There are 6 Companies in Bulgaria
that provide Hosting and Cloud Services!

Bulgaria has been long recognized for having a strong tech industry and during the past few years has become one of the top software development hubs. Its geographical proximity to Western Europe and cultural similarities with US and Western European countries, the availability of technically diverse highly-skilled and multi-lingual talent, the affordable labor cost, and favorable taxation are among the main advantages of the country.

With heavy traditions in IT and mathematics that could be traced back to the communist times, Bulgarians have the strong technical knowledge and are one of the best performing developers worldwide as stated in HakerRank’s research. They rank 12th in the overall chart and occupy top positions in major technologies such as Java (#2) and Python (#3).

Why you should work with a Bulgarian IT company?

Among the multi-national organizations that have already discovered the advantages of the country and built their operational and development centers in Bulgaria are companies like HP, SAP, Microsoft, VMware, and others. Currently, the IT sector in Bulgaria consists of more than 65,000 full-time employees (excluding freelancing professionals) according to the National Social Security Institute (NSSI).

Another reason for choosing a Bulgarian IT company compared to other countries in Europe is because of one of the best price/quality ratios on the market. Bulgaria is known for its competitive labor costs compared to other EU countries, which translates into more affordable rates for IT services such as software development. The local IT companies have access to a talented pool of professionals with strong technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and proficiency in English. Also, they have a reputation for being adaptable and versatile, allowing them to work effectively on a wide range of projects and technologies.

As a result of the well-functioning education system and the rising popularity of privet educational organizations, this number is continuously increasing, making Bulgaria’s system very well suited to match the IT business needs.

At the same time, what makes Bulgaria attractive from an ICT perspective are the skilled workforce, EU membership, competitive labor costs, low corporate taxes, and a growing startup ecosystem.

What to pay attention to when working with a Bulgarian IT company?

Even though Bulgaria has a developing IT infrastructure, there are several indicators that make potential clients give second thoughts when working with Bulgarian IT companies. Among them are high piracy rates, lack of cybersecurity infrastructure, and lower-than-average service quality compared to Western-European countries. 

At the same time, the other two main topics you should be aware of are talent retention and choosing the right vendor.

Talent retention can be a challenge for the Bulgarian IT industry, with skilled professionals sometimes attracted to opportunities in other European countries. To mitigate this risk, ensure that the local IT company you work with has a strong team and a track record of maintaining a stable workforce. There are many local IT companies offering their services. It is crucial to perform thorough research and due diligence when selecting a vendor, considering factors such as experience, expertise, client testimonials, and portfolio of work.

How reliable are Bulgarian IT companies

The country has built a reputation as an attractive IT destination for developing software, establishing near-shore centers, and outsourcing business processes. With its strategic location and the steady growth of its economic and demographic indicators, the country has turned into a preferred development destination.

How Bulgarian IT industry relates to the neighboring countries

Having Romania and Greece as the main regional competitors, Bulgaria’s IT industry is positioned somewhere in between of those two countries in international rankings. While Romania probably has more capacities in developing web and software solutions for the foreign market due to a long-term investment in IT education and different business model, Bulgaria ranks better than Greece in some IT branches, such as BPO and Java programming. 

Also, the IT industry in Bulgaria has experienced significant growth over the past decade. An interesting fact is that the industry has exceeded the Country’s GDP Levels from 25 years ago. Compared to neighboring countries such as Romania, Serbia, and North Macedonia, the Bulgarian IT industry performs competitively. Bulgaria's competitive labor costs, skilled workforce, and supportive business environment make it an attractive alternative for clients and investors seeking opportunities in the region.

The Bulgarian Business Environment from an ICT Perspective

Deyan Denchev, the founder of Bulgarian Lexis Solutions appreciates the national business environment as being dynamic and rapidly growing especially since the country joined the European Union in 2007. On this basis, Bulgaria is becoming a regional hub for technology startups and outsourcing services. The local ICT industry is driven by a strong pool of software developers, engineers, and digital professionals, and the country is home to a growing number of technology parks and incubators that nurture startups and innovative companies.

At the same time, the business climate for opening a new IT company as a local entrepreneur in Bulgaria is generally favorable. There are multiple local investment companies like LaunchHub, Eleven, and Sofia Angels Ventures you can easily reach directly or through the local accelerating programs and network events.

SAP, SiteGround & Others Dominate the Bulgarian ICT Stage

At the same time, there are several prominent IT companies operating in Bulgaria, both local and international, that have made a significant impact on the country's IT landscape like:

- Telerik (Acquired by Progress in 2014) - a leading provider of application development tools and services for web, mobile, and desktop platforms -

- VMWare - a global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure solutions - SAP - a market leader in enterprise application software

- SiteGround - a leading web-hosting company with a headquarter in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Government Programs Supporting the ICT Development

Governmental institutions in Bulgaria encourage the development of the IT sector through a variety of policies, initiatives, and support measures like investment in infrastructure - The Bulgarian government invests in digital infrastructure development to improve internet connectivity and create a more conducive environment for IT businesses. This includes initiatives to expand broadband access, enhance data center capacities, and promote the development of smart city solutions.

Also, the creation of Tech Park Sofia and INSAIT - Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Technology are two great examples of governmental support of the IT sector. Another way of encouraging the IT sector is through access to EU funds and the creation of a more business-friendly regulatory environment for IT companies.

Sofia & Plovdiv - The Leading Tech Bulgarian Urbs

The two best cities in Bulgaria for establishing an IT business are Sofia and Plovdiv. Both cities have unique advantages that make them attractive locations for IT companies and entrepreneurs. As the capital and largest city of Bulgaria, Sofia is the country's primary economic and business hub. It offers several advantages for IT businesses like a skilled workforce, startup ecosystem, international presence, and connectivity. Plovdiv, the second-largest city in Bulgaria, is also emerging as an attractive destination for IT businesses due to: - Educational institutions like Plovdiv University and the Technical University, - Technology parks like Plovdiv Tech Park - Lower operating costs - Compared to Sofia, Plovdiv generally offers lower costs for office spaces and living expenses 

The Bulgarian IT Talent Pool - Skilled and Attractive

According to Deyan Dunchev, the local talent pool in Bulgaria is characterized by well-educated and highly skilled individuals, particularly in the fields of computer science, engineering, and information technology. Bulgarian universities and educational institutions offer strong programs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines, which contribute to the development of a qualified workforce in the IT sector. The IT industry is seen as an attractive career choice for many young professionals due to the high demand, competitive salaries, career growth, and global and entrepreneurship opportunities.

 

Entrepreneurs often struggle to differentiate between cloud and hosted services, which may seem similar but differ in processes. Understanding these differences can help choose the right for your business. Pick the right home for your website involves considering technical aspects, reliability, cost, and customer support and other factors.

There are more than 330,000 web hosting providers all around the world, and this number is expected to grow as the Internet expands. Even with the fierce competition, new providers continue to enter the market.

At the same time, data reveals that approximately 60% of all corporate data is now stored in the cloud. It has also witnessed a 10% increase compared to the previous year, 2021.

Cloud Services

Cloud service­s are computing service­s provided by third-party hosts through the interne­t and on-demand. They allow customers to acce­ss and utilize remote computing re­sources effortlessly. There are three main categories of cloud: Software as a service (SaaS), Platform as a service (PaaS), Infrastructure as a service (IaaS).

Benefits of Using Cloud-Based Services

Cloud services offer several advantages that are not available with hosted solutions:

• IT Optimization: With cloud services, the provider is responsible for building and maintaining all the hardware, so your IT department doesn't have to manage servers or install and update software on individual computers. Additionally, the provider is responsible for ensuring security and resolving any problems that might come up.

• Budget-friendly approach: Cloud service­s offer a cost-efficient approach where you only pay for what you use. The­re is no need to inve­st in hardware or purchase software licences that may end up being unuse­d by your team. 

• Business system integration: To integrate various third-party cloud solutions, you can streamline workflows and enhance team collaboration and productivity. For instance integrating your cloud communications platform with a CRM. Doing so ensures employees have access to customer information before they answer incoming calls and automatically logs all calls into the CRM.

• Increase agility and scalability: Cloud services let you make changes in just a few clicks, whether you need to shift workflows, add new features and functionality, or change the number of users.

• Support AI, predictive analytics, and IoT:  With your data in the cloud, you can easily apply these advanced technologies to improve efficiency, gain new insights, and future-proof your business.

• Support remote workforces: The workforce can access cloud services anytime, anywhere, using any device, with just an internet connection and login credentials.

Hosting Services 

Hosted services, much like cloud-based solut­ions, are managed by a third-party provider and accessed through the internet. With hosted solut­ions, the provider owns and maintains physical servers in a private location rather than relying on a public cloud. This allows the service to be accessed online without the need for insta­lling hardware or software. Users typically access it through a virtual private network or remote desktop.

Benefits of Hosting Services

Hosted services offer some of the same advantages as cloud solution, including:

• Remote access and the ability to integrate with certain other cloud solutions. Because the software and hardware are maintained by the provider, there's also less for IT to manage than with traditional computing solutions (but typically more than with cloud solutions).

• Offers greater custom­ization options compared to cloud services, depending on the setup and service agree­ment. 

• Provide more control over security proto­cols, which is partic­ularly benef­icial for companies operating in highly regulated indus­tries.

To Sum Up 

Cloud services are a more cost-ef­fective option compared to hosting services. They are easier to set up, manage, and maintain. Although hosting services offer more control, they require addit­ional IT work and often come at a higher price. However, it's important to analyze your specific business requir­ements before deciding on a hosting type. At the moment Techehemoths has almost 800 Hosting & Cloud service providers. 

Take a look at their profiles and feel free to contact them, the smart filters will also help you, Moreover, you can submit your project and our team will hand-pick and send you the best matching service providers, and you will get free quotes in about 1-hour. Also, if you want to learn more about cloud and hosting services, check out our blog for addit­ional inform­ation.