Jon Healy, Operations Director at Keysource, took part in Andy Davis’ Inside Data Centre Podcast. Jon discussed the latest Keysource Industry Report, the drivers for growth in the industry, the challenges faced as it expands, and how the industry will be shaped in 2021 and beyond.

A leading US technology company has renewed its contract with Keysource, the global data centre and critical environment specialist, for the ongoing maintenance and facilities management of a number of micro Modular Data Centres (MDCs).

At Keysource, we are committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our team, supply chain and clients, and playing our part in helping to minimise the spread of the virus.

Leeds City Council has awarded Keysource, the data centre and critical environment specialists, a major cooling upgrade project for its facility in Leeds, following a competitive tender.

Under the terms of the deal, Keysource will be responsible for the full mechanical and electrical installation of a replacement data centre cooling system to increase efficiency, improve airflow, and reduce operational costs. The new system will monitor the space and the cold aisle temperature and humidity to optimise the delivery of required cold aisle conditions to maximise efficiency.

Keysource, the global datacentre and critical environment specialist, has appointed a new Finance Director to support the business as it continues to see significant growth across all its service areas – consultancy, project delivery and critical operations services.

Keysource, the global datacentre and critical environment specialist, has been selected to join the Fortrus Framework as an approved supplier of data centre services and solutions. Under the terms of the agreement Keysource will join the framework of organisations that have been strategically selected because they have the ability to provide UK policing with cost-effective and compliant technology solutions.

The Keysource 2020 State of the Industry Report is, unsurprisingly, dominated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic – in particular the technology changes and challenges that it has brought to business and its effect on people’s ability to work, their priorities and decision-making processes.

Keysource, the datacentre and critical environment specialist, has been appointed by Willis Towers Watson, the leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, in a retained ‘guardian role’ to oversee an update of its facility in Nashville, Tennessee. It builds on the ten-year relationship which has seen Keysource act as European critical environment partner, completing major upgrades on two strategic data centres in the UK.
 
Willis Towers Watson initially instructed Keysource to carry out an independent review of the datacentre which has around 100 active racks with an IT load of circa 320kW. Keysource delivered a report outlining improvement opportunities which included high-level budgets which prioritised the projects based on risk and reward. Keysource then reviewed the supplier proposals to ensure design consistency and budget compliance.
 
Following on from this Keysource has now been appointed by Willis Towers Watson  in a retained guardian role to oversee the UPS replacement project. This involves providing independent advice, guidance and project controls to ensure the successful outcome of the project including reviewing scopes, programmes, health and safety documentation etc. It will also include providing guidance on how the system should be tested prior to being brought into operation and additional site visits out to Nashville to witness test the solution prior to going into service.
 
Paul West, Director of Global Data Centres Infrastructure & Operations at Willis Towers Watson, said: “Our Nashville Datacentre is now at an important stage in its lifecycle and there is an opportunity to set out to re-scale and remodel the environment to provide a more efficient and flexible facility. Keysource is once again taking the role of trusted advisor to ensure the successful delivery of these  changes.”
 
Chris West, Head of Global Accounts at Keysource, said: “Our role in this project was to continue to support the Willis Towers Watson team with our capabilities to ensure rigorous adherence to governance, process and procedures. These are underpinned by our industry best practice and standards to provide certainty of outcome, cost savings and reduced risk.”

Having a detailed pre-construction phase undertaken before starting the design and build or upgrade of a data centre facility has a number of major benefits, however many organisations choose to sidestep this part of the process. In my experience this is a false economy that can often result in, at best, a lack of consistency of supplier responses and a loss of control by the client; and at worst significant additional costs and a major impact to project delivery, especially within live environments.

Atcore, the market leading travel technology business has chosen leading data centre specialist Keysource, to support its search for a datacentre provider in Germany. It is part of the ongoing expansion of its reservation and e-commerce platforms which allow tour operators to operate more efficiently through a modular solutions which brings together huge and complex data sets – delivering market leading speed, accuracy and breadth of search results.