What a modern data center infrastructure should offer

The Swiss IT service provider GIA Informa- tik currently operates two data centres in its own name in Oftringen and Zofingen. They are well-equipped with uninterruptible power supply with batteries, monitoring, basic power supply, and a power supply system.

"In the next two to five years, it's highly likely that the majority of customers will want a private cloud solution for their data."

water cooling, a strong energy value and one generator each that switches on automatically in the event of a power failure. The problem? Geographically, the two data centers are located in the same area and are therefore too close to each other. In addition, there had been a risk of flooding in the high water zone for some time. The backwater in the sewage system increased this risk even more. "For this reason, we decided to carry out a detailed analysis in order to locate the current sources of danger. As a result, the board of directors of the Müller-Martini Group - the owner of GIA Informatik - gave the go-ahead to eva- luate a new location and implement the project immediately," says Jürg Gysel, ICT Consultant and Project Manager at GIA Informatik.

Multiple criteria made the evaluation difficult
The various criteria meant that only a few locations in Switzerland were considered for a new data center:

• not in the same terrain chamber (this is often required in the tender documents)
• not in the flood endangered area
• not near an airport
• no further than 100 kilometres from the current location in Of- tringen due to the latency period
• Nuclear power plant outside protection zone 2
• easily accessible from Oftringen

Redundantly routed lines
The new location also had to meet the standard and be ISO 27001 certified. "We decided on a data center in Littau/Lucerne because it met all the requirements. We put it into operation at the beginning of 2019. By supplying energy in different ways, we ensure that not all data centers are affected in a crisis situation. This leads to a massively higher quality," explains Jürg Gysel. The lines from the previous GIA In-formatik data centres to Lucerne will be redundant. This means that they run on separate routes and never cross each other.

Fast connections thanks to 100 Gigabit dark fiber
The IT service provider ensures the fast connections with DWDM technology and bandwidths of 100 gigabit dark fiber leased lines. By way of comparison, the rela- tions are 10 and 40 gigabits respectively. Thus, at GIA Informatik, the systems are ready for operation after a

"Since the distance is relatively short, less than 100 kilometers, we achieve low latency. Thanks to this, we operate the systems for the customers with high performance and disaster tolerance."

interruption is quickly available again. "Since the distance is relatively short at less than 100 kilometers, we achieve a low latency time. Thanks to this, we operate the systems for the customers with high performance and disaster tolerance. Further advantages are the short distances, the location in a different terrain chamber and thus a minimisation of risks," explains Jürg Gysel. Currently, the datacenters in Oftringen and Zofingen are redundantly connected to the Internet and MPLS provider. The connectivity will be replicated to Lucerne, which is why the communication breakout will exist in Oftringen and Lucerne.

What are the customer requirements?
In the next two to five years, it is highly likely that the majority of customers will want a private cloud solution for their data. GIA Informatik has enough capacity to expand and transfer. "We store the data where we provide our services: in our own data centers in Switzerland. Thanks to the economic framework conditions, the high level of training and the clear legislation, we can guarantee the highest quality: Swiss quality," affirms Jürg Gysel. Furthermore, a geo-redundant connection is important, for example of the private cloud to the customer site. If a natural event damages a line or an excavator tears out a cable, not all data centers fail at the same time.

Agility as the trump card
As a service provider, GIA Informatik is technologically innovative and flexible. "The internal channels are short, which is why the company is quick to implement projects," explains Jürg Gysel. In comparison with other competitors, it stands out that GIA Informatik - together with Muller Martini - is the owner of its data centers. In addition, a modern, efficient and secure data center is available to customers at the Lucerne site in a different area.