SolarWinds Celebrates Twenty-Five Years of Excellence in IT Management and Innovation

SolarWinds (NYSE:SWI), a leading provider of simple, powerful, secure observability and IT management software, commemorates a quarter-century of producing cutting-edge solutions that deliver value and reduce complexity for enterprises, wherever they are on their digital transformation journeys. It’s a significant achievement for a company that has become a cornerstone of the tech landscape in Cork.

Founded in 1999 with a focus on network management solutions, SolarWinds has grown and diversified its offerings to become a leading provider of simple, powerful, secure observability and IT management software. When the US-based company sought to expand internationally, Ireland stood out for its network of multinational tech companies and its skilled workforce.

In 2007, SolarWinds officially opened its international headquarters in Cork. The company was the first tenant of Mahon’s City Gate campus, starting with only two employees. The city’s vibrant tech ecosystem and talent pool have seen SolarWinds consistently expand its presence in the city.

Today, the company boasts around a couple of hundred employees in Ireland, with most located in Cork. The site has played an instrumental role in driving growth for the company worldwide. SolarWinds products serve more than 300,000 customers globally, and it has a passionate online user community of almost 200,000 members.

In 2020, SolarWinds acquired SentryOne, a leading technology provider of database performance monitoring solutions. With the acquisition, the company added an office in Docklands, Dublin. The area, nicknamed the “Silicon Docks,” is the European headquarters for numerous tech companies, including Google, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn, plus a range of local startups.

“We are proud of how instrumental Ireland has been in our overall success at SolarWinds,” said Ireland site leader Garrett O'Keeffe. “As the company continues to evolve its business, expand its product portfolio, and enhance its go-to-market strategy, I believe our Ireland sites are uniquely positioned to help our company during this period of transformation.” 

A people-first commitment 

SolarWinds aims to enrich the lives of the people it serves: employees, customers, shareholders, partners, and communities. Employees are placed at the start of the list to reflect the company’s people-first culture, characterized by a commitment to providing an environment for fulfilling careers with meaningful work and peer recognition.

The company’s Ireland-based employees span all core business areas, including sales, legal, marketing, IT, customer success and support, and people success (HR). Speaking to the Irish Examiner, SolarWinds President and CEO Sudhakar Ramakrishna said, "Cork is our international headquarters, supporting customers all over.”

He explained that many of the site’s functions are global functions. Ramakrishna emphasised the SolarWinds commitment to being a global company, “so we can continuously learn from the best experiences and the best environments.” 

To help attract top talent in the region, the company has rolled out a popular university recruitment scheme and a successful internship programme — both set to generate future leaders within the company.

The SolarWinds internship programme provides students interested in the computer software industry with interdisciplinary experience and holistic business knowledge. Interns have the opportunity to network with industry leaders, and the experience has led to internship extensions and full-time opportunities with the business. Both initiatives have helped strengthen ties between SolarWinds and regional universities, including University College Cork and Munster Technological University.

Giving back to the Cork community 

SolarWinds is committed to giving back to the communities where employees live and work. The Cork site has organized volunteer events, hosted charitable fundraising events, and donated laptops to schools in the area. The company also provides a robust donation-matching programme, and full-time employees receive two Solar Service days to volunteer their time to causes and communities they care about.

SolarWinds is also involved in several local organisations, including the Tech Industry Alliance and Cork Chamber of Commerce, where it works with industry peers to address challenges like attracting and retaining talent in the region. In 2015, the company was named Cork Chamber Company of the Year in recognition of its contribution to the Cork business community.

“We are proud to be a part of the vibrant and diverse business community in Cork,” said O'Keeffe. “SolarWinds will continue to advocate for the region globally as a great place to do business.” 

For further information about SolarWinds and career opportunities in Cork, please visit us HERE.