As the global pandemic of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) continues to develop, data centers play a critical role in maintaining a safe and secure digital infrastructure during this uncertain time. While data centers protect their employees, customers, facilities and mission-critical workloads, they are also handling an influx of traffic as more customers move their daily operations online and employees transition to remote work environments.
Here are what some of the top industry data centers are doing to protect their facilities and communities while overcoming operational and IT workload challenges.
DataBank began preparing a COVID-19 response plan in early January and the leadership team meets frequently to assess the continuity of operations. The leaders of the Managed Services team and Data Center Operations are aware of possible disruptions to the supply chain and are taking appropriate measures to ensure supplies are received in a timely manner, which includes all vendors.
The company is sanitizing the biometric hand and finger readers on an hourly basis with at least 60% alcohol solutions as suggested by the CDC. DataBank also offers its Remote Hands functions as an alternative solution to employees coming to its data centers. In addition, DataBank has limited company travel and developed a minimum staffing plan for each data center in the event that an area is hard hit. This plan includes ensuring that facilities are manned and monitored appropriately by trained personnel.
The ServerFarm leadership has been working proactively to minimize risk and disruption to their sites and operations. They have implemented the following temporary measures: suspending all non-essential business travel, limiting essential business travel and educating all site teams on ways to reduce the risk of infection. All site locations have also activated several precautionary measures including increased sanitization in public spaces and hand sanitization at key entrance and exit points.
BDx, an Asia-based, carrier neutral content exchange company, is headquartered in Hong Kong and has data centers in areas hit early by the virus, including mainland China and Singapore. The World Health Organization is now praising government officials in Hong Kong and Singapore for their aggressive measures that helped control the spread of the virus. BDx took steps early on to safeguard the health and welfare of its staff and those entering its facilities that offer a unique and secure hybrid ecosystem for cloud, connectivity and colocation. Over the past few months, precautions taken have included closely monitoring the temperature of everyone entering the facility, providing masks to all staff, implementing upgraded mandatory hygiene practices for staff and using disinfectant throughout the facilities.
DRFortress is taking steps to safeguard the operations of its facility, the largest carrier-neutral data center in Hawaii, to continue to provide uninterrupted mission-critical technology to support emergency communications to Hawaii and the Pacific.
The company has activated its Crisis Management team and is working with 3rd party vendors to confirm that they have properly prepared and have taken all necessary actions to ensure uninterrupted services. DRFortress’ systems are designed to continue to provide services automatically without human intervention. Back office operational areas and customer meeting rooms and kiosks are serviced by DRFortress’ redundant power systems. Physical/IT Security and backups also remain in place and ready to be implemented if needed.
As part of its data center readiness to be prepared for unusual situations, including activating its Pandemic Protocols, DRFortress is closely monitoring the rapidly developing events globally and the impact, if any, it could have on the island.
The 365 leadership team leaped into action at its facilities, implementing sanitization measures as well as reminding customers to utilize the 365 Data Centers Remote Hands Service (professional technical assistance) as an extension of their staff. 365 provides a wide range of remote support, and the remote hands service is available at a moment’s notice. Not only does it reduce foot traffic inside the facilities and risk of illness, but customers are able to respond more quickly to emergencies, improve uptime and reduce the cost of infrastructure management and maintenance.
In response to the global pandemic that is COVID-19, and the interruption and IT Network overload it is causing for businesses nationwide, Colo Atl tenants can rest assured knowing that the Colo Atl team is fully prepared, onsite and ready to support all of their mission critical network needs and business continuity plans at this critical time. The Colo Atl team, led by General Manager, John Ghirardelli, is dedicated to providing and keeping its customers up and running during COVID-19. Located at 55 Marietta Street in the global telecom hub of Atlanta, Colo Atl offers a carrier-neutral, SSAE 18 and SOC 1 Type 2 certified facility that allows all types of network operators to securely and conveniently cross connect, with no monthly recurring cross connect fees. Colo Atl’s meet-me-area has tested and proven power and backup to support all tenant network needs.
Salute Mission Critical, an IT Data Center Lifecycle services company, has made it its mission to ensure the uptime of clients’ data centers when events like the COVID-19 outbreak disrupt normal routines. Salute has implemented multiple sanitizing and precautionary measures around the world (both at client sites and Salute offices).
Offering both Remote Hands Services and on-site deployments give Salute the flexibility to stay ahead of any issues in a dynamic environment. The company continues to work with clients on a case-by-case basis in geographic areas where specific adjustments to sanitation and operational best practices are necessary.
As a pioneer in Edge data centers, EdgeConneX provides a full range of data center solutions worldwide, from Hyperlocal to Hyperscale, working closely with its customers to offer choice in location, scale and type of facility. The company has taken a number of steps to help ensure the health and well-being of its employees, including implementing a company-wide travel ban, a work from home policy, and other preventative measures related to hygiene and social distancing.
In addition, EdgeConneX created a cross-functional COVID-19 response team that includes the CEO along with individuals from its Operations, Customer Service, Legal, HR, and other Executive teams. Worth also noting is that due to the design of its data centers and EdgeOS, a proprietary DCIM, it can operate and has operated its facilities with either limited or no staffing. For more information, click HERE.
For the latest COVID-19 (Coronavirus) developments affecting the telecom and data center industry, stay connected with JSA. Also, find the latest information on the status of industry events here.
