volume 6 · February 2012
your digital Market Place Magazine In this edition: · All about data centre security · Swissgrid ensures the secure, high-quality supply of electricity in Switzerland · Würth ITensis AG IT security for SMEs · Wache AG Surveillance and security company since 1928
www.interxion.ch
Security in the data centre
The protection of business-critical data starts with planning – and the right partners.
2 What Interxion offers: > HIGHLY SECURE FACILITIES: Multilevel physical security including security personnel on site 24/7, surveillance cameras, locked cabinets and private suites. > WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES: Data centres with state-of-the-art infrastructure and multiple levels of redundancy for electricity, cooling and early fire detection. > FLEXIBILITY IN DESIGNING TAILOR-MADE SOLUTIONS: Interxion endeavours to ensure that each customer’s precise needs are met and their expectations are exceeded. > MARKET-LEADING SERVICE LEVELS: For all of its services, Interxion draws up rigorous service level agreements (SLAs) which are designed to offer a cost-effective and flexible ICT infrastructure. > CARRIER NEUTRALITY, MULTIPLE NETWORK OPERATORS: Virtually all top-tier carriers and Internet service providers (ISPs) offer direct access to the networks which serve the world’s Internet communications routes. Interxion hosts 18 European Internet exchanges and offers outstanding peering opportunities. > INNOVATIVE CONNECTION CAPABILITIES: Interxion offers access to more than 350 network operators and hosts the largest number of peering partners across Europe. Interxion ensures that the connectivity to your infrastructure – server farm, access network or core network node – is superior. > ACCESS TO COMMUNITIES: Interxion offers access to a wide range of communities such as the “financial, cloud and content hubs”. This opens up additional business models and opportunities for our customers, in particular in areas dealing with financial services, cloud computing and digital media. > ACCESS TO THE CLOUD TESTLAB: Interxion’s Cloud Testlab is a turnkey cloud-hosting test environment for service providers which brings together industry-leading software, systems, connectivity and colocation capabilities. This collaboration is designed to enable hosting providers to develop cloud services and virtual environments running at high speeds and guaranteeing best-in-class performance. > LOCAL EXPERTISE, EUROPEAN PRESENCE: Every Interxion data centre is fully staffed with trained professionals who know the local regulations and are fluent in the local language. > EUROPEAN SERVICE CENTRE: Interxion’s data centres are supported by a central European Customer Service Centre (ECSC) with a multilingual team providing customers with 24/7 technical support. > COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES: Equipment housing, engineering services, maintenance, connectivity solutions and a range of monitoring capabilities provide Interxion customers with solutions to better manage their ICT and Internet infrastructures.
3 Editorial Dear Reader,
Contents 2 What Interxion offers 3 Editorial 4 All about data centre security
6 Swissgrid ensures the secure, high-quality supply of electricity in Switzerland
10 Who’s who Interxion team
12 Review of Events 14 Würth ITensis AG IT security for SMEs
16 Wache AG Surveillance and security company since 1928
18 Latest news 19 Fact sheet
Today, data centres are considered to be a company’s nerve centre without which day-to-day business could no longer be conducted. For this reason, a central concern is the protection of data centres including the infrastructure they contain, continuously running applications and business-critical data. When considering the operation of a data centre, I believe it is crucial to develop a vision which reflects the specific security requirements which are important to any given company. In the process, there arises the classic clash between costs and benefits, or in this case between security requirements and possible losses which, on the one hand, may lead to a possible interruption in operations and, on the other hand, may result in associated expenses (data centre infrastructure and operation). Apart from operating costs, just the investments in security in the areas of access control, fire protection, air conditioning and reliable power can often be quite high. At this point it becomes prudent to evaluate whether outsourcing to a data centre service provider is perhaps less expensive because these costs can be spread across multiple parties. In this regard, IT managers should, however, take a critical look at whether the service provider can actually meet the requirements outlined in the planning phase, and this aspect should be taken into account when drafting the contract and the service level agreements (SLAs). Eddy Van den Broeck, Managing Director Interxion (Schweiz) AG
INTERXION INTERACTION Would you like to give us your opinion about our Interxion Magazine? Interxion (Schweiz) AG Sägereistrasse 35 CH-8152 Glattbrugg Switzerland +41 44 562 30 00 info.ch@interxion.com www.interxion.ch @InterxionCH
We would be pleased to hear your feedback by e-mail at: marketplace.ch@interxion.com Imprint Editor Cornelia Arioli Cover photo Interxion Circulation 800 copies printed 1300 online recipients
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4 All about data centre security and the protection of the facility
From Interxion’s point of view, data centre security has two aspects: security against any interruption in operation (electricity, cooling and connectivity) and security of its physical systems. Besides our tried-and-tested physical security measures, which I will explain in greater detail shortly, other customised security solutions are required which take into consideration the protection of the systems. Hazards from various areas are addressed with complex access security systems, storage conditions (for instance when dealing with flammable substances), alarm systems (such as fire- or water-detection systems) as well as alternative power supply lines. We are all aware of how important it is to protect our data. In our private lives or while in the office, we can ensure that computers are provided with passwords, and we can lock up confidential data. We can also make sure we don’t leave data carriers behind at unsecure locations such as on the back seat of a taxi. However, can we be just as certain that every reasonable security precaution has been
taken in the data centre where our data is stored? When I give customers an initial tour of our data centre, they are generally surprised to see the high level of security measures they must pass in order to gain access. State-of-the-art data centres should have, among other things, the following physical security stages: protection of the immediate areas when accessing the building, single-person entry gates at the data centre entrance, access control systems for various rooms as well as secure, locked server cabinets. Nobody should be able to enter or leave company premises without presenting identification, while all visitors and deliveries must be specifically announced in advance by the customer. The measures a data centre takes for the purposes of controlling the identity of individuals consist of a combination of physical control, digital and biometric identification as well as video surveillance of the operating zones. For biometric identification, there are a number of systems such as those that scan the iris,
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measure the structure of veins in the hand or use voice comparison and recognition. At Interxion, we employ a state-ofthe-art 3D fingerprint scanner which denies entry to those persons who attempt to gain unauthorised access to the data centre, at the very latest when reaching single-person entry gates. All data centres should have modern, high-resolution video surveillance systems which, as a minimum, monitor all areas frequented by several people. A data centre, however, should not rely solely on the watchful eyes of video surveillance, but should also employ additional security personnel who check and monitor the facility both inside and outside – and seven days a week, 24 hours a day. A data centre should also be ISO certified. Interxion complies with ISO 27001, one of the most stringent international standards in the area of system security and physical security procedures. Inside the facility, it should be possible to secure all racks with locks, and only authorised personnel should have keys. With all these measures, it can be ensured that only authorised personnel have access
to the equipment and that this can be tracked at all times. Andreas Hery Customer Implementation Manager & Security Officer, Interxion (Schweiz) AG
Do you have any questions for Andreas Hery? > Contact: +41 44 562 30 65 andreash@interxion.com Interxion Newsletter
6 Swissgrid – ensuring the secure, high-quality supply of electricity in Switzerland
As the national grid company, Swissgrid is responsible for the secure, reliable and economical operation of the Swiss power transmission grid. It employs more than 360 highly qualified employees at its locations in Laufenburg, Frick and Vevey. The lines making up the Swiss power transmission grid have a total length of 6,700 kilometres and are therefore 3.5 times as long as Switzerland’s overall physical border. The grid is not only located in the heart of Europe but also at the centre of the European integrated electricity system. As a member of ENTSO-E (European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity), Swissgrid also assumes roles in the areas of coordination and grid usage in the movement of electricity throughout Europe. Uniform cross-border scheduling of the movement of power is made possible with intelligent IT systems. A secure power supply – today and in future Our dependence on energy has never been greater. An interruption in the supply of electricity would cost between CHF 12 and 42 billion per day, and this would have a major impact on public life in Switzer-
land. Telecommunications, transportation and traffic, the supply of food, the Internet, water supplies, hospitals – everything depends on a an uninterrupted supply of power. Programmes to expand and renovate the grid are unavoidable and must be implemented with the highest priority, regardless of whichever energy strategy we choose. Furthermore, starting in 2019 it will be necessary to bridge a gap in the supply of power which will arise with the phasing out of nuclear power plants. The plan is to increasingly generate power in a sustainable way, in other words by using renewable sources of power. This puts entirely new demands on the power grid and how it is managed. Swissgrid Control – the heart A completely redesigned grid control centre – Swissgrid Control – is located in Laufenburg. From here, Swissgrid experts control the Swiss transmission system around the clock. Electricity schedules are pooled and examined to see if the same amount of power is being produced as is being consumed. Many thousands of real time data signals show the grid’s status. Starting in 2013, the roughly 200,000
7 “ Interxion management fully understands our specific needs and requirements. Because of this, we work extremely well together.” [Andy Mühlheim, CIO and Security Manager]
metering points throughout Switzerland will continually provide key information about the grid’s status to Swissgrid Control headquarters. Security is not a static condition The challenges we face in configuring tomorrow’s power supply include ensuring a secure flow of electricity, dealing with increasing grid loads and the use of renewable energy sources. In meeting these challenges, though, our power-supply infrastructures become vulnerable in a variety of ways. They must be protected from natural disasters as well as terrorist attacks, such as sabotage and attacks over the Internet. A careful selection of routes for lines and suitable locations for infrastructure is extremely important. Security can always be defined only in terms of existing dangers and current threats. Each new threat, whether through terrorism or organised crime, requires us to upgrade protection strategies and measures. In close collaboration with federal offices as well as national and international partners, Swissgrid is continually developing additi-
onal programmes to protect facilities and conducting regular security tests. The transformation of IT at Swissgrid Swissgrid’s IT is undergoing a fundamental transformation and re-engineering process to meet the increased requirements of the present and future. Some 80 staff, almost a fifth of all Swissgrid employees, are IT experts. The demands they face are extremely high – ensuring 24/7 year-round operation and at the same time preparing for the future in the IT sector. A part of the new IT strategy is the targeted focus on central tasks so that in future certain routine tasks can be outsourced. That is also true for the operative management of data centre facility tasks. No IT consultant supplies infrastructure, and no infrastructure supplier carries out general consulting activities; these roles are strictly separated at Swissgrid. For data centre facility tasks, Swissgrid cooperates with Interxion (Schweiz) AG. Data centre colocation at Interxion Following a procurement process outlined by the federal government (VöB), SwissInterxion Newsletter
8 “ What ultimately convinced us – beyond the excellent infrastructure – was the enormous commitment of all Interxion employees and their professional manner of working.” [Andy Mühlheim, CIO and Security Manager]
grid operates one of its data centres in an Interxion highly secured data centre which is equipped to meet its special requirements. The IT infrastructure is completely mirrored. For security reasons, a further completely redundant Swissgrid data centre is operated at a second location. The facilities are optimally equipped to ensure that the system operates without any disruptions or outages. Defined procedures allow reacting immediately to every potential incident which may arise – every hour of every day of the year. Interxion’s Hands & Eyes Service guarantees Swissgrid continuous on-site support without the need to have its own technical personnel on site 24 hours a day. Even with the best maintenance programme, faults may nevertheless arise. In this case, fast reaction by qualified technical personnel on site is extremely important so that the system can be brought back up to full productivity as quickly as possible. Interxion fulfils all the extremely high requirements demanded by Swissgrid: operating security, safety, cost controls, energy efficiency and professional service.
Peter Fürst Business Writer
Swissgrid at a glance Real time metering points
25,000
Electricity pylons
15,000
Grid length in kilometres
6700
Grid simulations in real time per day
1000
Swissgrid employees
360
Interxion Newsletter
10 Who’s who | Interxion Team “ For me, focusing on customers always means listening to them very closely so that we can quickly recognise their needs. Through our combined efforts, we can find the best solution and implement precisely what they need.” [Damir Djuric]
Operations Andreas Hery and Damir Djuric Customer Implementation Managers In our role as Customer Implementa tion Managers, we serve as the interface between customers, the sales department and our engineering team. We support our customers in developing their needs and then set up a plan to efficiently implement them. In our function as a central point of contact, we coordinate projects and ensure a smooth flow of information. We are the primary contacts for our customers when it comes to technical or operational questions and also for developing customised security concepts. In addition, we help them to find efficient, sustainable solutions. Through proactive communications, we ensure that all parties involved are always aware of the latest developments. Thanks to our close relationships with customers,
we can build up long-term partnerships, which in turn ensure a pleasant collaborative environment. Common mailbox: cimch@interxion.com “At Interxion, the security aspect has a very high priority, ranging from operating security in the form of fire protection or alarms for possible water damage through to single-person entry gates and visual surveillance. These innovative technologies guarantee that we extensively monitor our buildings and have comprehensive protection of the equipment they house.” [Andreas Hery]
Do you have any questions for Damir Djuric?
Do you have any questions for Andreas Hery?
> Contact: +41 44 562 30 56 damird@interxion.com
> Contact: +41 44 562 30 65 andreash@interxion.com
11 “ Enthusiasm and success don’t grow on barren ground.” [ Mike Verhave]
Sales Mike Verhave Account Manager
“ At the start of negotiations you need courage; at the end you experience joy.” [Inken Chouiloglidis]
Sales Inken Chouiloglidis Sales Assistant / Personal Assistant to the Managing Director
Mike assumed the role of Account Man ager in late summer of 2011. This was after he had spent a number of years getting to know all about Interxion and our customers while working in a number of other posts. Because of this experience, he brings to the table optimal qualifications to meet his day-to-day challenges. As an Account Manager, Mike is a member of our sales team and is responsible for maintaining good relationships with existing customers and for acquiring new ones. In consultation and sales meetings, customers’ business processes and requirements are analysed in order to ultimately find a personalised offer that meets their specific needs. It goes without saying that creating and coordinating offers are also among Mike’s most important tasks.
In her dual role as Sales Assistant and Personal Assistant to the Managing Director, Inken supports the sales team in both technical and commercial matters as well as in assisting our Managing Director, Eddy Van den Broeck, with his day-today business activities. A team-oriented and dynamic personality with plenty of initiative and customer-oriented thinking, Inken has superb qualifications and above all many years of experience which make her successful in both roles. In this interesting, varied and exciting professional area, which can be be quite hectic at times, Inken loves her independent work and daily challenges. This is where she can prove how much coordination talent she brings to us!
Do you have any questions for Mike Verhave?
Do you have any questions for Inken Chouiloglidis?
> Contact: +41 44 562 30 48 michaelv@interxion.com
> Contact: +41 44 562 30 85 inkenc@interxion.com Interxion Newsletter
12 Review of Events
The panellists (from left to right): Roger Karner (APC by Schneider Electric), Alfred Heer (National Councillor, SVP Zurich), Marco Kündig (Cisco), Martin Spieler (moderator), Andreas Kälin (eZürich), Michael Siber (nexellent) and Eddy Van den Broeck (Interxion)
More than 150 people took advantage of the invitation from Interxion, APC by Schneider Electric, Schneider Electric and nexellent to attend our traditional “e-grill”. We cannot say for certain whether it was down to our illustrious group of speakers or the excellent catering, but the opinion of the many guests was certainly unanimous: in terms of the programme and gastronomy, it was an extremely successful evening. “We must pool our resources and take even better advantage of our synergies if we want to speak of a true marketplace in the IT sector.” With these words, Interxion’s Managing Director Eddy Van den Broeck greeted the many guests who made their way to Glattbrugg. After these introductory words, Martin Spieler, editor-in-chief of the SonntagsZeitung newspaper, took over as the master of ceremonies for the evening. “Where is Zurich’s IT cluster headed?” and “What must a company do in order to remain successful?” These two questions were the focus of a podium discussion with the following participants: Alfred Heer
(SVP National Councillor and President of SVP Zurich, filling in for FDP National Councillor Ruedi Noser), Andreas Kälin (IT entrepreneur and head of the eZürich collaboration project), Roger Karner (CEO of Schneider Electric), Michael Siber (Managing Partner of nexellent) along with Marco Kündig (Manager Data Centre and Cloud Switzerland, Cisco, filling in for Eric Waltert). All of them confirmed the positive development of this sector in recent years and assume that this atmosphere will continue in the years ahead. Furthermore, according to the unanimous feeling, Switzerland has created an excellent business environment (a stable political situation, secure power supply, low electricity prices and well-educated personnel). For Roger Karner it is important to combine security and energy management (i.e. an increase in energy efficiency) whereby Switzerland “is on a positive and futurelooking path. The sector must be successful in disassociating itself from low-priced commodity services,” according to Marco Kündig, “and also in developing and offering ‘customised solutions’ if we are to
13 “ The battle for talented newcomers will be crucial in determining how Zurich develops as an IT cluster in the coming years.”
continue to expand our market position. Only in this way can we stay ahead of lowpriced foreign competitors.” “The battle for talent” as the key challenge Even today, a lack of qualified profession als already seems to have emerged as a real problem. Roger Karner cut right to the chase: “In our sector, we have zero per cent unemployment!” More than five months to fill a vacancy is common, and the “battle for talent” (to quote Martin Spieler) is already being waged in full. In his comments, Michael Siber emphasised that “in our sector, overall, we must do a better job of selling ICT if we are to continue attracting the best professionals.” He added that this is leading to a situation whereby Switzerland must open up to IT experts from outside the EU. New visions are required Fundamentally, all the panellists agreed that the future for this sector is bright and will remain so as long as the “problem” of bringing in new talent can be resolved in the long term. Furthermore, Zurich is likely to develop into a hub of the IT world because it is characterised by a stable
business environment and highly qualified services. Thanks to innovative technologies in energy management, capabilities will increase while fixed prices drop. The political sector should take a backseat role and step in with regulations only to address critical situations. All this should lead to Switzerland being able to remain where it is today: ranked 1st in the WEF Global Competitiveness Report.
Would you like to be invited as a guest to our next event, or are you interested in conducting a joint event? Get in touch with Cornelia Arioli, Marketing Manager > CONTACT: +41 44 562 30 52 corneliaa@interxion.com Interxion Newsletter
14 Security, speed, pay as you grow: Data centre colocation from the perspective of an IT outsourcer
Who is Würth ITensis AG? We are an IT service provider of the internationally active Würth Group. Our core areas of expertise are in the areas of IT infrastructure, IT outsourcing and data centre services for SMEs. The company was founded more than a decade ago and today has approximately 90 employees. In the last few years, we have grown on average by 20% per year and we are planning for future growth at the same level. Würth ITensis AG was certified in 2010 according to the internationally recognised ISO 27001 standard for information security management systems. This certification is valid not only for our data centres but also for all four branches in Chur, Küsnacht, Davos and Rorschach. Who are your customers, and what kind of services does Würth ITensis offer? Our clients come from various business sectors such as construction, crafts, transport and logistics as well as health care and non-profit organisations. Of course, the Würth Group is an important major customer, and we participate in its growth with our IT services. Over the past few years, though, Würth ITensis has been growing significantly faster in non-Group business than in Group-internal business. We now also offer innovative e-mail encryption with the regify© e-mail service. As such, we enable anyone to exchange confidential and legally binding e-mails at an attractive price. The regify© service raises standard e-mail to the high level required for business correspondence. It is interesting particularly for sectors with confidential information such as financial service providers, insurance companies, attorneys, etc. What do you mean by “a byte better”? Our customers, suppliers and partners continually associate the name Würth
with reliability and quality. We can meet these expectations and requirements in the IT business, too, only with the corresponding services, effort and results. We are ourselves an SME and can therefore very well understand the problems our customers face. Your own data centre or colocation at Interxion? Based on our continually growing customer base, we have started various expansion programmes at our primary data centre in Chur. At the same time, though, we want to put into operation addition al data centre facilities for our rapidly growing third-party business so to be in a position to provide flexible and dynamic data centre capacity for large projects at any time. The Interxion data centre fulfils all our requirements with regard to the required levels of service and security. That’s why we have decided to do business with Interxion. The knowledge we gain in collaborating with an external data centre supplier such as Interxion will certainly have a large impact on our future data centre strategy. What’s the situation with return on investment? An important factor is the shift from capital investments to operating costs. We assume that this will have a positive effect on the overall costs for the operation of our customer systems. Factors such as flexibility, scalability and availability, however, must also be taken into consideration in this overall accounting. In this case, we will gain corresponding knowledge in the next months while collaborating with Interxion and are confident that our expectations will be met in this regard.
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What were the crucial points in selecting Interxion? Above all – speed. For us, this was a crucial point because we wanted to start rather quickly. Until contracts were signed, we had to make a number of careful clarifications, including from a legal perspective and dealing with questions of liability. Our executive management is acutely aware of such issues and has toured the location several times. In a very short time, Interxion made a data centre available to us where we were able to install our equipment. It took just about one month from signing the contract until commissioning! The second issue is independence. We did not want to start collaborating with a data centre supplier which competed directly with our core business of IT outsourcing. In addition, we wanted a supplier which is carrier neutral and independent. How important is flexibility? Pay as you grow is a central aspect. We have not placed any limits on our data centre infrastructure, and the capacities can grow along with us. An even more important point is our professional status – the collaboration with Interxion allows us to focus on our core areas of expertise. From our point of view, these are the implementation of professional IT solutions and the secure, reliable operation of IT infrastructures for our customers. We are well aware of the associated risks and responsibilities. What does the future hold? Certainly a decisive factor for the selection of Interxion was that they have so many carriers in house, considerably more than do similar competitors. In collaboration with our internationally active customers, this is of key importance.
When dealing with your customers, how do you benefit from the security and green IT provided by Interxion? Because security plays a very central role in acquiring business, we organise tours for potential customers who are always very impressed with the overall data centre infrastructure. IT is becoming increasingly important to our customers and is more frequently subject to audits. As a result, we also continually undergo audits. As concerns the data centre at Interxion, we can benefit from the fact that FINMA guidelines are fulfilled. Furthermore, Interxion has made considerable investments in the sustainability of its data centres with regards to energy and the environment. This was important to us because environmental compatibility plays an ever-larger role for us and our customers. InTERvIEW: MARKUS SOMMER COO, Würth ITensis AG
Würth ITensis AG Seestrasse 39 CH-8700 Küsnacht Tel. +41 (0)44 913 93 00 Fax +41 (0)44 913 93 01 kuesnacht@wuerth-itensis.com Interxion Newsletter
16 Wache AG – integrated security for your protection
Strict access controls ensure that Interxion’s data centre is among the most secure of any such facilities. For this reason, the data centre is guarded by security personnel around the clock, seven days a week. The multilayer security precautions include aspects such as perimeter monitoring, biometric systems and video surveillance.
the security service as well as by multiple separate control systems. Access to operative departments in the data centre is possible only through single-person entry systems with special badge readers and biometric identification systems. Any unauthorised entry is therefore virtually impossible; any attempt would be immediately recognised and alarmed.
Wache AG is proud to provide services to Interxion (Schweiz) AG at its highly secure state-of-the-art data centre. The central control station is the security booth where all events are monitored and logged. A fire alarm panel, access control and equipment for monitoring the indoor environment and power supply are but a few of the systems which can be monitored and controlled from there.
Employees working at the security booth carry out general security tasks such as walkabouts, personnel checks and operation of various control systems including the building management system (BMS/ WinGuard), access system including fingerprint checks, maintaining a safe containing keys, video surveillance, fire alarm system, illegal entry detection and alarming as well as additional physical monitoring systems. As part of patrols, walkabouts as well as inside/outdoor checks, the employees of Wache AG fulfil a wide range of security tasks. Either on a permanent basis or at continually changing intervals, they monitor pri vate areas, buildings, construction sites, housing estates and commercial zones as well as critical stretches of roads, public
Besides precautionary measures against damage caused by natural disasters, the data centre is protected against sabotage, illegal entry and theft as well as damage by unauthorised personnel. Thus, access to the building and all sensitive areas is limited to authorised personnel. Such individuals are identified and checked by
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facilities, spaces and buildings. Following an exactly specified schedule, they ensure that all observations are reported without any gaps. Banks, insurance companies, trading companies, manufacturing facilities, cantons, municipalities and cities all trust Wache AG with such tasks and have relied on the company’s experience in surveillance and monitoring since 1928. Wache AG is a certified security company according to ISO 9001:2008 and a member of the Association of Swiss Security Service Companies (VSSU).
Facts
Oliver de Capitani Wache AG
Infrastructure Operations centre (24 hours) Alarm message centre Video alarm technology Monitoring systems Radio centre Safekeeping of data carriers
Wache AG Baslerstrasse 107 CH-8048 Zurich Tel. +41 (0)44 496 19 19 Fax +41 (0)44 493 59 38 info@wache.ch www.wache.ch
Size 1000 customers 150 employees Field of operation City of Zurich Metropolitan areas Bordering cantons Certification Wache AG is certified as a security company according to ISO 9001:2008
Our services Consulting Surveillance services On-call services Alarm services Video services Public order services Event security services Interxion Newsletter
18 Latest News | Green News By obtaining more than 50% of its electricity from renewable sources, Interxion is setting a milestone for its data centres.
As of this month, Interxion obtains more than half of the electricity it provides to customers within its data centres from solar, wind, geothermal, tidal and hydroelectric power plants. Power from renew able resources is available to customers in every country of Europe in which the company runs data centres. Interxion’s operations in Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK are 100 per cent powered by renewable energy. The use of electricity from renewable sources will contribute to lowering CO2 emissions and is a part of a broad range of energy-efficiency, emission and wastereduction initiatives at Interxion. The company, in particular through its operation in Switzerland with the first climate-neutral data centre in that country, has been a pioneer in the use of modular architecture in data centres. This was developed in 2000 and has reduced its power usage effectiveness (PUE) each year through a mix of design, procurement and operative measures ever since.
Power from renewable sources is available at Interxion throughout Europe With the aid of computational fluid dynamics studies, deployment of free-air cooling and variable frequency drives as standard components along with the use of cold and hot aisle containment in data centres, high-density installations can be operated even more efficiently. To minimise energy waste, alternative sources of chilled air such as from sea-water cooling are deployed wherever practical. Also where possible, Interxion employs closedloop energy recycling systems whereby the heat generated in data centres is put to use elsewhere.
100 per cent “green” power in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK “More than half the power we provide comes from sustainable resources. By offering a broad range of renewable energy options, we can assist our customers – many of which are global leaders when it comes to addressing corporate social responsibility and reducing their environmental footprint – in meeting their sustainability goals as part of the operation of their ITC infrastructures,” notes Peter Cladingbowl, Interxion SVP Engineering & Operations Support. “We are among this sector’s leaders in terms of energy efficiency, and as such we are convinced that our long-term goal should be sustainability rather than just energy efficiency, and that’s only one of the many initiatives which we are undertaking to achieve this goal.”
19 Interxion fact sheet > DATA CENTRE • 4,500 m2 of floor space developed for data centre uses • Location with good transport links: 5 minutes to Zurich Airport and 10 minutes to Zurich city centre • Modular and redundant design of fault-tolerant infrastructure > CONNECTIVITY • Four fibre-optic building feed-ins • Direct access to more than 30 carriers / ISPs including SwissIX • Cross-connects to all customers in Zurich are possible and safeguarded by SLAs > ELECTRICITY • 10 MVA of redundant grid connections • Guaranteed availability up to 99.999% (ensured under an SLA) • Redundant UPS system (2N) • N+1 backup generators, 72-hour capacity with quick-refuelling capability • All common power levels available > SECURITY • Highly trained security personnel on site (24/7) • Multi-stage security system: noncontact key cards, biometric access systems, video surveillance, singleperson entry gates • ISO 27001-certified information security management system > FIRE PREVENTION & AIR CONDITIONING • State-of-the-art, very-early-warningsmoke detection (VESDA) • Inergen® gas-based fire-extinguishing system • Redundant CRAC systems (at least N+1) per room • SLAs for room temperature and humidity according to ASHRAE standards • Round-the-clock monitoring of the entire infrastructure (24/7) > CUSTOMER SERVICE • ISO 27001-certified multilingual European Customer Service Centre (ECSC) responds quickly and effectively to all customer issues
> SERVICES • Colocation: shared rooms, cages and private suites • Hands & Eyes: 24/7 service for installation and maintenance tasks • A wide range of connectivity, management and backup services • Services with a single contract, scalable across 28 data centres throughout all of Europe > ENERGY EFFICIENCY • Modular architecture to optimise PUE (power usage effectiveness) • Free-air-cooling, air conditioning equipment • Cold-aisle-containment setup • Data centres are operated according to the highest energy-efficiency standards
Certifications and memberships Active member, The Green Grid Founding member, EMEA Chapter, Uptime Institute ISO-27001 certification for information security management systems
European Commission: member of the Joint Research Centre on Sustainability Supporter of the European Internet Exchange Association Founding member and supporter of SwissIX (Swiss Internet Exchange Association) Interxion Schweiz: A certified climate-neutral company
Founding member, EuroCloud Swiss
Co-founder, Zurich IT Valley
Interxion Newsletter
Published by Cornelia Arioli
Interxion Switzerland AG, Sägereistrasse 35, 8152 Glattbrugg, Switzerland
Carrier-Neutral Data Centres
With power comes responsibility Equipment Housing | Connectivity | Managed Services Tel: +41 44 562 30 00 Fax: +41 44 562 30 01 web: www.interxion.ch e-mail: info.ch@interxion.com Amsterdam • Brussels • Copenhagen • Dublin • Düsseldorf • Frankfurt • Hilversum • London • Madrid • Paris • Stockholm • Vienna • Zurich