(source: Courtesy of T-Com)
Every company using an information system running on one or more servers needs to appropriately house this equipment. Companies have different views in how to solve the placement of servers and other technologies (disc arrays, tape libraries, IP phone systems, telecoms operator technologies …) and operating ICT technology, ranging from using a free office or storage room as the so-called “server room” to construction of a financially demanding private data centre.
When building its own “data centre”, some companies struggle with lack of investment funds which is then reflected in savings for required equipment and technologies such as cooling, back-up power supply and the like). Sometimes, when planning these spaces, future needs are not fully taken into consideration: room size, output, energy demands…
There is a reliable way to solve these problems in housing your ICT technology – using data centres (DCs) hosted by Slovak Telekom – where you get professional housing services under the T-Com brand. Slovak Telekom considers its DCs to be one of the fundamental building blocks to solve the question of securing continuity in business processes. Thus, our DCs were built with parameters that can meet – in addition to T-Com’s internal requirements – the most demanding needs of external clients. T-Com’s DCs are designed with an emphasis on all the supporting systems which meet the strictest criteria for securing the operation. The crucial elements in these DCs are backup power supplies and systems of cooling and connectivity designed in a way that a possible power failure will not influence the operability of the technology housed in the DC.
Currently, T-Com has Data Centres in Bratislava, Banská Bystrica (the community of Tajov), Košice and Prešov (the community of Bzenov). The DCs in Tajov and Bzenov are the best-equipped and most physically-secure ones. They are in separate constructions (bunkers) built in the urban areas of the municipalities and are resistant to natural elements as well as nuclear, chemical, or biological attacks. These DCs can operate independently for 6 days without any contact with the external environment. In addition to non-stop armed guard, these DCs also have an electronic fire alarm system (EPS), an electronic security system (EZS) and a camera system (KS). Fire extinguishing in these buildings is arranged so that a fire can be put out while the technology continues to run. These utilities are connected to a power supply in three independent ways and data connectivity for these DCs is solved in a similar way. All supporting technologies (cooling, back-up power supply and generators) are at least doubled – that secures continuous operation of the ICT technology housed there. We can say that the protective parameters of these DCs are unique within Slovakia. In addition to these existing DCs, T-Com has begun intense preparations for the construction of a modern DC in Bratislava. This DC will be built to fulfil all strict criteria required for modern DCs as well as incorporating recommendations of international institutions and organisations dealing with DCs.
In its existing DCs, T-Com offers various services. The basic service is housing of technologies. Space can be rented in a rack or a whole array of racks or space can be rented in square metres with the opportunity to enclose the whole rented space or to physically detach the space through construction and secure entry to this space with keys. It is also possible, in addition to the leasing of space in a rack or whole racks, to lease an area of 1m2 and fence off the leased area or physically separate it by a building adjustment and ensure a keyed mode of entry into this area .Within our housing services, of course, our client gets the supporting technologies (e.g. multiple power supply, cooling, etc.) to the extent necessary for providing non-stop operation of the client’s facilities. Specific parameters are based on the individual requirements of each client.
T-Com also offers its clients the services that are contained in its own facilities: primarily rental of capacities on disc arrays and magnetic tapes. We can simply rent capacity on our disc arrays or in our tape library but we can also solve more complex problems by making backups, archives, and restoring data, or resolving the problems in a disaster recovery centre.
Apart from our own know-how, we also cooperate intensively with renowned suppliers of both hardware and software who are among the best in their fields. Each client’s needs undergo a detailed analysis of requirements, resulting in a comprehensive ICT solution that integrates their requirements and the existing environment with services and technological equipment of the DC, telecoms services and potential other suppliers who are part of the solution. Thus, T-Com is a leading provider of comprehensive ICT solutions, proven by clients’ projects implemented in the secure rooms of T-Com’s DCs.
The basic advantages for our client from the services provided in T-Com DCs are eliminating high investment costs and sharing the operating costs of the DCs. Included in the services are certified rooms (physical safety) along with professional technological operation of the DCs. Solutions provided to end-users by T-Com can be scaled from simple housing of a web server to a comprehensive plan for business continuity or a disaster recovery plan. We do not ignore the influence of these services on the environment and this is reflected in our certificate for managing environmental systems according to EN ISO 14001:2004.
The best argument why T-Com is the right partner for outsourcing your ICT services to one of our Data Centres is the fact that T-Com operates its own vast systems in these DCs. By letting customers outsource their ICT services, T-Com helps them solve significant problems in the housing and operations of their ICT infrastructure. At T-Com we can adapt to the requirements and needs of a client while being mindful of its current technological status.
Author: T-Com
