A safe place for mission-critical data and applications
Should an SME still have its servers on its premises, and if so, what about security? Who takes care of the infrastructure and uninterrupted operation? Co-location, placing the server landscape in a highly secure data center or virtual data centers can also be a more than valid option for SMEs.
Just a moment ago, I was working on a sentence, entering a formula in Excel, updating the database - suddenly the screen goes dark. Not only that, there's no more light, the phone line is dead, the radio is off, and not even the coffee machine makes a sound. Mail gone, spreadsheet gone, database entries gone. And from the IT room come the agonizing alarm sounds of the UPS - power failure. In Switzerland, unlike in many other countries, this is fortunately a rare occurrence. And yet, according to data from utilities, the power in our country is interrupted unplanned for an average of 15 minutes per year. An improperly shut down server can lose data. The loss of business-critical data can have drastic, even catastrophic, consequences for an SMB. One might not even think of a fire or a flood, because in such serious events the damage is far from being limited to the data. And yet - what do you do if the data that is so central to the company is lost and the IT landscape is destroyed?
Costs and reputational damage
In addition to the likelihood of these risks, which fortunately rarely occur, SMEs in general are faced with the question of whether operating their own infrastructure is still appropriate and cost-efficient today. Maintaining one's own IT environment is costly in every respect. In addition to the associated hardware, space must also be available for a server room - space that could actually be put to better use in most cases. Ideally, such a room is air-conditioned, protected against fires and water ingress, and protected against unauthorized access. In addition to the high investment, electricity and maintenance costs, a specialist is also needed in the company to ensure trouble-free and uninterrupted operation. Actually, at least two are needed - because one of them also wants to go on vacation. Today, hardly any company can function without IT. Just a few hours without running systems, applications and data can cost a fortune, not to mention damage to the company's reputation.
Highly secure data center
This is where services such as co-location, virtual data centers and virtual servers come into play. Co-location describes the accommodation of a server or an IT landscape in a highly secure data center, ideally in Switzerland. A Tier 3 data center guarantees maximum power availability, fire protection and access security. Co-location enables maximum scalability, service and support. Customers can rent dedicated rack space that is exactly the size they want and need. This can be a whole rack, half or a quarter. The space is used by the customer alone, so they don't have to share it with other companies, and they have 24/7 access to the data center and their rack. Unlike having their own server room or even data center, this way they only incur costs for the space that a company really needs.
Power availability of 99.999 percent
As already mentioned, data storage is ideally located in Switzerland, as this is the only way companies can enjoy the corresponding legal security. Other advantages of co-location are a fast connectivity connection, high-availability connections to the company site, the Internet and cloud providers; climate control, emergency power (redundant UPS and N+1 diesel generators), fire monitoring with extinguishing device and round-the-clock monitored and secured access via personalized badge. Each rack in the data center is connected to two completely separate power circuits. Overall, a monthly power availability of 99.999 percent is guaranteed, which corresponds to a maximum interruption of 26 seconds. Tier 3 data centers use redundant components and multiple active and passive supply paths. This makes the system fault-tolerant, and uninterrupted maintenance is also possible during operation.
No more physical infrastructure needed for mission-critical data
An SME can also operate a virtual data center (VDC) with virtual servers in a highly secure Tier 3 data center. This is a scalable, fully automated SDDC solution (Software Defined Data Center). The VDC can be integrated directly into a company's IT infrastructure and provides on-demand computing and storage for an SME's applications. The integrated solution eliminates the need to purchase, manage and maintain a physical infrastructure - this is known as an Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) solution. It can be deployed quickly and easily, is scalable and cost-effective. Ideally, a virtual data center is operated geo-redundantly in tier 3 data centers in Switzerland under the highest security precautions.
Advice and support
In most cases, the IT landscape in a company has grown organically over the years. There are dependencies that you may not even know about (anymore). Possibly different departments use data at the same time and there are applications that are already very outdated. A reputable managed service provider that offers co-location and virtual environments will also support its customers during the move or transition. The existing IT landscape is scrutinized, the inventory is taken, inventoried and a detailed plan is drawn up. The project is accompanied and, in the case of a (new) installation, the customer receives the necessary support from the experts.
Concentration on actual competencies
With co-location or virtual data centers, SMEs can be sure that their data and applications are in an extremely secure location that is monitored 24 hours a day. In addition, there is no need for the maintenance and space requirements that would be associated with a corresponding infrastructure of one's own. And this at significantly lower costs. At the same time, the company retains full control over its systems. Having your data and servers in a secure location frees up your mind for strategic decisions and allows you to concentrate on your core business competencies.
Author Information:
Thomas Knüsel is COO at Cyberlink AG. Cyberlink has been an independent Swiss Internet Service Provider (ISP) since 1995. In 2012, the focus on the provision of high-quality managed services for business customers followed and thus the change from ISP to MSP (Managed Service Provider). The portfolio includes solutions in the area of connectivity (internet access and site networking), managed security and data center. Cyberlink employs around 30 people in Zurich, who look after over 1500 business customers throughout Switzerland. These are mainly customers with high data volumes. In addition, only high-end devices are used, which can guarantee a high level of reliability, according to the company. One SME customer that already relies on a virtual datacenter from Cyberlink is eyeVIP AG, developer and operator of intuitive event management software. eyeVIP uses the geo-redundant Virtual Datacenter (VDC) Premium as well as the connection of the office via Business Internet. Here, too, the advantages of the scalable, fully automated SDDC solution (Software Defined Data Center) are used, which has been directly integrated into eyeVIP's IT infrastructure. Alina Klaus, Managing Director of eye- VIP AG, sees further advantages in the VDC solution: "The VDC could be built according to our wishes, the services are freely configurable by us and our customers as well as we benefit from the high availability. " Thanks to the Cyberlink business Internet connection in combination with the VDC, even performance-intensive functions, such as uploading photos after an event, would be fast and efficient, as the customer further confirms. Other companies using Cyberlink's services include BSI Business Systems Integration AG, Post CH AG, Tremegisto Consulting, invest.ch Services GmbH, mhs @ internet AG, Brust-Zentrum AG, Zubler & Partner AG and Halter AG.
