Research shows Data Centre Space Take-Up Jumps 18 Per Cent

February 14, 2014 by Caroline Hill

Research just released by GVA Connect, the data centre specialist division of property agents GVA, showed UK take-up of data centre space amounted to 830,000 square feet (gross retail area) in calendar year 2013.

“This represented an 18 per cent jump in data centre space take-up over the previous year,” said GVA Connect director Charles Carden, adding that the company expected take-up to remain at this level during 2014.

Confirming London’s position as a leading international data centre hub, Carden revealed that over three quarters of the 2013 data centre take-up was within the so-called London Synchronous Locations (locations which deliver round-trip latency of under three milliseconds). The second most popular location was Manchester with the remainder of take-up spread across the UK.

Said Carden, ‘Not only does this research indicate a very healthy increase in data centre activity, the average power requirement – at over 500kw – demonstrates that the majority of these new projects are of a very significant size.

GVA Connect sees these figures as a very sound indicator of continued occupier confidence declaring that this follows-on from the steep rise in both the number and size of enquiries they reported in Q4/13.

“We continue to see an increase in serious enquiries from US operators for space in both UK and right across EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa),” said Carden.

Availability

Availability of data centre space in the London Zone is illustrated by new data centre space such as Gateway in London’s West Thurrock (gatewaydatacentre.co.uk). This has the ability to deliver up to 86,000 square feet of data halls, 50MVA of diverse power, excellent connectivity and 2.0ms round trip latency to the City of London. Similar opportunities currently exist at both London’s Bracknell and Perivale data centres (bracknellandperivaledc.com) which, like Gateway are available as Shell and Core, Powered Shell or can be delivered as Fully Fitted data centres to specific customer requirements.

Also currently available are self-contained opportunities within existing established London region data centres such as 30,000 to 50,000 sqft of space at Heathrow in West London with 41MVA of power and 50,000 sqft at Croydon in South London with dual 10MVA potential. (gvaconnect.com/heathrow gvaconnect.com/croydon ).

In the regions too there are data centre opportunities such as the Portal Data Centre in Nottingham with excellent connectivity, existing clients on lease plus planning consents to expand to 70,000 sqft of gross space with power expandable to over 10MVA via diverse feeds.

Rising trend

GVA Connect also reports a further rising trend in interest for data centre space from corporate users, cloud service providers and media-related businesses – indicating a relaxation in IT budgets as we move into 2014.

Carden added, “We anticipate enquiry and activity levels remaining steady at this higher level throughout 2014 with transactional activity driven by USA operators in Q3/14 and Q4/14. With GVA Connect being the leading data centre property agency we are ideally placed to assist with both lettings and acquisitions during what promises to be a high-activity year.”

Raritan Solves The Intelligent PDU Retrofit Problem Without Downtime

January 30, 2014 by Caroline Hill

Raritan, leader in high accuracy intelligent power monitoring and metering has designed a completely new retrofit power monitoring system suitable for both new and existing data centres. The technology is designed for ‘live’ installation, without any need for downtime or business interruption.

Operators of legacy data centres often look enviously at more modern facilities with intelligent power distribution units (PDUs) and their metering and monitoring reports. Without these modern systems, data centre operators cannot easily tell how much additional equipment they can safely put in a rack – or how dangerously close they are to tripping a circuit breaker. (If a circuit breaker trips a whole rack or even row could lose power – with disastrous results for services and customers).

The problem in most legacy data centres has been that retrofitting in-line PDU’s involves downtime, which is normally unacceptable. Until now, that is.

Launching the new product, Raritan’s Richard May said, “Raritan’s new BCM (Branch Circuit Monitoring) needs no downtime for installation. It uses high accuracy split-core clamps that simply attach around existing supply cables. The data from these clamps is combined with voltage monitoring information. The non-invasive BCM installation then supplies the business with invaluable data including, power (kW), apparent power (kVA), energy (kWh) plus power factor (PF) as well as load balance on three-phase systems.”

Each Raritan BCM unit can monitor the incoming single phase or three phase feeds to a distribution panel plus up to 21 tributary or branch circuits to the rack’s A&B feed PDUs.

Multiple BCM units are connected together for larger panels and network connections are made using Wi-Fi or RJ45. Utilising industry standard SNMP protocols, the unit cleanly integrates into existing management and data collection systems.

Information is Power

Raritan BCM integrates direct to the Raritan Power IQ and dcTrack management software systems in exactly the same way as intelligent PDUs in new data centres.

This means that by the non-intrusive installation of Raritan BCM and either Power IQ or dcTrack software, legacy data centres can now easily have the full functionality enjoyed by newer facilities:

– An increase in available power by ensuring that branch circuits are suitably loaded but never overloaded.

– Avoiding pockets of ‘stranded’ (and hence un-used) power, maximising your data centre investment.

– A complete, accurate view of branch circuit loading

– Improved balance of loads

– Monitoring and ensuring that breaker-trips are avoided except in true emergencies.

– Accurately bill customers/users or user departments for energy usage.

– Accurately measure PUE

– Support energy saving and ‘green’ initiatives.

For more information visit www.raritan.eu/bcm or contact Raritan at sales.uk@raritan.com or +44 207 090 139

New Brand-Rex Data Networking Website Is Complete Knowledge Hub

January 23, 2014 by Caroline Hill

Brand-Rex, the leading data networking solutions provider, has launched a new, much improved international website.

The new site offers access to a wide range of technical content, support material and tools. Navigation is made easier and faster through intuitive web design.

“Today a website is the company’s main window to the world”, said Audrey O’Brien, Marketing Communications Manager, Brand-Rex. “We want to make sure our website www.brand-rex.com doesn’t just look good but is the best ‘go-to’ resource for our partners and customers.

“We have therefore worked hard to make sure it is simple to find all relevant information, be it by market sector, product application, operating region or product group.”

Brand-Rex launches new website

The new website design is based on state of the art design, and is supported by new IT servers and innovative software. It offers access to an extensive technical resource library. The new ’Knowledge Centre’ www.brand-rex.com/knowledge-centre offers a range of tools and guides designed to make it easier for Brand-Rex partners to access technical and support literature, tools and documentation.

In addition to all the new features, traditional sections like application solution brochures, case studies, product brochures and data sheets, white papers, corporate information, news and feature articles are also available. The new built-in search functionality will also make it very easy to find specific information.

The new website is launched in six languages: English, Italian, Spanish, French, German and Russian.

Data Centre Alliance Elects Industry Senior Names to Board of Governors

January 9, 2014 by Caroline Hill

Steven Norris, President of Data Centre Alliance

Data Centre Alliance – the global not-for-profit industry representative body has elected six of the industry’s most powerful and respected chiefs to its Board of Governors.

Announcing the new appointments Date Centre Alliance (DCA) President Steven Norris (himself a former UK member of Parliament who held the position of Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Departments of Trade & Industry, Environment and Home Office) said, “In just two years the Data Centre Alliance has grown from being the brainchild of Simon Campbell-Whyte and Steve Hone to the highly respected industry representative body it now is.

“As such it is fitting that some of the most senior people in the industry should decide to give freely of their time and expertise to grow the DCA’s scope and influence wider and indeed globally. DCA has achieved several major milestones this year including the first ever government research funding – by the European Union – for project PEDCA. DCA has also launched the somewhat secret world of data centres, and their importance to society, to the public and businesses with two major special reports in conjunction with The New Statesman, a major international political and business publication.

Those taking up posts on the DCA Board of Governors are:

Adriaan Oosthoek – DCA Chairman

Adriaan is Colt’s European Executive Vice President of Data Centre Services. He has worked in the data centre industry for 12 years and brings to the DCA a deep understanding of the colocation and wholesale data centre markets. He was also formerly UK Managing Director of Telecity Group.

Professor Dennis Kehoe – DCA Vice Chairman

Dennis is CEO of AIMES Grid Services and previously was Saxby Professor and Royal Academy of Engineering Research Professor at the University of Liverpool. He is also a non-executive director with a number of technology start-up and spin-out businesses.

Dennis continues a second term as Vice Chairman where his experience and expertise in major government funded R&D projects is invaluable. Future R&D funding for the industry, will remain a key focus for Dennis within the DCA.

Andrew Jay – DCA Senior Vice President for Governments and Policy

Andrew is Executive Director with international property and real-estate advisors CBRE where he runs the world’s largest data centre real-estate advisory team and publishes regular industry research reports.

Andrew will lead a drive against Governments’ mis-aligned policies and financial incentives.

Matt Pumfrey – DCA Senior Vice President for the DCA Technical Council

Matt is CEO of Smart Carbon Control and a director of Get-Smarter Energy. Formerly also with Serco, he has over 15 years experience in the telecoms and technology sector.

Matt takes board responsibility for the DCA’s technical council and committees. His role will be to oversee the work of these groups and to establish further technical groups in line with the ever changing needs of the industry.

Rob Coupland – Senior Vice President for Training and Skills

Rob, is managing director at TelecityGroup and formerly with both NTL and Cable & Wireless. He brings 15 years plus years of experience to his new position on the DCA Board of Governors.

In his new role, Rob will build on his involvement with the recent DCA Graduate Bootcamp to establish firm links into schools, universities and commercial training organisations – to ensure that the data centre industry can avoid the currently forecast skills shortage. Coupland’s appointment complements TelecityGroup’s corporate initiatives to facilitate apprenticeships in the technology sector throughout Europe.

Andrew Green – DCA Senior Vice President for New Markets

Basing himself between London and Hong Kong; Andrew is a director at PTS Consulting. He joins the Board to spearhead the DCA’s expansion as representative body around the world.

He joins with pan-European DCA establishment well underway thanks to project PEDCA. He will focus on the need to establish DCA Chapters in the world’s major data centre locations to ensure that the DCA is fully representative of the industry for it’s members throughout the globe.

Ciaran Flanagan – Vice President

Ciaran is head of EMEA data centre initiatives for technology giant ABB and was previously head of data centre strategy with Nokia as well as roles with Intel and Verari Systems.

Ciaran joins the Board of Governors to make his supply-side experience available in a consultative capacity.

Nominations Invited

Three further Senior Vice Presidents (SVP) posts on the DCA Board of Governors have been announced and nominations are invited from experienced senior individuals prepared to give their time and expertise for the good of the industry. They are:

SVP for Standards and Certification
SVP for Legal Affairs
SVP for Investment and Funding
SVP for Germany

Nominations can be submitted via this link http://turt.co/dca31

UK Government Breathes Life Back Into UK’s Essential Data Centre Industry

December 16, 2013 by Caroline Hill

The UK Government has finally recognised the economic importance of the Data Centre sector – one of the few industries where UK plc has a world lead – by their inclusion for the first time ever in a Government announcement.

(Data centres are the giant computing factories that drive industry, commerce, the cloud and social media.)

Said Data Centre Alliance President and former Minister of Transport Steven Norris, “The Chancellor of the Exchequer finally recognised Data Centres in his Autumn Statement as the major industry and economic wealth creator that they are, by removing the punitive tax regime that had been making the UK non-competitive in this business and forcing companies to off-shore their data centres.

“Britain is a world leader in the Data Centre industry and the Climate Change Levy had been wrongly applied to it because the Government, and indeed the public, were totally unaware of its existence! Something we at industry body the Data Centre Alliance (DCA) have been working hard this year to change. The Chancellor’s Autumn statement plus the winning of the first ever European Strategic Research funding for Data Centres now demonstrates that DCA has succeeded in bringing this previously unseen industry onto the Political agenda.”

Norris went on to explain that the Data Centres are buildings full of computer servers that power things like Facebook, Twitter, E-mail, the Banks all big businesses. Airline booking systems, Air Traffic Control, the NHS, city traffic lights and in fact just about every part of our lives are controlled by these massive data centres.

“The UK was one of the very first countries to develop Data Centres out of our world-class telecommunications and mainframe computing industries,” Norris said, “and we were in serious risk of loosing what are effectively the UK’s only remaining ‘factories’.”

We refer to them as ‘factories’ because they store and make information out of raw data. They are massive – often the size of five or six football pitches – and can consume as much electricity as a small city. “What the Government is now starting to understand is that it is essential to protect and grow one of the few industries where UK plc still has a world lead,” said Norris, “and we are delighted that DCA’s efforts in representing the industry to them have, in such a short period of time had such significant results.”

As recently as June 2013 when the DCA in conjunction with the UK’s foremost political magazine New Statesman produced the UK’s first mainstream expose of the hitherto ‘hidden world’ of data centres, no Government Minister could be found to write a contribution, because they were unaware of this massive sector.

The publication of that Special Report and a personal briefing by DCA to Greg Baker Minister of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change brought about an instant interest. So much so that by the time of the second DCA/New Statesman Data Centre Special Report in August 2013 Minister of State for Universities and Science David Willets wrote a leader article recognising the importance of the sector and noted that Government Ministers Vince Cable, Michael Fallon and Ed Vaisey had all now been to visit Data Centres!

In the New Statesman/DCA special report, Willets wrote:

“Data centres are a crucial part of that infrastructure, and are an area that the government needs to understand better. They are the physical, tangible manifestation of the somewhat invisible and ethereal concept which is the internet. They are absolutely fundamental to a successful and vibrant information economy in the UK, supporting some of our biggest global companies, and our research institutions. London’s successful financial sector could not function without the state-of-the-art data centres in areas like Docklands, enabling computer-based and low-latency trading.

Data centres are the tangible manifestation of the ethereal internet

Moreover, in the UK we are good at putting together data centres – and this is expertise we can export to the world at a time when global spending on data centres is predicted to reach $149bn next year.

Concluded the DCA’s Executive Director Simon Campbell-Whyte, , “We are delighted that the UK Government has now recognised the imperative to grow and support this sector. And, although as an organisation we represent the industry globally we believe that this is a major milestone in the success of UK plc and are proud that we were able to achieve this on behalf of our members.”

“It is of course only a first step, and we are standing by to assist UK Government and Governments worldwide as they come to terms with understanding and supporting the digital factories that now power the global information economy.”

New 12MVA Substation Arrives at London Perivale Data Centre

November 28, 2013 by Caroline Hill

New 12MVA Substation Arrives at London Perivale Data Centre

Work is now well underway on the building of a new 12MVA substation at London’s Perivale Data Centre. The substation is fed from the national grid by two dual resilient 11kV feeds, either of which will be capable of supplying the full 12MVA load.

Perivale One is the first data centre to have gained planning permission – and now power – on the 20 acre site in West London, owned by Hermes Real Estate Investment Management Limited (HREIML). HREIML intend for the Perivale Park site to become a major data centre in this strategic, well powered and highly connected location.

Jane Rampin of Bracknell and Perivale Data Centres said: “Assembling the essential infrastructure elements for a data centre is costly and time consuming. Securing 12MVA of power and facilitating its delivery to site has been a critical step in bringing Perivale Data Centre to fruition. This success demonstrates HREIML’s commitment to the scheme and our ability to deliver.”

HREIML is working in partnership with GCE Data Centres to deliver phase one, a purpose built two storey data centre at Perivale Park. This phase, which already has full planning consent, is offered for lease as a 30,000 sq ft powered shell, translating to some 15,000 sq ft of net technical space. With the new substation build running to plan, it is expected that the site will be energised next month.

David Willcocks, Director, Jones Lang LaSalle commented, “Opting for a powered shell data centre solution can shorten a clients’ build time by two years. HREIML and GCE have already done all the time consuming and expensive works to identify a site with plenty of power and fibre connectivity, drawn up plans and obtained full planning consent. The picture is complete with 12MW of power, secured and delivered.”

A data centre needs connectivity as well as power and HREIML, in conjunction with GCE, has at least ten high profile carriers poised to bring fibre into the Perivale Data Centre. These include BT, Colt Telecom, CWW, EasyNet, Geo Networks, Global Crossing, Redstone, SSE (Neos), Verizon Business and Virgin Media.

Low latencies are important to a successful data centre and the sites strategic location, between the City and Slough and inside the M25 ensures that they remain low.

The partnership also brought forward another powered shell data centre scheme at Bracknell, in the heart of the Thames Valley region, one of the UK’s primary tech hubs. A 78,000 sq ft powered shell scheme, Bracknell Data Centre is now available with high levels of connectivity, planning consent and 10MWA of power and is also about to be energised.

Jones Lang LaSalle and GVA Connect are joint lettings agents on the scheme

Brand-Rex Appoints Andy Sharkey As Sales Director

November 27, 2013 by Caroline Hill

Leading data networking solutions provider Brand-Rex has appointed Andy Sharkey as its new sales director, based at the company’s headquarters in Glenrothes, Scotland.

Andy is a highly qualified professional with over 22 years experience in the IT industry, most recently holding the position of regional business director at Panduit.

Commenting on his new position, Andy said “I am excited to join Brand-Rex and look forward to combining my industry knowledge and experience to lead the sales organisation as we move the business forward.”

At Brand-Rex Andy will be responsible for all aspects of sales strategy development and deployment. His appointment will further strengthen the senior management team ensuring ongoing support for the company’s channel and system integrator partners. Andy’s wide ranging experience across international markets will be instrumental in realising the company’s plans to extend its territorial footprint.

Commenting on the appointment, Martin Hanchard, CEO, Brand-Rex, said, “We are delighted to welcome Andy to the Brand-Rex management team and look forward to his strategic contribution to the Board. His extensive experience and sales leadership credentials will help ensure we achieve our long term growth aspirations.

Brand-Rex Partners with Allied Telesis

November 21, 2013 by Caroline Hill

Leading data network solutions provider Brand-Rex today announced it has signed an EcoSystem Partnership with IP networking infrastructure provider Allied Telesis.

Allied Telesis is a leading global network infrastructure provider with more than 25 years design and manufacture experience, resulting in an extensive portfolio of solutions that offer end-to-end networking to enterprise and service providers.

The EcoSystem Partner Program is designed to bring together technology partners who provide complimentary products and services. The new partnership will allow Brand-Rex and Allied Telesis to offer a complete network solution to meet the demands of new and existing customers.

Announcing the new partnership, Piero Bottini, Program Manager at Allied Telesis commented, “The EcoSystem partner program brings together best in class suppliers to leverage expertise and create bespoke solutions for multiple markets.”

“Having worked with Brand-Rex on a number of projects we concluded that their commitment to quality and advanced technology, matched our own objectives and solutions-based philosophy.”

Andrew Black , Technical Marketing Manager at Brand-Rex commented, “Participating in the EcoSystem program provides an opportunity to expand our knowledge of IP hardware equipment and associated technologies that benefit from our high performance cabling solutions.”

Brand-Rex and Allied Telesis will promote their new EcoSystem partnership through a series of events and campaigns. To find out more or to contact us please visit www.brand-rex.com.

DiskShred warns of rising PCI-DSS data destruction issues for UK corporates

November 5, 2013 by Caroline Hill

“Under the PCI DSS rules, if you do not comply with the required standard, you may lose you ability to accept credit and debit cards from your customers – which is arguably far worse than a hefty fine from the ICO” — Philip McMichael, Operations Director, DiskShred

Leading data storage destruction specialist DiskShred (www.diskshred.eu) has warned UK companies that process credit card transactions – which accounts for almost all SMEs and larger businesses – of plans to dramatically ramp up the security requirements under Version 3 of the PCI DSS rules due later this year.

Developed by the card payments industry in close consultation with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) council, the PCI Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) consists of 12 significant requirements including multiple sub-requirements, which contain numerous directives.

These directives – which apply to most organisations that process payment card transactions – allow businesses to measure their own payment card security policies, procedures and guidelines.

Most experts agree that revision 3 of the PCI DSS rules will see the scope of the rule’s external audit requirements extended to cover many more companies, as well as impose harsher requirements on all companies who accept credit and debit cards from their customers.

According to Philip McMichael, Operations Director with DiskShred, this will impose a far more stringent set of security requirements when companies dispose of their data, especially where the IT equipment has reached an end-of-life situation.

“We’ve all heard the horror stories of customer data appearing on the hard drives of computers sold on auction Web sites – resulting in fines from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) under the Data Protection Act. Under the PCI DSS rules, if you do not comply with the required standard, you may lose you ability to accept credit and debit cards from your customers – which is arguably far worse than a hefty fine from the ICO,” he said.

“Thankfully we can offer an on-site service that provides a hard drive and data storage device destruction facility that conforms to all necessary governance standards – shredding the data storage down to confetti-sized pieces – and providing a complete compliance audit trail, thanks to on-truck CCTV facilities and staff who are CRB checked on their backgrounds,” he added.

McMichael, whose firm has been in the IT asset disposal business since 2001, went on to say that DiskShred has the necessary EU accreditations to do what it does – and a few more besides – which is why almost three quarters of its business comes from repeat or client referrals.

And with other legislation – including the aforementioned Data Protection Act – and the Companies Act, imposing increasing levels of data security duty of care on company directors and their senior staff – there is also the spectre of the Government introducing custodial sentences for individuals who breach data protection laws to contend with.

And this, says DiskShred’s Operations Director, is where his firm’s fully auditable on-site data storage device destruction service can provide a hassle-free way of avoiding corporate angst over breaking the law or required governance standards. It’s also why on-site destruction is essential, “A company needs to be sure its hard drives definitely made it into the shredder without any ‘en-route diversions’ into the wrong hands”, McMichael said.

“Our observations suggest that no matter how effective the data security and destruction rules within an organisation, the human element will always mean that rules can be deviated from – and corners will be cut. People get tired, become bored and even turn to crime depending on the circumstances,” he said.

“This is why we believe that on-site media shredding – to verifiable minimum standards, backed up with criminal background checks on the staff completing the process and CCTV footage to act as the ultimate audit proof,” he added.

“Our approach is the only sure-fire way to prove to regulators, the Police and clients, that the data held on your storage devices is gone forever. So whether you have 50 or 5000 disks to destroy, we can move our trucks on to your site and shred your hardware in front of your eyes.”

Virtus Data Centres becomes the first provider of Colocation To The IBM Solutions Store

October 24, 2013 by Caroline Hill

Virtus, London’s flexible and efficient data centre provider, announced today that it has joined the IBM Solutions Store, providing Colocation options to complete the stack of offerings within the IBM Solution Store – from the data centre to the application.

IBM’s Solutions Store is a collaborative marketplace for industry leading IBM-focused vendors and end-to-end solutions providers – including managed service providers (MSPs), independent software vendors (ISVs), cloud service providers (CSPs) end users (such as corporate IT departments) and now with the addition of Virtus: colocation data centres in London.

Announcing the new move, Virtus CEO Neil Cresswell said, “For most MSPs, ISPs and CSPs the solutions they build within this environment will need a ‘home’ for the servers and networking equipment. That home can now be an IBM Solutions Store London data centre owned and operated by Virtus.

“Virtus already has a thriving community of MSPs, ISVs and CSPs growing in its highly flexible and efficient data centre space in London. So it makes perfect sense to become part of the IBM Solutions community and deliver the high quality colocation facilities these partners need in order to complete their IT projects,” added Cresswell.

For Solution Store end users, beginning-to-end IBM solutions are now available through IBM and its partners, and for IBM Solution Store partners, efficient, flexible, high-quality connectivity-rich and affordable colocation is available directly from Virtus.

As an IBM Solutions Store Partner, Virtus will offer cooperative and collaborative marketing and business development initiatives with other Solutions Store Partners who provide complementary services such as managed services, or application hosting. Virtus will also offer partners office space and demonstration facilities at its data centres for them and their clients.

Virtus’ track record of not only 100% uptime, but also of successful implementation of data centre environments, matches the quality and commitment of other partners in the IBM Solutions Store. Virtus has helped numerous MSPs, ISVs and Cloud providers to design solutions and then rapidly deploy them.

Flexibility and affordability are high on the list too – with products like the recently launched CoLo-on-Demand; Virtus’ colocation costs were recently reported to be half those of Docklands-based data centres. Building connectivity-rich data centres means that there are also many high quality competitive carriers available at Virtus facilities.

“With our flexible product offerings, unique outer London locations (as little as 0.17 milliseconds round trip latency to London’s financial centres), our eco-efficient designs and the lowest possible TCO in London, Virtus is the ideal colocation partner for IBM based IT solutions,” said Cresswell

“Above all we help our partners to find new business opportunities and we pride ourselves in being the most flexible and ‘easy to do business with’ data centre company in London.”