Tag: okta

Okta invests in cybersecurity team to expand presence in Ireland

Okta has announced that it will be expanding its footprint in Ireland by further investing in its cybersecurity workforce in the region. The new high level security roles to be hired in Dublin is part of Okta’s ambition to recruit world leading cybersecurity talent, combating the growing threat landscape and building a robust security culture.

Part of Okta’s recently announced Secure Identity Commitment, the cybersecurity specific roles will focus on product development, vulnerability detection, hardening Okta’s own corporate infrastructure and onboarding critical applications. They are part of continued expansion in Ireland with additional roles to be hired in sales, marketing, legal and HR.

“Identity-based attacks have become a top method for nation-state hackers and cybercriminals.  As the leading neutral identity provider, it is important for us to recruit the best talent to support our customers, partners and our own workforce,” said David Bradbury, Chief Security Officer at Okta.

“These new hires reflect our long term commitment to lead the industry in the fight against identity attacks, and leverage Ireland’s diverse and unique talent pool to accelerate our vision of enabling everyone to safely use any technology, continued Bradbury.”

The new roles and growth of the Ireland team come as Okta opens a new office in the heart of Dublin. The new 14,000 square foot LEED Gold certified office will support Okta’s investment in new headcount and provide a green and energy efficient place for employees, customers, prospects, and partners to gather and collaborate. Opening in June 2024, Okta’s Dublin office will continue to serve as an international hub, is on target for WELL Silver certification, and will be a leading pillar of sustainability in the community.

“I am thrilled that we are continuing to grow our team in Ireland, and investing in critical cybersecurity roles in our Dublin office”, commented Jimmy Kehoe, Vice President of Emerging and Ireland GM. We have built a world-class culture in Ireland. With a new and sustainable office space, our team will be able to continue to flourish and we will be able to enable our customers and business across EMEA to realise the power of identity and safely use any technology, continued Kehoe.”

For further information about Okta’s Dublin office and to explore career opportunities, visit Okta Ireland.

New research reveals Ireland is leading the way in digital banking

Circumstances over the past two years have accelerated the drive towards digital services across all industries, from financial services to the public sector. But despite a greater number of online interactions, Irish consumers are still not sold on the benefits of digital IDs, according to newly published research of over 12,000 consumers, including 1,000 in Ireland, from Okta and Statista.

Almost three-quarters (72%) of those in Ireland feel their data wouldn’t be protected in a digital ID, more so than their British counterparts (58%), while nearly half (48%) would prefer a physical ID to a digital one.

However, digital scepticism is not rife in all areas. More than two-fifths (42%)of Irish citizens trust their government’s digital services, such as government websites and log-in portals for public sector services, far more than in Germany (32%), the UK (33%) and France (37%). Ireland is also most supportive of government-led vaccine passport technology in comparison to other countries, with two-thirds (66%) in favour of this, while the UK (51%) is one of the least supportive nations.

When it comes to data regulations, Irish citizens are more supportive of GDPR (69%), the EU’s data protection and privacy law, than any country surveyed. Four-fifths (79%) say that this is because they feel that governments, states and institutions should be responsible for data privacy initiatives.

“Despite confusion over the benefits of digital IDs, the vast majority of Irish consumers feel that the state should be responsible for data initiatives, which highlights a big disconnect between the two,” comments Ian Lowe, Head of Industry Solutions EMEA at Okta. “Clearly, if digital IDs are to be rolled out more broadly across Ireland, more work needs to be done to educate and communicate the benefits this could provide – from convenience to ease of use, to better security through a centralised, standardised and compliant approach. With data the largest concern around this, technology like customer identity and access management (CIAM) allows individuals to control what organisations know about them and how their data is used, whilst ensuring it is kept in one safe, secure place.”

Pioneering digital banking

Irish consumers are leading the way when it comes to digital banking, with two in five (40%) currently holding an account with a digital challenger bank, such as Monzo, Starling or Revolut, rising to half (50%) of those aged 18-29. This is more than double of most other European countries, including the Netherlands (6%), Spain (13%) and the UK (17%).

Many prefer the ease of banking or making financial transactions online (54%), and the convenience of not having to visit a physical bank branch (53%).

Three-quarters (75%) also admit to interacting with financial services and banks more digitally than physically over the past year – some (42%) because the pandemic made it inevitable, and others (33%) because they found it more convenient. As a result, a third (32%) are more trusting of digital financial services.

“Ireland shows the biggest uptake of digital banking, but interestingly, some of the highest hesitance when it comes to the adoption of digital IDs,” adds Lowe. “It’s evident that Irish citizens see the benefits of digital financial services; they regard it as easier and more convenient. By following the examples set by challenger banks, and establishing digital IDs in a similar manner, Ireland could emerge as Europe’s leader in the rollout of digital services. But in order to make this successful, trust is imperative. Governments and organisations have a key role to play in demonstrating the privacy and safety of these initiatives in order to win over the trust of the public and pioneer the move towards digitisation.”

Learn more about the recently launched Okta Ireland and how Okta is growing in Dublin here.

Okta continues European expansion with creation of up to 200 jobs in new Dublin

Okta, Inc., the leading independent provider of identity, today announced that it will be opening a new office in Dublin’s Docklands, Ireland, where it intends to create 200 new jobs by 2024. Okta‘s identity and access management solutions help connect people and organisations by providing seamless and secure access. This new office opening is part of Okta’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) growth plans. Today, more than 15,000 organisations, including DCC, Engie, ITV, Renault, Siemens, Plan International, Pret a Manger trust Okta to help protect the identities of their workforces and customers.

Opening in April, 2022, Okta’s Dublin office will serve as an international hub and initially focus on hiring new talent in customer-facing roles in sales and marketing. Over the next two years, the Dublin-based team will also open up to roles in research & development and other business critical roles, including accounting, recruitment and HR.

The investment is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland. For further information about Okta’s Dublin office and to explore career opportunities, please go visit Okta Ireland.

“The success of our customers and partners is Okta’s highest priority. The continued expansion across EMEA cements Okta’s commitment to strengthen its engagement in the region”, commented Susan St. Ledger, President of Worldwide Field Operations for Okta. “This new office gives us an exciting opportunity to serve our regional customers and leverage Ireland’s diverse and unique talent pool to accelerate our vision of enabling everyone to safely use any technology.”

Welcoming the announcement Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD said “I’m really pleased to welcome Okta to Dublin, where the company will create 200 new jobs by 2024. Okta has worked with some of the world’s most influential firms from a variety of sectors and I’ve no doubt Dublin’s rich talent pool will allow Okta to continue its rapid growth. I wish the team every success with this expansion.”

“I am thrilled to join Okta during this critical phase of its growth globally”, commented Jimmy Kehoe, Vice President of EMEA Sales Development and Ireland GM. ”I am honoured to spearhead Okta’s first international hub office, and help build a world-class team in the heart of Dublin’s vibrant Docklands. As companies across Europe embrace and further develop their digital transformation strategies, we are excited to become a closer, trusted partner and help them be more successful and secure with identity.”

“As a global leader in the growing identity and access management industry, Okta is a welcome addition to Ireland’s technology ecosystem,” said Martin Shanahan, CEO IDA Ireland.  “Ireland has a proven track record of being an attractive location to technology companies looking to access a well-established talent pool to serve a growing client base in the EMEA region.”

The strategic opening of Okta’s Ireland hub follows the company’s 13th anniversary and acquisition of leading identity platform Auth0 for $6.5 billion in May 2021. Together, Okta and Auth0 will accelerate growth in the $80 billion identity market by providing modern Workforce and Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) solutions needed to seamlessly manage the digital complexities of security, agility, and user experience. In November 2021, both companies were recognised as a Leader in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Access Management, marking the fifth consecutive year in which Okta has been named Leader.

As Okta expands its global presence and embraces Dynamic Work, a flexible, personalised, hybrid work experience approach introduced before the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and take long-term action on climate change. In September 2021, Okta reached 100 percent renewable energy for its global offices and employees’ work-from-home consumption in FY22, and launched the Dynamic Work Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Study, a study designed to measure the environmental impact of today’s hybrid workforce.

The Dublin office will bring Okta to 23 offices globally, including in London, Amsterdam, Stockholm, and Paris. Dublin will be the first hub of this type for Okta and will support the company’s operations across all of Europe, with a focus on the UK, France, Germany, Benelux, the Nordics, Spain, and Italy.