shared hosting options. Plans begin at $30 monthly for a single site. The investment pays off through reduced maintenance time and consistent performance. Sites hosted on Rocket.net rarely experience slowdowns or crashes, even during viral traffic events. The platform automatically scales resources when visitor numbers increase, preventing the performance degradation that affects fixed-resource hosting plans.

WPX Hosting Combines Speed With Simplicity

WPX Hosting achieves 365ms average time-to-first-byte speeds while maintaining one of the industry’s simplest user interfaces. The company built its control panel specifically for WordPress users who want powerful features without technical complexity.

Every WPX account includes unlimited site migrations performed by their technical team within 24 hours. The service handles domain transfers, email account setups, and SSL certificate installations at no extra charge. This comprehensive migration support eliminates the technical barriers that prevent many users from switching hosts.

WPX includes their custom-built CDN with all plans. Unlike generic content delivery networks, WPX CDN optimizes specifically for WordPress assets. The system caches theme files, plugin resources, and media uploads across global edge servers. This specialized approach reduces load times for international visitors while decreasing bandwidth usage on origin servers.

Performance Testing Reveals True Winners

Independent testing organizations provide the only reliable performance data for hosting comparisons. Marketing claims mean nothing without third-party validation. Recent tests from Hostingstep show GreenGeeks achieving 418ms time-to-first-byte among shared hosting providers, the fastest result in that category. When tested against all hosting types, including premium managed WordPress services, GreenGeeks maintains competitive speeds at a fraction of the cost.

Uptime statistics tell another important story. GreenGeeks maintained 99.98% uptime between 2024 and 2025, with no more than four minutes of total downtime per month. Current 2025 monitoring shows 99.96% uptime as of February 28. These figures match or exceed uptime guarantees from hosts charging premium prices.

Direct comparisons highlight the value proposition. WP Engine test sites load in 582ms on average, while GreenGeeks sites average 697ms. The 115ms difference becomes negligible when you consider GreenGeeks costs $2.95 monthly versus WP Engine’s $20 minimum. For most WordPress sites, saving over $200 annually makes the tiny speed difference acceptable.

Infrastructure Specifications Matter

Server hardware and network architecture determine hosting performance more than marketing promises. GreenGeeks deploys enterprise-grade equipment across all service tiers. Entry-level shared hosting customers use the same SSD storage arrays and LiteSpeed servers as premium account holders. The primary difference between plans involves resource allocation rather than infrastructure quality.

Geographic distribution improves global performance. GreenGeeks operates data centers across four continents, letting customers choose server locations near their primary audience. Sites targeting European visitors host in Amsterdam, while Asian-focused projects deploy to Singapore facilities. This geographic flexibility reduces latency for international traffic without requiring separate CDN services.

Database optimization makes WordPress run faster regardless of hosting specifications. GreenGeeks configures MySQL servers specifically for WordPress query patterns. The optimization reduces database response times and prevents the slow queries that bog down many WordPress installations. Combined with built-in object caching, these database improvements accelerate dynamic content generation throughout WordPress sites.

Pricing Structures and Value Analysis

GreenGeeks starts at $2.95 monthly for single-site hosting with unlimited bandwidth and storage. The Pro Plan at $5.95 monthly allows unlimited WordPress installations on one account. Premium plans at $11.95 monthly double the performance of Pro plans through dedicated resources and priority processing.

Comparing these prices to performance metrics reveals exceptional value. GreenGeeks delivers 395ms average response times at $2.95 monthly. Premium hosts charging $30 to $100 monthly achieve similar speeds, making GreenGeeks the logical choice for budget-conscious site owners who refuse to compromise on performance.

All GreenGeeks plans include features that competitors charge extra for. Free CDN integration, SSL certificates, domain registration, and automatic backups come standard. The company also provides free site migration services, eliminating the technical hurdles and potential downtime associated with switching hosts. These included features add hundreds of dollars in annual value beyond the base hosting costs.

Real-World Performance Under Pressure

Laboratory benchmarks provide useful comparisons, but real-world performance determines actual user satisfaction. GreenGeeks powers over 600,000 websites globally as of 2025. These sites range from personal blogs to business websites processing thousands of daily transactions.

Customer reviews consistently praise GreenGeeks for maintaining speed during traffic surges. Users report stable performance even when running resource-intensive plugins like page builders and membership systems. The combination of LiteSpeed servers, SSD storage, and intelligent caching prevents the slowdowns that plague lesser hosting services.

The company’s growth trajectory confirms customer satisfaction. GreenGeeks has expanded from a startup to hosting over half a million sites while maintaining top performance rankings for five consecutive years. This sustained growth occurs in a competitive market where dissatisfied customers switch providers easily.

Making the Right Hosting Decision

Speed testing data, uptime monitoring, and customer feedback all point to the same conclusion. GreenGeeks provides the fastest WordPress hosting at budget prices, while Rocket.net and WPX offer excellent alternatives for users needing managed services or specialized features.

GreenGeeks suits WordPress users who want premium performance without premium prices. The combination of LiteSpeed servers, SSD storage, and intelligent caching delivers speeds that match or exceed hosts charging significantly more. For $2.95 monthly, site owners get enterprise-level infrastructure and performance that seemed impossible at this price point even two years ago.

Rocket.net and WPX serve different needs. These hosts excel for businesses requiring white-glove service and guaranteed performance regardless of cost. Their managed services eliminate all technical responsibilities, making them ideal for agencies and enterprises that value convenience over savings. Both deliver exceptional speeds and reliability that justify

their higher prices for appropriate use cases.

 

40 new jobs: Aiven chooses Cork as location of EMEA Hub

Cloud Infrastructure leader Aiven has selected Cork City as the location of its EMEA hub for Go to Market expansion. This expansion is expected to create 40 jobs over the next three years.

Aiven’s GTM Expansion hub will see the creation of a new Inside Sales organisation with supporting engineering and operational supporting functions which will be focused on driving growth of Aiven’s open-source core services.

Aiven’s decision to expand its Cork operations with a focus on hiring sales professionals will create new, high-quality career opportunities in the region. These roles provide local talent with a pathway to grow in the global technology sector, while strengthening Cork’s position as a thriving hub for commercial and technological excellence.

Established in Helsinki in 2016, Aiven operates in the managed open-source data infrastructure sector, delivering fully managed services for widely used open-source technologies  and employs more than 400 people across 11 office locations and multiple remote locations globally.

This project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

Minister for Enterprise Tourism & Employment Peter Burke said: “Aiven’s decision to establish its EMEA Go to Market hub in Cork is a strong endorsement of Ireland’s reputation as a leading destination for global technology investment. The creation of 40 high-quality jobs over the next three years will provide exciting opportunities for skilled professionals in the region and further strengthen Cork’s position as a centre of innovation and commercial excellence. I welcome Aiven’s continued commitment to Ireland and look forward to seeing the positive impact of this expansion.”

Aiven is currently hiring across several business areas.  To explore opportunities, visit Careers at Aiven | Join our amazing team today!

Conor Forde, Senior Vice President, Aiven, said  “2025 has already been a milestone year for Aiven as we’ve crossed the $100M ARR (annual recurring revenue) mark. To support our next phase of growth, we’ve rethought how we scale our go to market efforts, and this expansion is the next step forward. Cork stood out as the clear choice for Aiven’s expansion due to its exceptional availability of high-skilled talent and its vibrant, open, and diverse labour market, which are essential to fuelling our next phase of growth and innovation.”

IDA CEO Michael Lohan said:  “Aiven’s decision to establish its EMEA Go to Market hub in Cork is a strong endorsement of the South West region’s reputation as a centre of innovation and excellence. This investment not only brings new employment opportunities; it also affirms the South West’s position as a leading destination for global technology companies seeking to scale and thrive. IDA Ireland looks forward to supporting Aiven as they continue to grow and contribute to Ireland’s dynamic tech ecosystem.” 

Ireland’s Ekco acquires UK’s Solsoft in latest rapid growth move

Ekco, one of Europe’s leading security-first managed service providers (MSPs), announced the acquisition of UK-based Solsoft Group Limited. Ekco, founded and headquartered in Dublin, is on an aggresive acquisition trail, with Solsoft marking its third acquisition this year.

Solsoft is a Bristol-headquartered MSP with over 26 years of experience delivering proactive IT services to small-and-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and not-for-profit organisations across the South and Southwest of the UK. Key sectors include legal services, construction, engineering, energy, health, and social care. The company’s 16-strong team will join Ekco’s workforce of more than 1,000 people globally across Ireland, UK, Netherlands, Malaysia, and South Africa.

Solsoft will form part of the Ekco MSP Division and expand Ekco’s capabilities in the UK market under the leadership of Cian Prendergast. The latest deal in Ekco’s ambitious growth strategy, Solsoft is the seventh company to be acquired by Ekco in the last two years. This acquisition follows the purchases of MSPs Radius and Adapt IT, marking another milestone in Ekco’s strategy to build a unified MSP platform across Europe.

Solsoft is led by Managing Director Neil Farnworth and Operations Director Ilona Clark, who together bring over 40 years of industry experience to the business.

Paul Nannetti, Chair of Ekco, said: “Solsoft is a fantastic addition to the Ekco MSP Division as we accelerate our expansion strategy and continue to grow our footprint and capabilities in key markets. Their long-standing commitment to proactive service and their alignment with industry best practices give us real confidence in a fast, effective integration and a stronger UK presence—delivered with the discipline and consistency our customers expect.”

Cian Prendergast, CEO of the Ekco MSP Division, said: “Having known Solsoft very well for many years, we have always admired their rock solid, client focused, proactive service in the UK. With Ekco’s world class expertise in security-first managed services and cutting-edge technology, this partnership is a perfect match – and we are looking forward to growing and learning together.”

Neil Farnworth, Managing Director of Solsoft, added: “Joining Ekco lets us bring more capability and resilience to our customers, backed by Ekco’s scale—while maintaining the responsiveness they value. Our aligned ways of working and approaches to service delivery means we can really hit the ground running.”

Ekco launches Cybersecurity Graduate Programme to tackle tech talent shortage

Ekco, one of Europe’s leading security-first managed service providers, today announces that it is launching its brand-new Cybersecurity Graduate Programme at the company’s Dublin HQ.

Creating roles for five graduates, the new 12-month programme will provide hands-on experience across six key areas of the business: security engineering, penetration testing, threat detection and response, cyber resiliency, security architecture, and GRC (governance, risk management, and compliance).

Based within the Professional Services practice, participants will work with more than 100 Ekco security specialists across a range of customers in the FinTech, construction, healthcare, retail, and public sectors. Graduates will learn how to apply cutting-edge cybersecurity tools and solutions to real-world scenarios, support customer growth, have the opportunity to earn industry-recognised certifications, and collaborate with Ekco’s global teams.

This exposure will equip graduates with the skills and experience to kickstart their careers in cybersecurity. They will also benefit from both one-to-one and group mentoring sessions, with clear pathways for progression and specialisation within Ekco. Additionally, this immersive programme will enable participants to become a key part of Ekco’s people-first culture, and contribute to a number of charitable and community initiatives.

Ekco is launching the programme in response to the ever-increasing demand for highly-skilled cybersecurity professionals and a growing cybersecurity talent shortage in Ireland. Initially creating roles for five graduates, Ekco will double this to 10 in 2026 and aims to continue to double the number year-on-year. The company also plans to expand the programme to its cloud division, and roll it out across its global locations including the UK and Malaysia.

Ekco is holding an assessment day at its Sir John Rogerson’s Quay HQ on Wednesday, 8th October 2025 for interested candidates, which will include talks from Ekco experts and candidate interviews. The Cybersecurity Graduate Programme will kick off later in October.

Declan Timmons, Managing Director for Professional Services, Ekco, said: “Most of us have that one person or role that helped us up the career ladder, and we want to be that step for graduates entering the workforce. We are opening the door to the next generation of cybersecurity talent, giving high-potential graduates the tools, mentorship, and experience to make an impact on the modern technology landscape. It will provide an invaluable opportunity to experience first-hand how cybersecurity operates at scale in complex, fast-paced environments, and enable graduates to see how their own contributions directly strengthen customers’ defences against real-world cyber threats. In an increasingly competitive talent market, we plan to expand the technology talent pool with skilled graduates who will bring fresh thinking and new ideas to both our business and to the wider industry.”