EMC predicts 44-fold increase in global data

25 Jan 2011

The rise and rise of cloud computing has been attributed to the 21pc growth in 2010 revenues for storage giant EMC, which reported sales of US$17bn for the year. Local management says EMC is banking on a 44-fold rise in the amount of data in the world over the next five years.

EMC, which employs 1,900 people in Cork, reported Q4 revenues of US$4.9bn, up 19pc on last year. This yielded a net income of US$920.1m, up 32pc on last year.

For full-year 2010, EMC’s revenues were up 21pc to US$17bn, yielding a profit of US$1.9bn.

“EMC’s performance in 2010 was the best in company history, marked by rapid growth, market share gains, financial leverage and significant investment in technology innovation,” said CEO Joe Tucci.

“The platform for change in the IT industry has arrived, with the biggest opportunity residing at the intersection of trusted cloud computing, enterprise data and ‘Big Data.’ Equipped with the strongest, most distinctive product and services portfolio and strategic partners, we have never been more confident in EMC’s position to lead this transformational shift to IT as a service.”

The rise and rise of the cloud

EMC’s country manager for Ireland Jason Ward told Siliconrepublic.com that the company is predicting a massive growth in the volumes of data in the world from storage on mobile devices, personal storage devices and home hubs to massive data centres and the cloud.

“Data is set to grow 44 times in the next five years,” Ward said.

He said EMC is looking at growing its 2011 revenues to US$19bn.

“In Ireland last year, we grew our business 25pc, which is basically down to data growth and the uptake of cloud-computing solutions.

“Irish businesses are focused on agility and the private cloud represents a massive opportunity for firms. It helps reduce capex and opex expenditure while making them more efficient.”

Ward said EMC signed a number of key cloud deals in Ireland, including deals with Intel, the Revenue Commissioners, and Department of Transport.

“Organisations see the cloud as a growth pillar going forward.”

I asked Ward if he believes Irish firms have a clear enough understanding of cloud computing. “I think it’s something they are definitely going to grasp. People want to talk about how they can implement a private cloud for their business. They are virtualising desktops and cloud-enabling business applications to be accessible on multiple devices across the business.

“We want to be a business enabler that can take any application and push it out to the business community.

“For example, 70pc of an organisations’ IT budget goes into keeping the lights on. We can reverse that and enable them to put that 70pc into driving innovation across the business,”

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com