Secant issues invitation to see new data center

Kathy Jennings | Thursday, August 21, 2014

Secant Technologies

Secant Technology says it's a company that's ready for what comes next. Some time agoIt became clear to them that Michigan needed a large data center, bigger than the one the company previously provided, and if Secant didn't provide it that business was going to go to someone else.

They began planning a Tier 3 Data Center (their previous center was Tier 1) about three years ago.

CIO Alex Ellingsen says when Secant began to explore construction of the data center it anticipated the project would take about 18 months. Unexpected delays came about when the bank that owned the building they were trying to buy for the center went into foreclosure.

Those delays turned out to be fortuitous as it gave the company more time to research other data centers and learn from them. The design team toured 20 existing private and commercial data centers all over the United States.

On Sept. 18 those interested in seeing how the data center came together are invited to tour the building from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Seminars at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m., a gourmet lunch, and a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. all are planned for the day. RSVP here to attend.

The 3,400-square foot data center--about a $5 million project--has been built to withstand just about anything Mother Nature can throw at it, including straight-line winds and a direct tornado strike.

It has 12-inch-thick concrete walls and doors rated to resist a 300-mile-per-hour debris strike. It also has enhancements to provide security against intruders and fires. Further, it has dual-redundant electrical and power components enclosed by large concrete walls and isolated at opposite ends of the data center to protect against switch or generator failures.

The company also built for energy efficiency and with an eye toward environmental responsibility. For example, Secant installed fly-wheel batteries to reduce hazardous contaminants found in other batteries.

The data center, built in response to customers' requests, offers cloud hosting, managed service data solutions, and colocation. Ellingsen explains: In the late 1800s everyone who used electricity had their own generator. Then power companies were formed, the power was grid built up, and people no longer created their own electricity. That shift away from everyone owning their own generator is the kind of shift now being seen in the technology today as some companies analyze the cost savings realized by not owning their equipment and move into the cloud.

Some companies, especially those with sensitive data, will continue to own their own equipment and software, but will move it to a secure facility like the new data center, others will have all their technology handled by Secant. In between those two ends of the spectrum is a wide range of technology solutions for customers.

To address those needs, Secant Technology has a staff of 70, about five or six of which were added during the construction project. Ellingsen says building the data center means the company will be able to retain those employees and it hopes to add five or six more as the facility fills.

CIO Alex Ellingsen says he is proud of the design that emerged for the data center. "There is truly nothing like it in Michigan."

Source: Alex Ellingsen