News

Vertiv announces launch of prefabricated infrastructure portfolio

Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, has announced the launch of Vertiv SmartRun. Vertiv SmartRun is a modular prefabricated overhead infrastructure system designed to integrate high-density power distribution busbar, liquid cooling piping network, hot-aisle containment, and network infrastructure into a single, scalable solution, supporting an accelerated data centre fit-out. This all-in-one solution is designed to reduce complexity and accelerate deployment times of cloud and AI training applications for greenfield and retrofit colocation and hyperscale data centres. Deploying Vertiv SmartRun delivers significant advantages in scalability and efficiency, Vertiv states, providing end-to-end speed and adaptable configurations to meet various design requirements. With prefabricated assembly, plug-and-play design, and a simplified one-lift installation process, Vertiv SmartRun can deploy up to 85% faster on-site than traditional stick-build methods, enabling data centre installations greater than 1MW per day with just a single crew. The pre-designed system reduces labour needs for engineering review and installation of busway, piping, network cabling, and hot-aisle containment systems, offering a streamlined approach to integrating overhead infrastructure. The system also addresses the whitespace challenges of incorporating new heat removal technologies into AI data centres, by integrating a secondary fluid network into the Vertiv SmartRun design. Prefabricated stainless steel piping systems mitigate complexity of design, fabrication, and start-up, providing a single source for end-to-end data centre liquid cooling support. “As digital infrastructure demands evolve, organisations require solutions that accelerate growth without adding complexity,” says Viktor Petik, Senior Vice President, Infrastructure Solutions at Vertiv. “Vertiv SmartRun is a strategic investment in high-density, prefabricated infrastructure that brings operational agility and enables seamless expansion to support the future of high-density computing.” Vertiv SmartRun is backed by Vertiv Liquid Cooling Services and Vertiv Services, a global network of trained experts available to provide comprehensive support for the installation, maintenance, and optimisation of liquid cooled infrastructure, supporting efficient thermal management and long-term reliability in high-density environments. For more from Vertiv, click here.

Nokia networking backbone to connect Australia data centres

Nokia has been selected by Australian cloud provider, ResetData, to supply a networking backbone that supports its immediate rollout of sovereign ‘AI Factory’ data centres across the continent. The Nokia IP solution will deliver the speed, scale and reliability required for lossless, low-latency performance as ResetData targets an Australian cloud services market that in 2024 saw a 19% year on year increase. Sovereign AI ensures systems and data stay within a country's jurisdiction, promoting national security and compliance with domestic laws and regulations. ResetData’s AI factories with liquid immersion cooling are up to 10 times as efficient as legacy designs and can cut cloud costs by 40% and emissions by 45% to deliver more sustainable AI cloud operations. Backed by Australasian real estate fund manager, Centuria Capital Group, ResetData will deploy the Nokia 7750 Service Router in commercial properties nationwide as part of a series of highly efficient and sustainable liquid immersion cooled AI factories, commencing in Melbourne’s CBD. While addressing precision timing and other key requirements that are fundamental to the performance of AI infrastructure, the FP5-based Nokia IP platform provides super-fast, reliable and highly secure performance at scale. In doing so, Nokia’s approach will reportedly revolutionise data centre operations by delivering a 75% reduction in energy consumption over previous generations. Functioning as a data centre gateway to front-end ResetData’s Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) clusters, the FP5-based Nokia 7750 SR-1x enables connectivity between data centres and to the Internet with massive routing scale, reaching speeds of up to 800Gb/s. Karl Kloppenborg, Chief Technology Officer at ResetData, comments, “We are moving quickly because sovereign AI is critical to Australia’s international competitiveness. Together with the ResetData AI Marketplace, our rollout is delivering critical AI, machine learning and large language model capabilities on-shore and on-demand for the first time. To make it happen, we needed a partner as committed to sustainability as we are, with local resourcing and global reach, who could meet a demanding timeline, scale from single GPUs to entire AI Factories, and replicate Melbourne’s launch nationally. Nokia has been a core partner at every step.” Vach Kompella, Senior Vice President and General Manager, IP Networks at Nokia, adds, “As dynamic new-generation cloud builders like ResetData seize the opportunities that artificial intelligence generates, Nokia is ready with an IP portfolio primed for the stringent and exacting data demands of AI infrastructure. Combining speed, capacity and reliability with cost-efficiency and sustainability, Nokia IP is a top choice for the world’s most modern and secure data centres. We are pleased to partner with ResetData as they deliver Australia’s first sovereign AI at scale.” For more from Nokia, click here.

Infosecurity Europe launches new cyber security masterclasses

Infosecurity Europe has announced the launch of ‘Infosecurity Europe Masterclasses, powered by SANS Institute’, an exclusive new training initiative designed to equip cybersecurity professionals with hands-on, practical skills.  Developed for Infosecurity Europe 2025, the Masterclasses will offer three deep-dive sessions covering Digital Forensics, Cloud Security and Security Culture. Each masterclass will be delivered by a SANS-certified instructor and will take place in the South Gallery Rooms at ExCeL London during the event. The Digital Forensics and Cloud Security Masterclasses will be held on Tuesday 3 June, with the Security Culture Masterclass on Wednesday 4 June.  Introducing these masterclasses highlights the growing demand for specialised training as organisations contend with an increasingly complex threat landscape. Infosecurity Europe has long been a hub for industry leaders to share knowledge, explore innovative solutions, and foster collaboration. The partnership with SANS Institute builds on this and enhances the event's educational offering.  "Partnering with Infosecurity Europe and bringing hands-on masterclasses to this year’s event is a pivotal moment to elevate security readiness across the UK and Europe,” says John Davis, UK Director, SANS Institute. “This collaboration will support cyber security professionals with the practical skills they need to stay ahead of emerging threats. Continuous learning is essential in an industry that evolves at such a rapid pace, and by providing hands-on, immersive experiences, we are ensuring that security practitioners can apply cutting-edge techniques in real-world scenarios to make an immediate impact within their organisations," The masterclasses are designed to deliver practical, actionable insights and are tailored to help cyber security professionals tackle modern challenges head-on. The Digital Forensics Masterclass will be led by SANS Certified Instructor Kathryn Hedley and will provide practical experience in decoding file signatures, data recovery techniques and forensic disk image exploration. Attendees will learn how to extract and interpret critical digital evidence across platforms, equipping them with the skills to handle complex forensic investigations. This session aligns closely with industry demand, as over 50% of organisations plan to increase investment in incident response and forensics according to Infosecurity Europe’s 2025 Cybersecurity Trends Report. With 65% of cyber security leaders also planning an increase in cloud security investment, the Cloud Security Masterclass is key to guiding participants through advanced cloud security practices. Hosted by SANS Certified Instructor Simon Vernon, topics will include securing logging setups in Azure and preventing remote code execution.   On day two, the Security Culture Masterclass will be fronted by SANS Certified Instructor John Scott and will directly address key challenges faced by organisations. Infosecurity Europe’s report shows respondents citing lack of accountability and identifying communication gaps between departments as major obstacles to building a strong cyber security culture. This interactive session will address these challenges and more with a focus on embedding a resilient security culture within organisations.  Participants will engage in the Cyber42 Game Day simulation, where they will navigate real-world decision-making scenarios to strengthen their leadership and cultural impact. 

DataVita earns UK's first 'gold standard' OCP status

DataVita has become the first data centre operator in the UK to achieve an industry-leading accreditation - Open Compute Project’s (OCP) Ready for Hyperscale certification - recognising the capabilities of its DV1 facility in supporting high-density workloads and AI. So far, this certification has only been awarded to three other companies in Europe and is one of the sector’s most recognised and sought-after accreditations. The initiative is designed to give recognition to multi-tenant data centres that can accommodate the larger scale, higher density and more advanced infrastructure requirements of hyperscale operations – including the ability to provide liquid cooling. A rigorous assessment included elements such as logistics, site access, foundational building infrastructure and network connectivity, as well as DataVita’s commitment to innovation, efficiency and sustainability at its DV1 facility located in Chapelhall, North Lanarkshire. Underpinned by its focus on infrastructure for high-performance computing (HPC) and AI, the company recently announced plans to grow data centre capacity to 1GW in central Scotland over the next five years, powered by independent renewable energy sources. Danny Quinn, Managing Director of DataVita, says, “Achieving what is widely considered one of the gold standards in industry accreditations solidifies our position as a market-leader and confirms the expertise we have for handling high-density levels of computing. AI has huge growth potential for the future and has quickly become a core focus for the business, and we have invested heavily in making sure we can support the infrastructure that it requires. “Scotland’s mix of renewable energy – with the lowest carbon intensity compared to anywhere else in the UK – and a naturally cooler climate means we can also offer significant sustainability benefits for global customers. Only a few facilities have liquid cooling capability, for example, but we can do it with a lower carbon footprint. “Our goal is to ensure that AI adoption does not come at the expense of the environment. The OCP status reflects that, and we hope it will open up new conversations with existing and potential clients considering locating in Scotland.”

Second Yondr data centre goes live at London campus

Yondr Group has achieved the first phase of completion at the company’s second data centre on its 100MW London campus. The facility now has 10MW of the building’s 30MW capacity live and operational. The achievement is the latest in a series of project milestones for Yondr’s London campus, with the first building entering into operation in the summer of 2024, and work commencing on a third 40MW data centre earlier this year. Located in Slough, West London, the UK’s largest data centre ecosystem, Yondr’s second facility on its London campus has been designed with sustainability in mind, aligned with Yondr’s ESG strategy and net zero target for scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2030. A BREEAM ‘Very Good’ building, it delivers a better than industry standard annualised power usage effectiveness (PUE) of 1.21, has solar PV panels on the roof, and a green wall on the southern façade, with a horticultural management plan in place to ensure this matures and thrives throughout the operational phase of the building. The building also has a number of electric vehicle parking spaces. Yondr has worked collaboratively with Slough Borough Council and the Canal & River Trust on the design of all three buildings on its London campus, ensuring that the development enhances the local area. Located on the site of a former paint factory, the project has involved extensive ground remediation works to remove lead and chemicals. Yondr is upgrading a local cycleway and providing bat and bird boxes as part of the development. The project has also been the starting point for an apprenticeship programme that will see the London campus accommodate four apprentices by the end of 2025. Peter Hill, VP of Design & Construction EMEA at Yondr comments, “Our London campus is being delivered at pace and to a very high standard of reliability, resilience and sustainability. It fulfils our commitment to meeting our client’s requirements while strengthening Slough’s position as a key global hub for data centre capacity.” “Achieving the first RFS phase on the second facility marks another major milestone for our London campus, as we transform a derelict manufacturing site into a state-of-the-art data centre that will support the urgent global need for data capacity and the UK’s ambitions as a leader in digital industries.”

Cyber attacks drop by nearly 10%

Four in 10 (43%) of UK businesses and 30% of charities experienced cyber attacks or data breaches in the last 12 months, according to the latest Cyber Security Breaches Survey. While this marks a slight decrease from last year’s 50%, the threat level for medium and large businesses remains alarmingly high.  The average cost of the most disruptive breach was estimated at £1,600 for businesses and £3,240 for charities. The drop in incidents is attributed mainly to fewer small businesses reporting breaches – but government officials warn against complacency. With cyber threats increasingly targeting critical infrastructure, the UK Government is introducing the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, compelling organisations to strengthen their digital defences. The survey found that 70% of large businesses now have a formal cyber strategy in place, compared to just 57% of medium-sized firms – exposing a potential gap in preparedness among mid-sized enterprises. There has been a notable improvement in cyber hygiene practices among smaller businesses, with rising adoption of risk assessments, cyber insurance, formal cyber security policies and continuity planning.  These steps are seen as essential in building digital resilience across the UK economy. However, the number of high-income charities implementing best practices such as risk assessments has declined. Insights suggest this may be linked to budgetary pressures, limiting their ability to invest in adequate cyber security measures. Sawan Joshi, Group Director of Information Security at FDM Group, comments, “Keeping banking systems online is becoming more challenging, and technology alone isn’t enough. Skilled IT teams are crucial for spotting risks early and responding quickly to prevent disruptions. Organisations need to invest in ongoing training so their staff can strengthen system defences and recover fast when issues arise. A mix of advanced monitoring, backup systems, and a well-trained workforce is key to keeping services running and maintaining customer trust.'" The Government has also confirmed that UK data centres are now officially designated as critical national infrastructure. This means they will receive the same priority in the event of a major incident - such as a cyber attack - as essential services like water and energy.

2025 ESG Report: Data centre environmental impact

Structure Research has released its latest 2025 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report, providing an in-depth look at the environmental footprint of data centre providers and hyperscale platforms. The report captures sustainability metrics from 26 data centre operators and nine hyperscale cloud platforms, offering a unique snapshot into carbon emissions, energy consumption and water usage across the global infrastructure ecosystem. The 2025 ESG Report finds that while data centre energy usage continues to rise - now accounting for more than 1.1% of global energy consumption - average carbon emissions per unit of energy consumed are trending downwards, driven by the growing adoption of renewable and carbon-free energy sources. Total energy usage increased from 178.5TWh in 2019 to 310.6TWh in 2024, while emissions intensity fell from 366.9mtCO2e/GWh to 312.7mtCO2e/GWh over the same period. “Data centres are foundational to the modern digital economy, and that means they carry a growing environmental responsibility,” says Philbert Shih, Managing Director of Structure Research. “What this report shows is that while energy consumption continues to climb, providers are making meaningful progress in efficiency and renewable adoption. The industry is clearly moving in the right direction - but transparency and accountability will be critical as sustainability expectations evolve.” Key findings from the report Sustainability progress amid rising demand · Energy usage by ESG Leaders grew 17.9% over the last five years, while renewable energy consumption increased by 27.9%. · Hyperscalers now use renewable sources for approximately 91% of their total energy needs; data centre providers reached 62%. · Carbon-free energy, including nuclear, is emerging as a key part of the data centre energy mix as power constraints grow in Tier 1 markets. PUE and water efficiency improvements · Average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) for data centre providers declined from 1.44 in 2019 to 1.38 in 2024, while hyperscale PUEs remained at an industry-leading 1.22. · Data centre water consumption increased by 9.6% over five years, driven by demand for liquid cooling to support AI workloads and higher rack densities. The report introduces the Structure Research Sustainability Quadrant (SRSQ), a benchmark framework ranking providers based on transparency, operational efficiency and renewable energy usage. The SRSQ aims to encourage better reporting standards and highlight leaders in environmental performance. Structure Research’s analysis found that ESG reporting across the sector is becoming more common, though significant variation remains in the scope and depth of disclosures. The report emphasises the importance of transparency in environmental reporting and urges providers to include more granular, region-specific data in future disclosures. The 2025 ESG Report is a tool for hyperscalers, colocation providers, enterprises and policymakers seeking to understand the environmental implications of data centre growth and how industry leaders are responding.

Vertiv upgrades SmartAisle for efficient edge computing in EMEA

Vertiv has announced a significant upgrade to its Vertiv SmartAisle solution, designed specifically for edge computing applications up to 180kW. Now available across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), this complete pre-engineered system combines power, cooling, racks and advanced management and monitoring capabilities in a single integrated unit, designed to simplify and quicken edge computing deployments. In line with the European Union Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) the system provides energy efficient operation and includes power usage effectiveness (PUE) monitoring to help organisations track operations alongside their responsible business goals.  "The upgraded Vertiv SmartAisle really changes the game when it comes to effective and successful edge deployments", says Giuseppe Leto, Senior Director IT Systems Business at Vertiv in EMEA. "We've made it easier, faster and more cost-effective for businesses to scale and grow their IT operations. The pre-engineered system eliminates the traditional challenges of planning of multiple equipment installations and logistics while providing customers with a complete, reliable end-to-end solution that allows data centre operators to monitor energy efficiency requirements following the latest EU regulations.” The embedded Vertiv RDU501 intelligent infrastructure management appliance allows data centre operators to control system operations in real-time 24/7, offering a consolidated and easy to use monitoring and management platform. In addition, the Vertiv approach to pre-engineered, edge smart solutions helps organisations reduce planning, design and site preparation time by up to 80% while lowering deployment costs by up to 30% compared to a brick-and-mortar alternative, while the integration of all components is designed to achieve up to 20% higher energy efficiency compared to industry averages.  Vertiv SmartAisle is part of Vertiv’s growing portfolio of flexible, fully pre-engineered modular solutions. The system is available as standard in four different reference designs, with the ability to scale up to 180kW IT load and features N+1 redundancy for both power and cooling systems.  Key features and benefits include: · Advanced 24/7 monitoring of energy consumption and capacity management  · Precise environmental monitoring with six sensors per server rack · High efficiency, modular uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems  · Power distribution through power bars or floor-mounted PDUs · Integrated power monitoring via rack-mounted power distribution units (rPDU) · Adaptive direct expansion cooling system with 20-100% modulating capacity · Enhanced thermal efficiency through cold aisle containment · Advanced physical security with e-handles and IP cameras · Scalable architecture enabling standardised deployment across multiple edge sites

New digital gateway for Southern Europe

Schneider Electric and Digital Realty are delivering a new digital gateway for Southern Europe - the new HER1 Data Center in Heraklion, Crete. Launched earlier this week as the first carrier-neutral facility on the island, HER1 plays a critical role in reducing Southern Europe’s digital connectivity and infrastructure gap by enabling the interconnection of international, regional and local subsea cables, empowering cloud, telco and content delivery networks (CDNs) to better serve the surrounding regions. Working in tandem with fast-growing markets including Athens, Barcelona, Marseille, Rome and Tel Aviv, HER1 forms a central part of Digital Realty’s Mediterranean data centre platform and takes a major step towards establishing Greece as a strategic connectivity hub for Southern and Eastern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Following a successful prefabricated data centre deployment at its Marseille 2 (MRS2) facility, Digital Realty leveraged a turnkey, Tier III solution from Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Modular Data Center portfolio to overcome a host of challenges at HER1. They included requirements for accelerated speed-to-market with a target to become operational within 12 months, increased levels of energy efficiency, and off-site production, testing and delivery due to HER1’s remote location in Crete. To achieve this, Schneider Electric provided a purpose-built solution including two, fully integrated, prefabricated power modules containing MV, transformers, LV, UPS equipment and air-cooling systems. Additionally, it deployed two, large-scale, all-in-one Data Halls, complete with power, cooling and IT, utilising Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure monitoring solution for buildings management and electrical power management systems (EPMS). Further, Schneider Electric provided the compete spectrum of data centre design, build and consultancy services, including all mechanical, electrical (M&E) and software equipment, production, assembly, commissioning and security services. This enabled Digital Realty’s HER1 facility to meet its demanding deployment timeframes, while minimising the risk of failures during its on-site installation.   "Digital Realty’s substantial investment in our new Heraklion data centre highlights our dedication to establishing the Mediterranean as a global connectivity hub, connecting continents and enabling digital transformation,” says Fabrice Coquio, SVP Digital Realty in France. “Thanks to our strategic partnership with Schneider Electric, we are accelerating the time to market of this critical project to quickly meet the surging digital traffic demands in the region, while enhancing network resilience and diversity for enterprises and communities alike." Due to its geographical location and the ongoing investments in submarine networks such as 2Africa, Andromeda, East to Med Corridor (EMC), Medusa and Thetis, many organisations are selecting Crete as a strategic destination for cable termination and data centre deployments - transforming the region into a global interconnection hub that brings multiple continents together. HER1, Digital Realty’s first carrier-neutral data centre in Crete, is located next to the landing point of several subsea cable systems and will offer a highly resilient data centre capacity to the cloud, subsea cable and connectivity communities.

Portman Partners introduces recruitment service for data centres

Portman Partners is making a strategic investment in Flint DC, a new no-nonsense rapid-hire recruitment service specifically designed to provide data centres industry with the talent and expertise it needs, and help it overcome the ongoing talent challenge it faces at a crucial growth phase. Currently, the sector relies upon the traditional contingent recruitment model, which is proving to be ill-suited for the industry, says Mike Meyer Managing Partner of Portman Partners. “The data centre industry is predicted to be powering up the future but it is failing to find and attract the right talent to build it today,” he says. “There are some great recruiters out there but contingent recruitment processes, combined with emerging recruiters who have limited industry knowledge, and an influx of unsuitable applicants due to this, put businesses at risk of falling short of their ambitions.” Recognising these challenges, Portman Partners is leveraging its deep industry expertise to create a new style of recruitment solution with the launch of Flint DC, one that will deliver better outcomes for clients. Flint’s service - Contingent+ - combines the standard contingent terms of business with recruitment fees contingent on a successful outcome, with the bespoke search methodology typically reserved for head-hunting or specialised roles. Flint is built on a recruitment model that will deliver critical talent speedily, efficiently - with a new approach that won’t slow businesses down. “Flint is born out of the demand for a better approach to hiring in the data centre industry,” explains Mike. “In my 30 years in data centres, I’ve encountered the same frustrations again and again across the sector. We want to change the way things were done.  “With Flint DC and the Contingent+ model, we’re taking everything that makes Portman successful in stealth executive search - our specialised knowledge, our global reach and our no-nonsense approach - and building an agile recruitment model that delivers the right results for all hiring levels,” says Mike. “We’re not just another recruitment firm. We’re the solution our clients have been asking for.” Paul Cutliffe, Managing Director of Flint DC, says this represents a new era in data centre recruitment, “We are offering a Contingent+ model that streamlines hiring while ensuring quality, speed and alignment with the unique needs of data centre businesses. I am passionate about helping businesses find high-calibre candidates who are a good cultural fit and will enable transformational change. I am looking forward to supporting our clients as they power on into the future.”