Inside a data center: what is it actually?

There are many advantages associated with our colocation data centers. They provide higher security, reliable continued operation in the event of a crisis and are more sustainable than individually operated data centers.

This is because we use our decades of global expertise to plan, build and operate data centers by combining our experience with the latest best practices. Our clients benefit from this when they rent space in our data centers – as a Colocation Rack, a Dedicated Cage or a Dedicated Suite. But what’s behind these terms? Here we look inside a data center.

Colocation Rack

A colocation rack is an entry level product in a colocation data center. These standardized racks are located in the open colocation area, are fully pre-installed and only need to be equipped with standard-sized IT systems.

They are powered by redundant power supplies, have their own power distribution units (PDUs) and pre-installed connections. The racks can be booked with different power ratings between 3 and 10kW. The power supply is delivered via two separate networks and the racks are secured with individual access mechanisms. Access to the rack is either protected by key, keypad, or both.

Dedicated Cage

A suite gets turned into individual cages when it is partitioned with secure steel grids. Although the area is smaller here compared to a suite, individuality is still a priority for Dedicated Cages.

Cages are lockable and are equipped according to the client's requirements. As a rule of thumb, at least 10 racks with 3-8kW power each are operated in a locked cage. The area of a cage is at least 30m². These cages have an uninterruptible power supply with A and B connections. The cabling is located within the double industrial floor, where sensitive smoke detectors and sophisticated fire extinguishing systems protect the cage. Electricity consumption is billed separately.

Access to a Dedicated Cage is reserved exclusively for the client and can be equipped with various access controls, whether it is mechanical, electronic and/or biometric. These cages are secure and well protected to prevent intruders from climbing over or gaining access through the raised floor.

Dedicated Suite

A Dedicated Suite for a client means they rent their own space. The space is bounded by solid, masonry walls and, in terms of fire protection, forms a separate fire-fighting section of fire resistance class F90.

A Dedicated Suite comes with its own power supply. However, electricity consumption is billed separately. The supply lines are installed in such a way that they appear discreet and are serviced by us outside of the suite. This is an important point to note because access to the suite is reserved exclusively for the client. The client also has full control over the type of access they want for their suite, whether it is mechanical, electronical and/or biometric.

While the size of a Dedicated suite varies across data centers, as a rule, they must have a minimum floor area of 300m². Together with our clients, we lay out the individual environment for the racks. As additional services, we offer the design and implementation of turnkey equipment with racks and security system.

Connectivity and flexibility

Common to all these offerings is the connectivity that we provide in our data centers. Using preinstalled connections, our clients can quickly and easily access networks and cloud providers using direct connections to internet nodes available in many of our data centers. We have 150 network partners and Gartner recognizes NTT as a Leader in the 2021 Magic Quadrant for Network Services.

Flexibility is also a huge advantage that comes with our data center offerings. For example, you can start with a Colocation Rack and scale accordingly as your business or IT needs grow.

Want to learn more about our data center products? Get in touch with our experts at +49 69 7801-2190, by email at dc.emea.sales@global.ntt or simply submit your details via our contact form.