NDC-GARBE: Provider for Data Center Development as a Service / DCDaaS
NDC-GARBE 13/05/2024
The term Data Center as a Service (DCaaS) is already well established in the data centre industry. But at NDC-GARBE, we go a few steps further. We are not a data center operator and do not provide any space, but develop the actual data centre ourselves as our service. Normally, the “as-a-service” concept refers to cloud-based services. However, we are reinterpreting it against the backdrop of DCaaS. We would like to offer you a brief insight into this below. What is DCaaS? And what does our Data Center Development as a Service (DCDaaS) offer?
DCaaS vs. DCDaaS: What is the difference and what are the advantages?
The concept of DCaaS primarily describes the procurement of data centre services from a provider as a service. These services often take different forms. For example, companies can request classic rack colocation services. On the one hand, this includes space for their own servers, switches or other IT equipment. On the other hand, it also includes the required power supply, cooling capacity, network connectivity and physical access protection to the data centre.
Some DCaaS providers extend their services to include the provision of additional hardware and software as well as other services – managed or unmanaged. This blends the profile of their offering with cloud computing services such as IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service), PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) or SaaS (Software-as-a-Service). It is not always easy to make a precise distinction in these cases.
Our concept clearly stands out from this: DCDaaS – Data Center Development as a Service. This service is less concerned with cloud-based computing power and more with the data center itself. It involves the development of the site, including all necessary infrastructure connections, all necessary licences and the construction of the building. It does not include the provision of racks and IT equipment such as servers, switches, etc.
What is Data Center Development as a Service?
DCDaaS means that companies or organisations use the services of a specialist provider such as NDC-GARBE. The offer covers the entire process of developing and building a data center as a service. This includes the initial consultation, planning and obtaining all official approvals through to the actual construction of the data center. The project is only successfully completed with the final takeover and handover of the keys to the client.
The idea is that when companies need a data center, they receive the entire development and construction process from a single source. They can outsource it in order to concentrate on their core business objectives. The advantage of this is that they can access the expertise, contacts to suppliers, cities and authorities as well as the necessary resources of a specialized partner in the market. Companies are often unable to fully cover this themselves.
The end-to-end concept includes the following data center services:
- Planning and design: We provide support in the planning and design of the data center. This can include determining the room structure, energy efficiency, security and other important aspects. At NDC-GARBE, we rely on Building Information Modelling (BIM) – a method for the networked planning and construction of buildings using software. The BIM software covers all parts of the planning of a construction project as well as the entire life cycle of the finished building.
- Location: We attach great importance to finding the right location that can also be sustainably integrated into urban development. The use of brownfield sites, i.e. derelict land in structurally weak areas such as former industrial sites, is particularly sustainable and can be repurposed in the long term. We act as a matchmaker between building authorities, committees and urban planning offices as well as those responsible for business development. NDC-GARBE has access to GARBE’s large, Europe-wide network. There are 17 branches in eleven countries with many years of experience in their respective markets. Think global, act local!
- Authorization: As a partner, we take care of obtaining all the necessary authorizations and submitting applications in order to be able to start and complete construction. Our customers do not have to deal directly with the jungle of authorities – we take care of that for them as a construction and development partner.
- Construction: In addition, we are also responsible for the overall coordination of the physical construction of the data center in accordance with the defined specifications. This may include the construction of server rooms, cooling systems, security infrastructure and other necessary facilities. Here too, the synergies with the parent company GARBE are fully utilised in a wide range of areas.
- Handover: After successful development and final acceptance of the data center, the keys are handed over to the client, who can now fill and use the data center with his IT systems.