Sentrum, a specialist in data centre solutions, has today confirmed that SunGard Availability Services – the pioneer and leading provider of Information Availability and business continuity services – will be taking substantial space in its recently acquired data centre facility in Woking. Initially leasing 25,000 sq ft, the agreement also provides SunGard Availability Services with the option to double its capacity in the future.
As part of a growing business demand to support managed services, SunGard Availability Services executives completed a thorough review of the options available to the business from both third party and self-development perspectives, but when taking into account such variables as investment, location, quality of service, growth and security; Sentrum actually provided the organisation with the most cost effective solution.
“Lack of quality data centre space in London is a pressing business concern for our customers, and it was important for us to address the issue early which is why we took the proactive step to review our options,” commented Dave Gilpin, chief strategy officer at SunGard Availability Services. “This also gave us the added benefit of having the time to make a decision that we knew would suit the SunGard business, and the businesses of our customers, in the long term - which was critical. Sentrum could not only work with us now, but also demonstrated that it could deliver longer term strategic support as well.”
With growth and scalability rising up the IT director’s business agenda, and access and availability of data remaining a high priority, the Sentrum solution offers a truly cost-effective alternative to self-build developments which companies are increasingly turning away from, from a self management perspective, due to the risk of long lead times and potentially spiralling costs.
Gilpin continued: “Business knowledge and expertise is also of paramount importance as we, in turn, manage high service expectations across our customer base and need to be assured that SunGard’s expectations would be supported at the foundation level by all strategic partners. Sentrum met our level of confidence.”
Securing the right facility was important to SunGard in order to help maintain the industry recognition that it has already secured for its approach to data centre strategy[1]; further endorsed by its recent award for outstanding excellence at the 2008 Business Continuity Awards.
Andy Ruhan, CEO at Sentrum added, “We are delighted to be chosen by SunGard, and are honoured that it was our trusted reputation for providing the highest specification data centres in the market that clinched the deal.”
The Sentrum concept was introduced to address a gap in the market for flexible data centre space and at a time of limited availability, and unstable market conditions, it continues to suit businesses of all sizes.
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[1]WINNER – “Data Centre Strategy” 2008 Business Continuity Awards & 10th Anniversary Award Outstanding Excellence in Business Continuity