Data centres are becoming increasingly important to businesses as more organisations transition to cloud computing. In this article, we explore developments of the last few years for CIOs and the main needs companies have to be at the leading edge of data hosting.

The Challenge For CIOs

With the huge digital boom since the pandemic, CIOs now need to take advantage of disruptive technologies, resilient data centres and edge computing sites. Cloud computing can help them to develop an IT infrastructure strategy that encompasses faster technology refreshes and greater digital services than ever before. 

CIOS Reports On The Need For Emerging Data Technologies

The 2020 State of the CIO Executive Summary by IDG reported that 89% of IT leaders ‘believe the CIO increasingly needs to rely on trusted advisors to help navigate emerging technologies, processes and methodologies. In the 2020 Harvery Nash/KPMG CIO Survey the importance of data hosting and management was also emphasised

“Data as an asset must become part of your corporate culture. Mastering your data, defining ongoing data ownership and increasing everyone’s data literacy are critical when trying to take advantage of things like automation and AI.” 

Source: Baron Unbehagen, CIO, Encino Energy, Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO Survey 2020

In the same 2020 Survey, ‘80 percent of CEOs in KPMG’s Global CEO Outlook survey said that more digital acceleration had occurred within the last few months than in the previous few years. The digital leap during lockdown was tremendous and CIOs realised the need for ‘significant investment…in enabling technologies such as AI, payments, integrated platforms, and automation.’ 

Three years on in 2023, CIOs are working to create technical capabilities such as cloud computing and ‘emerging enabling technologies’ to modernise their systems and supply chains. The 2020 Survey highlighted the need for CIOs to take action to create ‘a modern digital backbone’. 

The Increasing Number of Cyber Attacks

The 2019 Harvey Nash & KPMG’s CIO Survey, entitled, ‘A Changing Perspective’ highlighted that only 26% of technology leaders in 2019 felt “very well” prepared for cyber-attacks, a decline of 3% on figures 5 years before. In 2023, as businesses have been adopting new technologies, the threat of hackers has also increased. Hackers have been finding new ways to break into IT systems. With cloud computing technology and the  hacking threat evolving concurrently, working with a data centre that has the leading edge cybersecurity is essential as echoed in these words,

"We need an enhanced cybersecurity framework. Information security has clearly taken center stage, more so in the post pandemic area. As CIOs and technology leaders, we need to bring security to the head of the table.”

Source: Venkatesh Mahadevan, CIO, Dubai Investments PJSC, 2023.

With a secure and reliable colocation data centre partner like IP House, many of these risks can be mitigated for.

London, Strategic Hub

London remains one of the most strategic international technology hubs in the world in 2023. IDC’s Worldwide Whole Cloud Forecast, 2020–2024, forecasts that the global cloud computing market spending will go beyond USD 1 trillion in 2024. Independent colocation facilities like IP House form an important conduit of near-edge services for CIOs, leading their companies towards the next phase of edge transformation. So what are the core needs of CIOs regarding data hosting?

5 Top Data Hosting Needs For CIOs

When looking for a colocation provider to help get closer the edge of technology, there are 5 key factors:

1.  Location

Location is often the most important criteria when selecting a data centre to host your critical IT infrastructure. Cost vs QoS, accessibility, network latency and factors such as scalability and capacity are some of the areas that can directly impact CIOs’ ability to deliver digital services in the future. 

Data centres are designed to scale up or down depending on the business’s needs. This means that businesses can easily adjust their capacity but without the need to invest in new infrastructure. Cost savings are gained from using a data centre instead of building and maintaining an in-house server room. 

Europe’s Data Hub

IP House lies in the heart of Europe’s data hub, E14 in London.  Connectivity providers have been building their networks and services around the home of rich connectivity links in this prominent district for years. As the termination point and gateway to transatlantic links, it has long been the choice for service providers who understand the technologies and infrastructure underpinning the global network and routing of traffic across the world.

2.  Customer Service & Technical Advisory

Companies need fast response times and clear technical advice to solve any issues which arise. At IP House we respond to our customer’s needs day or night without exception. Our customers receive a response to queries or requests within 1 hour of initial contact being received. IP House provides a variety of communication protocols with alternative back-up options.

Our technical advisory team works closely with our clients to determine their data centre strategy, both for their immediate requirements and predicted future scope. Our business ethos is founded on customer service and satisfaction, as such our client testimonials and online reviews reflect our dedicated approach. We understand the importance of rapid response and that your services are both critical to you and your clients. 

3.  Uptime | Reliability

Data centres must achieve unprecedented availability to meet the demands of business requirements. IP House is an EN50600 Accredited, designed and built to Tier III standards, with N+1 configurations throughout all critical systems, including Power, Cooling and Networks. 

Our facility provides 99.98% uptime and is constructed by industry-leading vendors and their ultra-reliable systems. With multiple redundancy layers and critical backup infrastructure, we take away the worries of staying online and maintaining uptime.

Furthermore, IT monitoring helps to detect and diagnose problems before they cause major issues, reducing costly downtime in the process. Our data centre is highly connected, and we have full visibility of all critical systems through a single pane solution, using Schneider Electrics, AI-enabled EcoStruxureTM IT. 

Reliable services means minimal downtime for customers during outages etc. Our clients can depend on us for their data needs and the continuity of their services.

4.  Security

Providing a secure environment for businesses to store and access their data is essential. Businesses need cutting edge security and systems to protect their data. IP House’s high security level is defined by our purpose-built design and layout, which benefits from the omission of windows to reduce the potential risk of intrusion. Access into the data centre is restricted to authorised personnel only.

Our advanced security system consists of 24-hour surveillance, remote monitoring, anti-intrusion measures, remote monitoring, multiple man-traps and a multi-factor access procedure with control points at every ingress and egress point. 

In addition, the data centre is protected by extensive CCTV throughout with ANPR tracking, intelligent motion detection and also incorporates Grade III intruder protection with perimeter detection with anti-climb deterrent. 

5.  Connectivity

The data centre has been established for over 20 years and has a rich fibre network running throughout the facility. Availability of the world’s leading Tier I carriers ensures you can connect to the farthest reaches on the globe, whilst ultra-low latency connectivity routes to prominent Exchanges and Peering points, together with Direct Cloud, connect to all major Service providers are available from multiple providers. Network diversity can also be configured to further protect your connectivity.

Our flexible network backbone delivers high capacities in greater densities. Pre-terminated HT RapidNet solutions provide a combination of fibre and copper connections within a single U-Space, giving our customers more room for their equipment and cabling management. This future proofed solution can also deliver 100GB speeds through elite quality fibre and termination modules.

Today, IP House provides a safe, secure, resilient and reliable colocation facility within the heart of London, right on the edge of London’s financial district. The facility is purpose built to house companies’ critical infrastructure, incorporating all the necessary redundancies so that CIOs can rest assure that their business will remain online and be accessible at all times. We have also partnered with an esteemed group of industry leading vendors to provide ultra-resilient, highly reliable service offerings for our customers.

Summary

CIOs have the task of choosing data centres that will take them closer to the edge of data technology and ensure the 5 benefits of location, customer service, uptime/reliability, security and connectivity. Not to mention the scalability and cost savings that hosting your data offsite brings. With these advantages in mind, CIOs can rest assured that their businesses are well-equipped for what the future may bring. 

(Original Article ' 5 REASONS CIOS SHOULD TRUST IP HOUSE TO MOVE THEM CLOSER TO THE EDGE' by Sean Hilliar, Co-Founder and Data Centre Manager, IP House. Updated and expanded January 2023.)

2020 Sources

• 2020 State of the CIO Executive Summary – CIO from IDG
• CIO Survey 2019: A Changing Perspective – Harvey Nash / KPMG
• Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2020 – Gartner Inc., 21st October 2019
• Predictions 2020: Edge Computing Makes The Leap – Forbes, 2nd Dec 2019

2023 Sources:

• Harvey Nash/ KPMG: 

https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/xx/pdf/2020/10/harvey-nash-kpmg-cio-survey-2020.pdf

• CIO, Economic Times:

https://cio.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/strategy-and-management/cybersecurity-could-be-the-game-changer-in-an-uncertain-2023/97295470?redirect=1

Veritis.com:https://www.veritis.com/news/covid-19-as-a-catalyst-for-cloud-global-cloud-spending-to-surpass-usd-1-trillion/#:~:text=According%20to%20IDC's%20Worldwide%20Whole,USD%201%20trillion%20in%202024.