BitArmor, a provider of data encryption software, announced earlier this fall that it was named in the 2009 Gartner Group Magic Quadrant for Mobile Data Protection. This is a pretty big deal because the Magic Quadrant is viewed by many IT vendors—and IT buyers—as the Holy Grail in terms of establishing credibility in the information technology world. BitArmor’s CEO Patrick McGregor stated in a company press release:
“We believe that being positioned among industry leaders in the Magic Quadrant is a testament to BitArmor’s unique approach to data protection: actually protecting the data itself, rather than protecting a particular device or network.”
Gartner Group uses the Magic Quadrant tool to give IT buyers the ability to evaluate vendors in a particular technology market. Using completeness of vision and ability to execute as criteria, Gartner places vendors in one of four quadrants: Challengers, Niche Players, Visionaries and Leaders.
The Magic Quadrant report is a heavily referenced source of research for IT buyers. In fact, one of the criticisms of this report is that buyers often base purchasing decisions solely on which vendors are listed in the “Leaders” quadrant. However, Gartner Group goes out of its way to warn its subscribers that the report is not meant to be a specific guide to action, but rather simply a research tool to be used as part of a comprehensive evaluation process.
Making the grade as a serious player in Gartner Group’s eyes is not only great for BitArmor, but for Pittsburgh startups in general, as it brings positive visibility on a worldwide scale to the region’s entrepreneurial environment.
