Hurricane Sandy served as a stark reminder that we should always be prepared for the unexpected. Following this type of disaster, we are forced to reassess our understanding of how certain areas are affected by natural disasters. Red Cross, NOAA and NRC have developed a basic risk level for almost every part of the US. We commonly use the map below to illustrate how safe...
Data Foundry Blog
Understanding the Costs of Downtime
Texas 1 is designed to ensure continuous uptime and availability for your IT infrastructure. In our latest blog entry, we explore the costs of downtime. A 2011 Ponemon Institute study, “Calculating the Cost of Data Center Outages”, analyzed costs at 41 data centers to try and identify the costs of downtime. Some of the more relevant facts include: Average cost of data...
The Importance of a Concrete-Encased, Underground Power Feed
Downed Power Lines According to the Edison Electric Institute, the top five causes of power outages in the United States are: Mother Nature – More than half of all power outages across the U.S. are caused by nature. High winds, lightning, ice and heavy rains can affect an aboveground power line directly or indirectly by causing trees or other debris to strike it....
Hurricane Season Is Here
Hurricane season is in full swing, and as we learned from ImpactWeather President Mark Chambers in May, there are up to 11 named storms and two to three major hurricanes predicted for this season. Of course, it only takes one storm to put an unprepared business out of business. According to Contingency Planning Research & Strategic Research Corporation, 43% of U.S....
Lunch & Learn: Understanding the Cloud
On May 16, 2012, Data Foundry, tw telecom, and SHI welcomed guests to Texas 1 for a lunch event on the Myths and Realities of Cloud Architecture. As guest dined on Texas BBQ, they heard from Data Foundry’s VP of Global Business Development, Greg Nielsen as he spoke about the history of the cloud. Greg illustrated how the modern cloud leverages data centers, like Texas 1, to...
Details, Details, Details
Texas 1 will serve as an office for a number of Data Foundry employees, as well as a temporary office for worksite recovery customers. Some of the details that make Texas 1 a welcoming environment are already going into place! Take a look… The entryway to Texas 1 is beginning to take shape! Carpet has been installed throughout the admin area. Millwork is already going into...
Learning the Importance of a Disaster Recovery Plan
Data Foundry, DYONYX, and AboveNet recently teamed up to host an executive luncheon at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse in Houston, Texas. A packed room of local professionals heard the President of ImpactWeather, Mark Chambers, speak about the upcoming hurricane season. With 2 to 3 major hurricanes predicted for 2012, Chambers highlighted the importance of having a...
What Makes a Data Center “World-Class”?
When we started the process of designing Texas 1, we knew our customers expected a World-Class Data Center (WCDC). From the cooling, power and networking systems to the very ground on which Texas 1 sits, every detail was carefully considered when building this state-of-the-art facility. We consulted industry experts to ensure the highest quality product was produced….a...
Power Outage at Candlestick Park
Just prior to the start of last night’s Monday Night Football game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, the country saw firsthand what happens when a utility transformer suddenly explodes. As the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers was set to start, a utility transformer supplying power to the stadium blew up causing a power outage and delayed the...
Visiting the Texas 1 Data Center
Now that construction is complete, we can focus on sharing all of the details that make Texas 1 customer-friendly. We’ve previously blogged about the consideration that went into protecting and managing your equipment: energy-efficient cooling system, top-of-the-line security and the dual power substations. Now, we want to share some things we’ve done for the convenience of...
Raising the Bar: Data Foundry Completes SSAE 16 Type II Audit
Data Foundry’s Texas 1 and ADC data centers have successfully completed the SSAE 16 Type II compliance audit. What does that mean? You can have complete confidence that your critical data and infrastructure is in a facility which has verified internal business processes and IT controls in place. Over a period of 6 months, independent auditors assessed Data Foundry’s policies,...
Texas 1 Data Center – Open for Business
Texas 1, the first purpose-built, carrier-neutral data center in the Central Texas region is now open for business! The initial phase of the highly anticipated 130,000 SF data center is fully operational and the first customers are already moved in. As chronicled on our Construction Blog throughout the past year, Texas 1 is the first colocation facility on the 40-acre...
Keeping the Data Center Secure
Security is one of the top concerns for data center customers. At Texas 1, we are just about finished installing many of the state-of-the-art security features to help protect your IT equipment and the lifeline to your business. The Texas 1 grounds are outfitted with high fencing and a guard station to prevent unwanted entry onto the premises. Internal security includes...
Commissioning Texas 1
Texas 1 data center is undergoing the final steps of commissioning! In the commissioning process, we are doing our final operational testing. The systems within the building are tested and verified, including quality assurance for the electrical, cooling, water, lighting, plumbing, security and other systems throughout the facility. This caps a multi-month process of testing...
Texas 1 Data Center Construction Update – One Month Away
The exterior of Texas 1 is almost complete! The parking lot has been paved, trees have been planted, and the exterior perimeter fence is going up. You can really start to see the scale of the building! Take a look around the property for yourself… May 2011 – The 130,000 SF structure is in place and only the details remain! A warm welcome awaits our clients, partners and...