Case study put together by the IIA International Strategy Working Group reviewing the success and experience of Irish based entrepreneurs internationalizing their businesses

Company: VigiTrust Interviewee: Mathieu Gorge, Founder & CEO




Date: August 14, 2009

Written by: Una Coleman, Codegaconsulting, member IIA International Strategy Working Group

Synopsis of company

Mathieu Gorge is CEO of VigiTrust, a specialist solutions provider in security assessments, compliance and security e-learning.  Founded in Dublin in 2003 by Mathieu, VigiTrust is rapidly building a global reputation as a niche leader specialising in Cyber-crime, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and ISO 27001 focusing on human aspects of security including social engineering and awareness training.  VigiTrust already works with and leverages references from Blue Chip clients. It advises numerous tier 1 banks and retailers as well as government departments on how to design, develop and implement durable security strategies. Mathieu’s articles are published in the ISSA Journal and Computer Fraud Security Journal
 
 VigiTrust is based in Dublin with US offices in NYC.

This morning’s presentation by Stephen Felice, President, of Dell’s Small and Medium Business Division, (as part of Dublin Chamber of Commerce’s business breakfast series) coincided nicely with this week’s publication of Gartner’s Hype Cycle Report for 2009.  Stephen Felice’s presented his view on three key technology trends relevant to the SME sector.

Earlier this week, Gartner was busy tweeting about its latest Hype Cycle Report.  Gartner is one of the world’s leading analysts on the IT industry, commenting on trends, issues, and technology.  Its annual Hype Cycle Report is a good way of getting up to date on what’s hot, what’s not and what’s real.  More eloquently, Gartner describe it as “the typical progression of an emerging technology, from over enthusiasm through a period of disillusionment to an eventual understanding of the technology's relevance and role in a market or domain.”

There was a broad convergence of views.

Felice is based in Singapore, travelling all over the world in his role as President of Dell’s SME division.  In that capacity, he dialogues at a governmental and country level as much as with the heads of SMEs.  He has clear and early insight into emerging and enabling technologies, business drivers and economic cycles.  Dell was already aware of an impending global economic crisis in the Spring of 2008.  He visits Ireland once or twice a year.

As we all know by know, SMEs will usually face the downturn before the big corporate or multinational: likewise, they will benefit from the upswing earlier.  Small means being agile.  There are 75 millions SMEs around the globe.  Growth and innovation will come through this sector.  However, Felice cautions for stability in the current environment.  He suggests:

Stay Competitive
Focus on Profitability
Focus on Cashflow

In addition he suggests three key technology trends that are becoming more relevant to SMEs – to achieve competitiveness and efficiencies and future growth:

1. Virtualisation
2. Cloud Computing
3. Managed Services

In addition he advocated embracing social technologies and community networking as a powerful means of marketing and selling for the SME.

Garnter’s Hype Cycle Report suggests that technologies at the Peak of Inflated Expectations during 2009 include cloud computing, e-books (such as from Amazon and Sony) and Internet TV (for example, Hulu), while social software and microblogging sites (such as Twitter) have tipped over the peak and will soon experience disillusionment among enterprise users,” said Jackie Fenn, vice president and Gartner Fellow, and co-author of the book “Mastering the Hype Cycle” (published by Harvard Business Press).

IIA presents international revenues seminar and survey.

I recently became a member of the IIA’s (Irish Internet Association) International Strategy Working Group, tasked to assist Irish businesses in increasing revenues from overseas markets through better use of the Internet. The working group aims to achieve this by providing support to businesses on how they can achieve increased global reach, increased global market share and increased global revenues. Topics covered by with group will include Localisation, Translation Services, Foreign Payment Methods, Legal and Taxation issues in other Jurisdictions

We are planning to host a seminar in the autumn titled 'Growing international revenues using the internet'. In advance of the event, our working group is seeking input from those interested in this area, and we have put together a short survey for this purpose.

Please click here to take the survey – (5-7 minutes).

For more information visit the IIA's International Strategy Working Group