Background
Meet Requirements, Strengthen Emergency Preparedness
A public health care administration (a public-law entity) wanted to supplement its in-house data center infrastructure with a colocation data center in the region. The goal was to meet the requirements of the regulatory authority and improve emergency preparedness through geographic redundancy. About half of the IT systems were to be relocated for this purpose. This would also reduce infrastructure requirements at the existing site, such as for emergency power and air conditioning.
The first core service was a professional data center operator that provides secure facilities and infrastructure for reliable colocation. In addition, the operator was to handle “helping hands” services, such as replacing backup tapes.
As a second core service, the administration required the provision and operation of the data center connection to ensure a secure, stable, and fast link between the main office and its own data center facilities—also from a single source.
Our Areas of Expertise
- Colocation Services: Racks and Infrastructure in a Regional Data Center
- Caged Housing: Enclosed, secure areas for your own systems
- Interconnection Services: Disjoint, redundant fiber-optic connections
- Managed Services: Operation of DWDM connections with monitoring
- Hands-On Support: On-site assistance with interventions, maintenance, and troubleshooting
- Data Storage: Structured storage of backup tapes
Your Added Value
- GDPR-compliant and certified: Operated in accordance with ISO 27001 and TISAX
- Geographic redundancy in the region: A second location complements the company’s own operations
- No capital expenditures: The operator provides the building, power supply, and cooling
- Reduced burden on the IT team: The operator manages the integration and provides hands-on support
- Everything from a single source: colocation and data center interconnection from one partner
Solution
Colocation and Redundant Connectivity from a Single Provider
GRASS-MERKUR provides the administration with racks and infrastructure in the regional data center for secure caged housing. No capital investment in construction is required.
The connection to the main office is established via disjoint, redundant fiber-optic links: Multiple physically separate lines compensate for the failure of a single connection and keep latency low. GRASS-MERKUR operates the DWDM connections, including monitoring and management.
Hands-on support handles on-site interventions, maintenance, and troubleshooting. This includes the replacement and storage of backup tapes for disaster recovery and to meet legal requirements.
In the event of exceptional situations at our own data center, we are well protected thanks to our colocation with GRASS-MERKUR. This has already proven its worth. That is precisely why we chose GRASS-MERKUR.
Results
About half of the IT systems are hosted in a colocation data center, ensuring that operations remain protected even in the event of disruptions at the main site.
Infrastructure requirements at the main site are decreasing in proportion to the number of systems that have been relocated—whether they are emergency power generators or air conditioning systems.
The requirements set by the auditing authority can be met at the second location.
Even if a line is down, the connection to the main office remains intact.
The operator is responsible for replacing and storing the backup tapes, freeing up the IT team to focus on other tasks.
Contact
Let’s Talk About Your IT Operations
Tell us about your project — we will get back to you with a concrete assessment.
Direct Line
GRASS-MERKUR GmbH & Co. KG
Rothwiese 5
30559 Hannover
