From Silicon Valley to Austin TX, technology hubs all over the United States struck another rich seam to mine in the $4 billion Security-as-a-Service (SECaaS) market. This boom in SECaaS providers is largely thanks to the rising need for protecting cloud-based information assets, which is not showing any signs of slowing down in today’s digital landscape. In fact, SECaaS achieved double the growth compared to the rest of the security sector last year.
After having conquered the US, the thriving SECaaS sector is now set to embrace the European market. But as many US-based security service providers with expansion plans have quickly realised, breaking into Europe isn’t as straightforward as it seems. The continent has a myriad of tax regimes, data protection structures and currencies, as well as a variety of cultures and languages to be mindful of. So how can SECaaS providers prepare themselves in the most efficient way possible? Here’s what you need to know before taking the first step.
Colocation eases the process of breaking into Europe
Breaking into Europe requires serious due diligence and deciding where and how to do it can often be a stumbling block in itself. Working with partners at the early stages is the best thing a SECaaS company can do, which is where colocation comes in. Colocation partners can of course help with finding a space for installing equipment, but they can also provide everything one could possibly need to operate: from power and bandwidth to cooling systems for successfully deploying servers. And, of course, ready access to connectivity will help ensure the best possible performance for your service delivery.
Not all European countries are the same
Once it has been decided that colocation is the best option, SECaaS providers must choose their “colocation location”. A common mistake SECaaS businesses make is to assume that anywhere in Europe will do. However, not all European countries are created equal when it comes to the colocation of data, and this is a particular concern for cloud security providers. Local laws, proximity to customers, green energy rules, power transmission stability and political stability are all relevant factors which can add time and complexity to your deployment if you’re not careful.
The best colocation location depends on individual needs
SECaaS businesses should look for providers with strong regional coverage to minimise latency, as a wide geographical spread means that even if you don’t need multiple sites today, you are covered if your needs change in the future.
For example, Germany is often favoured because it’s central to the rest of the continent and has Europe’s biggest economy as well as a large banking centre in Frankfurt. Germany also has Europe’s tightest data governance regime. This will satisfy demands of local businesses and regulators across the region at a time when incoming GDPR rules are putting data protection, privacy, retention and sovereignty firmly under the spotlight.
On the other hand, the United Kingdom has a very wide choice of data centres and great proximity to London’s financial services hub, as well as excellent interconnectivity. Other popular options include: Ireland, which stands to be Europe’s most prominent English-speaking country after Brexit, and Marseille, France, which is home to many subsea cables for easy, low-latency access to the NAMEA region.
Whichever location you go for, you should consider all the aforementioned factors and look for a partner to help you with the process from day one. As an expert in European data centres, Interxion can help your SECaaS business make the right decision. Get in touch with us today to find out how you can break into Europe, or learn more about the continent on the Gateway to Europe page of our website.
