> volume 3 - may 2010
your Digital market Place magazine in this edition:
• iSource Neutral ICT provider in Interxion’s market place • CloudSigma Infrastructure-as-aService provider for cloud computing • The team behind Interxion Switzerland
www.interxion.ch
interxion’s financial Hub colocation and proximity Hosting at the Heart of the financial Markets
2 Interxion offers: > HigHly secure facilities: Multi-level physical security including 24x7 onsite security, surveillance cameras, locked cabinets and private suites. > World-class facilities: Advanced Data Centre infrastructure with multiple layers of redundancy for power, cooling and fire-suppression. > flexibility to build bespoke solutions: Interxion works to ensure that every customer’s precise needs are met and their expectations are exceeded. > Market leading service levels: Interxion sets rigorous Service Level Agreements for all its services, designed to offer cost-effective, flexible ICT infrastructure. > carrier neutrality, Multiple netWork providers: Most top tier carriers and ISPs offer direct access to the networks that serve the world’s Internet/communication routes. Interxion hosts 18 of Europe’s Internet Exchanges, offering outstanding peering opportunities. > unprecedented connections: Interxion provides access to more than 700 Internet Service Providers 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. > 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 custoMer service centre: Interxion’s Data Centres are supported by a central European Customer Service Centre with a multilingual team offering technical assistance to customers 24 hours a day. > full support services: Equipment housing, engineering, maintenance, connectivity solutions and a range of monitoring services provide Interxion customers with solutions to better manage their ICT and internet infrastructures. > volume 3 - may 2010
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interxion interacts Would you like to comment on our Interxion Magazine? We would be happy to receive your feedback via marketplace.ch@interxion.com
your Digital market Place magazine in this edition:
• iSource Neutral ICT provider in Interxion’s market place • CloudSigma Infrastructure-as-aService provider for cloud computing • The team behind Interxion Switzerland
www.interxion.ch
interxion’s financial Hub colocation and proximity Hosting at the Heart of the financial Markets
3 Editorial Dear Customer,
Content In this edition: 2 interxion offers 3 editorial 4 customer case isource 6 financial Hub 8 team interxion switzerland 10 Who’s who Thomas Benz
11 Who’s who Salima Touchal
12 customer case cloudsigma 14 tips & tricks 15 fact sheet
Interxion Switzerland AG Sägereistrasse 29 8152 Glattbrugg Switzerland T: +41 44 562 30 00 E: info.ch@interxion.com I: www.interxion.ch @InterxionCH
The steady and successful growth of Interxion can be registered group-wide. Interxion currently owns and operates 55’000 m² of colocation space within 27 data centres in 11 countries across Europe. Our carrierneutral co-location data centre services are dedicated to a variety of industries and business sectors. In this edition of our “Interxion’s Digital Market Place“ customer magazine, we’d like to highlight our Financial Hub offer, which we developed especially for the dynamically linked financial market. In our “Customer Case” section we present two very interesting customers that are active on Interxion’s market place. Firstly we introduce iSource AG, a neutral ICT-provider, at whose side we’ve been standing for more than 8 years, in order to operate rapidly in the market. And secondly we present the cloud computing infrastructure-service-provider CloudSigma AG, a Start-Up which recently moved into our data centre in Glattbrugg and successfully started their IaaS operations. Interxion is known to support and promote cutting-edge strategies and paradigms – and therefore cloud computing was never a hype to us, but always a hot ICT-trend that will gain foothold. Our company is not only successful because of our bestin-class, ultra-modern, high security data centre facility, but mainly because of our accomplished, reliable and enthusiastic employees. On pages 8 and 9 you can meet our entire Interxion Switzerland team on a double page overview. And for once two team members are in the spotlight: Thomas Benz, our new Manager Operations; and our Marketing Manager Salima Touchal. We’d like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt “Thank You” to Roger Lüssi, our departing Manager Operations and a team member from Interxion Switzerland’s very beginning, for his outstanding accomplishments in the past 10 years. With his long-term and persistent commitment, Roger has decisively and continuously contributed to Interxion’s success. His departure will leave a big gap in our team, not only on a professional, but also a personal level. Since the Swiss ICT-sector is a small world, we’re happy to know though, that it won’t be a “Farewell”, but an “Au Revoir”. For his future endeavours we wish him only the very best. I hope you enjoy reading about our market place. eddy van den broeck Managing Director Interxion (Schweiz) AG
4 customer
>
case
“For us, flexibility is crucial. Interxion helps us to act quickly in the market.” For more and more businesses, ICT services have become critical to their operations and this requires reliable, highly available solutions. Swiss ICT Provider iSource recognised early on that an appropriate environment was extremely important to achieve the best system performance and availability. By deploying state-of-the-art technology, setting up highly secure architectures (including two separate data centre sites) and, not least, choosing the right hosting partner, iSource achieved high performance and reliability right from the very outset. As Rainer Egli, Chairman of the Management Board and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of iSource AG, remarks: “We came across Interxion (Schweiz) AG in 2001 when we were looking for a neutral data centre capable of meeting our growing demands. The high performance, availability and security of the Interxion infrastructure was a guarantee for us that we would be able to offer our customers high-
> isource Management from left to right: rainer egli chairman of the Management board stefan Maurer Head of service centers and operations Herby schenker Head of consulting and engineering
“The responsibility for our employees and the perfect customer solution are our driving force for top performance”
5 Neutral ICT provider operating with a great deal of passion in the Interxion market place quality professional services, not only now, but also in the future. The iSource and Interxion technicians have been working together for more than eight years now and make up a tried-andtested team. That helps to keep communication paths short and very flexible. For iSource, flexibility is crucial. Interxion helps us to act quickly in the market and together we are able to implement entirely new solution scenarios for our customers in the shortest possible time.”
a deep understanding of both business and technology, which creates market advantages as a result.”
Rainer Egli is particularly proud of iSource’s security standards: “At our data centres every area of physical security (from access control to fire protection to power supply) is covered in an exemplary way. So exemplary in fact that the data centres comply fully with all the bank outsourcing regulations (2008/7) imposed by FINMA, Switzerland’s financial market supervisory authority. That means we can guarantee genuine security for the benefit of our clients.” To conclude Rainer Egil states “Given the pace of technological advances it is essential to define clear focal points and to co-operate with the right partners. All our partners have to be the best in their field and be capable of growing with us. It is the only way of achieving solutions that are based on
contact iSource AG Sägereistrasse 24, CH-8152 Glattbrugg Tel. 044 809 97 00, Fax 044 809 97 01 info@isource.ch, www.isource.ch
“All our partners have to be best in their field and be capable of growing with us.” about isource iSource AG specialises in infrastructure outsourcing for small and medium-sized businesses, offering its clientele a complete portfolio of services. Services offered include; consultancy, engineering and project management right through to operations, complete with service desk, system monitoring and maintenance, storage, backup, archiving and mobile computing. iSource operates FINMA-certified, highly reliable data centres with state-ofthe-art system platforms giving maximum customer availability. The company has a payroll of 33 employees.
6 Colocation and proximity hosting at the heart of the financial markets Financial markets have changed almost beyond belief. Over the past two years in particular Interxion has experienced a huge amount of interest in colocation and proximity hosting from the financial services industry. Since the move to algorithm-based trading there is no going back, and the resulting customer growth has been sizeable. proximity to financial markets It’s not just the big names and the familiar faces of the financial services industry that are considering colocation and proximity hosting to the markets. Brokers, specialist software companies, trading firms, and information system providers all have clear objectives in mind: to reduce latency, to penetrate new markets quickly or strengthen their position in existing markets, and above all increase their earnings. Close proximity to the financial markets is crucial. Trading strategies are increasingly cross-border and cross-asset class, which in turn increases the complexity of the colocation and connectivity strategy. That’s why communications with markets across Europe often entails a presence throughout Europe.
> eddy van den broeck Managing director interxion (schweiz) ag
Security and availability are as much a key issue as ensuring compliance with the regulations of supervisory authorities, full power backup, providing the appropriate premises and separate sites to pre-empt any accusations of a conflict of interest. Our state-of-the-art data centre at Glattbrugg is being expanded based on Interxion’s energy-efficient modular architecture; it stands out by virtue of its scalability and flexibility in surface and energy needs. Standard specifications include multi-level security systems with access locks, video surveillance and 24/7 access control, standard and high-density power configurations, and a minimum redundancy level of N+1. Interxion (Schweiz) AG is also accredited in accordance with the independently rated ISO 27001 standard for information security management and business continuity planning; it is also proactive with regard to stringent customer requirements such as Swiss Financial Markets Supervisory Authority directives and SAS 70 auditing standards.
7 In today’s fast-moving financial markets, low latency is key, which is why trading firms need a colocation partner to support them not only with equipment but also with services, experience and solution options. And that is precisely the purpose of the Financial Hub offer from the data centre operator Interxion (Schweiz) AG. the proximity to the key markets pays off - for example london Proximity to key markets
London
<10km <2km
London Stock Exchange NASDAQ OMX Europe Turquoise, Equiduct Chi-X (Slough)
10µs 15µs 237µs
20µs 346µs
Quote MTF PLUS Markets
52µs
London Metals Exchange
NYSE Euronext (Basildon)
BATS Europe
16µs
LIFFE Note: not all trading venues listed for reasons of customer confidentiality.
High-frequency trading We take buy-side and sell-side firms to financial centres such as London, Madrid, Zurich, Frankfurt and Stockholm, and then to the proximity of suitable hosts. The Financial Hub offer developed by Interxion for its capital market customers is particularly appealing to businesses that operate in algorithmic trading with high frequency. They have to be close to exchanges and multilateral trading systems and need a wide choice of carriers. To our customers, specialised carriers with low-latency routes and the broad connectivity spectrum we can offer are invaluable.
strong demand for colocation. Data centres are set to become strategic assets for exchanges and their members. With our Financial Hub offer we promote the fast-growing high-frequency trading sector and converge their activities in our data centres. It is to be hoped that these changes will bring about greater flexibility when it comes to weathering the economic storms of the future.”
From the many different offers available our customers are able to choose those which best suit their business models and consequently result in drastic cost cuts. Some customers for example do not need ultra-low latency. Colocation with different levels of service can hugely influence the profitability of financial services transactions.
• Low Latency to top European trading venues
“In a word, in the financial market sector the transition from traditional to electronic trading has triggered the
• Test Lab for latency assessment, optimisation and innovation
key benefits • Proximity Hosting to key brokers, exchanges and MTFs
• Wide choice of Network Service Providers for ultra-low-latency dark fibre, WDM and Ethernet services • Industry-leading security and redundancy levels • Seamless scalability internally and internationally
8
eddy van den broeck Managing director
ralf emich
finance Manager
interxion team switzerland
frank schaffner
senior account Manager
vacant:
account Manger
faruk kahriman
deputy finance Manager
nicole berger
Hr advisor / finance assistant
erik vierstraete project Manager
interxion team switzerland
POWER ON Michael verhave sales assistant
agnes Werlen ofďŹ ce assistant
9 interxion team switzerland
salima touchal
thomas benz
Marketing Manager
Manager operations
thomas von rohr
dirk gobeli
customer implementation Manager
facility Manager
andreas Hery
customer implementation Manager
interxion team switzerland
bernhard benz
karl schwarz
facility engineer
andreas burgherr service engineer
building Maintenance engineer
raphael biri
service engineer
branimir sekula service engineer
interxion team switzerland
10 member
>
teaM-
Thomas Benz
is Manager Operations
Thomas is our newest team member. With more than 20 years experience in the ICT industry and a Master Degree in Business Engineering under his belt, he holds the position of Manager Operations since mid-April 2010. With his experience and qualifications he integrates and balances technical-, business- and process-related areas, which represent the main pillars of the Manager Operations. Thomas’ comprehensive knowledge and expertise result in first-class benefits to Interxion and our customers.
“I’m looking forward to the new challenge at Interxion, especially the ability to embed my extensive experience in carrier-related areas, such as technical pre-sales, service management and service development” ”My goal is to continually improve and develop our processes in order to guarantee the best-possible customer satisfaction. In order to offer our customers the best possible support, it is of great importance to have a sound business culture within the team. It is therefore a great concern of mine to not only encourage the technical development of our co-workers, but also to motivate their self-reliance, initiative and innovative thinking”, Thomas explains. For Leisure, Thomas likes to get out and enjoy nature, whether it’s whilst mountain-biking, or with his newest passion, sailing. He also enjoys a good glass of wine in the company of his friends.
? If you have any questions for Thomas, he can be reached by telephone at +41 44 562 30 51, or by e-mail at thomasbe@interxion.com.
11 is Marketing Manager
>
Salima Touchal
teaM-
As Marketing Manager at Interxion I plan and organise various Marketing- and PR activities, such as this customer magazine and a variety of events and case studies. One of my primary concerns is to carry out versatile joint projects with our customers and to achieve greatest possible benefits for all parties involved.
“The editorial panning and management of Interxion’s customer magazine is an enjoyable and exciting task” From the online media business in particular, I bring extensive experience, as well as a wide range of knowledge and skills to Interxion. Prior to my assignment, I worked as Project Manager in the film licensing industry, taking care of a variety of renowned television broadcasters, telecommunication enterprises and VOD platforms. I’m all about creativity and dedication. In my spare time I passionately enjoy to design and program websites. Amongst other things, I do this voluntarily for an animal protective association called ”Schweizer Hunde Engel” and for ”Raduno-Classico” – an auto show of classic Italian automobiles. I’m generally fascinated by media, whether it’s online, films or books. One of my preferred travel destinations is still the USA, probably, because of a significant one-year exchange experience in my younger years. I still have many close relations from this time in the states. But I also enjoy spending precious time with my circle of friends here in Switzerland.
? If you are interested in co-marketing activities, please contact me by telephone at +41 44 562 30 52 or by e-mail at salimat@interxion.com.
member
12 customer
>
case
“For us Interxion is simply the best when it comes to the choice of neutral carriers, the available data centre space, and the high energy and security standards”
> patrick baillie co-founder and ceo cloudsigma ag
Cloud computing is now on everyone’s lips and is set to radically alter Switzerland’s ICT industry: it’s the next big thing. Until now it was mainly US companies such as Amazon, Google Apps, Rackspace or Salesforce.com that offered cloud computing services. But a new player has now stepped into the limelight in the Swiss market: CloudSigma AG. Its founders Robert Jenkins and Patrick Baillie have just leased space at the high-security data centre of Interxion (Schweiz) AG in Zurich-Glattbrugg. There are some very good reasons for the decision, as Patrick Baillie explains: “As a fast-growing cloud computing provider we particularly appreciate the large choice of neutral carriers, the space available for rapid expansion, and the high energy and security standards. For us the Interxion data centre was by far the best choice. We offer customers a highly flexible and accessible platform where they can purchase CPU, RAM, disk storage and high bandwidth data transfer on a subscription or pay-per-use basis. They can then install the operating system of their choice. The only requirement is an x86 Intel architecture.”
13 The secure cloud in Glattbrugg on Interxion’s market place The pricing model is revolutionary. Customers can opt either for a “cloud subscription” where they pay in advance for a specific capacity, or choose a dynamic, pay-as-you-go pricing scheme where the actual capacity required is billed. This means prices fluctuate depending on capacity utilisation, with an RSS feed available for the latest rates. The computer capacity used is calculated at 5 minute intervals. Baillie also has an interesting introductory offer available for companies: the possibility of testing cloud computing and the system for 14 days free of charge and without obligation. The offer includes 4.35 Ghz of CPU, 4.8 GB of RAM, 100 GB of disk storage and 200 GB of data transfer. Companies interested in the offer should simply register at www.cloudsigma.com. Patrick Baillie has nothing but praise for Interxion (Schweiz) AG: “The Interxion people gave us great support when we were looking for a local technology partner and when it came to the decision making. As a cloud provider our requirements are highly specialised, and Interxion went out of its way to meet them. For us Zurich-Glattbrugg is the centre of our pan-European business operations.
We believe cloud computing will generate a great deal of demand for Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) throughout Europe. So CloudSigma is looking to grow its business activities on a massive scale in 2010 and 2011 and consider additional locations. Interxion (Schweiz) AG will certainly be among our partners of choice.”
“Interxion (Schweiz) AG was warmly recommended to us by a whole range of partners and existing Interxion customers”
about cloudsigma CloudSigma is a Swiss Infrastructure-as-a-Service provider (IaaS) offering instantly available virtual servers based on actual usage. The innovative web-based interface allows complete control and simple management features of the CloudSigma system, offering customers flexibility and reliability.
contact CloudSigma AG Patrick Baillie Sägereistrasse 29, CH-8152 Glattbrugg Tel. +41 44 585 39 07, Fax +41 44 732 60 43 info@cloudsigma.com, www.cloudsigma.com
14 Tips & Tricks > QUESTION How can you control the power consumption in your rack? > ANSWER With an apc rack power distribution unit (pdu)*: With APC’s RACK PDU you have the possibility to meter each individual outlet (metered) or even remotely access, configure and manage them via the network management interface (switched).
> Dirk Gobeli
Facility Manager
available as of Q3 2010
*
New interactive LCD display and advanced remote management connectivity
key features: • Active power metering and remote alarming including volts, amps, real power (kW), and energy (kWh) measurements • Comprehensive device, phase, and breaker bank level metering for overload protection, capacity planning purposes, and energy efficiency initiatives • Environmental temperature and humidity sensor input for active monitoring and alarming via the rack PDU network device • Fully featured network management connectivity capability via web, SNMP, telnet • Field replaceable display and network management module for field service and future upgrade capability • Lowest profile design available in the industry helps avoid space interference with IT equipment and improve airflow efficiency • Network flash upgradeable and local USB port for easy firmware updates
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More inforMation Interxion is a reseller of APC products. For more information contact Interxion at +41 44 562 30 00 or customercare.ch@interxion.com
15 Fact Sheet > FACIlITy
• 3’400 m2 of equipped space • Located next to Zurich Kloten airport (five minutes) and ten minutes from Zurich city centre • Fault-tolerant and concurrently maintainable design
> CONNECTIvITy
• Dual-entry fibre • Direct access to 30 carriers/ISPs including the SwissIX Internet exchange • SLA-based cross connects available to all Zurich customers
> POWER
• • • •
4 MVA redundant grid connection Up to 99.999% availability SLA 2N UPA redundancy N+1 backup generators, supporting 72 hours at full capacity with highspeed refueling • Full range of output voltages and currents
> SECURITy
• Trained security staff on site 24x7 • Multiple physical security layers, including CCTV, man traps, 24x7 controlled access • ISO 27001-certified information security management systems
> CONTROllED ENvIRONmENT
• Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus (VESDA) • Inergen fire suppression system • N+1 CRAC redundancy per room • SLAs on temperature and humidity in line with ASHRAE recommendations • Entire facility infrastructure monitored 24x7 (Chiller, CRAC, Fire Panels, Generator, UPS, etc.)
> SERvICES
• Cabinets, shared rooms, cages and private suites • Remote hands-and-eyes: 24x7 installation and maintenance • Connectivity, management, backup services • Extendable across Europe via one service contract
> ENERGy EFFICIENCy
• Phased modular architecture optimizes Power Usage • Effectiveness (PUE) • Chillers with free cooling • Cold cube setup • Operated to the highest energy efficiency standards
> CUSTOmER SUPPORT
ISO 27001-accredited European Customer Service Centre (ECSC) provides support in 11 countries to the same rigorous standards: • 24x7 facility and service monitoring • Multilingual response (German, English, Spanish, French and Dutch)
accreditations & associations Contributor member, The Green Grid
Cofounder EmEA Chapter, Uptime Institute
ISO-27001-accredited Information Security management-Systems
Contributor, EC Joint Research Centre on Sustainability
Patron of the European Internet Exchange Association Cofounder and patron of the Swiss Internet Exchange Association (SwissIX)
Published by Salima Touchal
interxion switzerland ag, sägereistrasse 29, 8152 glattbrugg, switzerland
Carrier-Neutral Data Centres
POWER ON 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