“In-state Cloud hosting will only become more critical”

07.10.2024

Rickard Vikström, Founder and CEO of Internet Vikings, has led the company’s growth into a leading hosting provider for the iGaming industry. In this interview, he discusses the company’s evolution, handling U.S. regulations, and the future of cloud hosting in a rapidly advancing market.

You’ve been with Internet Vikings since its inception. How has the company’s vision evolved over the years?

Our vision is now clear: be the best in hosting. Initially, it was about being a one-stop-shop and we covered many different areas. However, as we grew over the last 16 years, our focus shifted solely on hosting and to get it right—every time. Now we’re recognized as an industry leader, and are the fastest-growing hosting provider in the United States.

What challenges have you faced while expanding Internet Vikings’ services across U.S. states? How does the company navigate the varying regulatory environments?

Expanding across the U.S. can be a logistical nightmare. Each state has its own set of rules. We tackle it by integrating compliance into our infrastructure from the get-go. It’s not just about meeting regulations; it’s about building systems that can scale while staying compliant. We’ve got the right technology and the right team to ensure we’re ahead in every state.

Cybersecurity is a critical aspect of Internet Vikings’ offerings. How do you ensure that your hosting solutions meet the security demands?

Internet Vikings takes a proactive approach, constantly updating our security protocols and investing in the latest technologies including ISO 27001 certification and valuable partnerships with Cloudflare for DDoS protection. Our infrastructure is designed to be secure from the ground up, and we protect against threats with continuous monitoring and a rapid response team.

Are there any innovations or strategic initiatives you are most proud of in this space?

I’m proud of how we’ve set up redundancy in West Virginia. It provides great value for our clients in terms of reliability and disaster recovery. This question comes up often and I have a unique take on it. In terms of being ‘innovative’ my answer is, we at Internet Vikings focus on our customer-centricity and solving customer problems better than anyone else. Not many companies put as much effort into customer service as we do.

The iGaming and sports betting industries have seen significant technological advancements. How do you foresee the role of cloud hosting evolving in these industries?

In-state Cloud hosting will only become more critical. As the industry grows and becomes more data-intensive, the need for flexible, scalable, and reliable hosting solutions will increase. iGaming and sports betting companies will demand even more from their hosting providers in terms of performance, uptime, and security. We’re prepared to meet these demands head-on and support our customers.

Looking ahead, what are your main goals for Internet Vikings over the next five years, and what role do you think emerging technologies, such as AI and blockchain, will play in the company’s future?

Our goal is simple: keep leading in hosting. We’ve built a culture where customer problems are addressed immediately, not pushed around. Whether it’s through rapid problem resolution, personalized service, or proactive support.