Currently, my primary focus revolves around Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, which have become a pivotal aspect of our operational strategy and a critical concern for our clients. The focus on ESG is not just about aligning with our clients’ values; it also directly impacts our bottom line. This focus aligns with the evolving expectations in our industry, where sustainability measures are increasingly seen as integral to business operations rather than supplementary.

The three critical areas clients evaluate in a data centre include reliability of power and cooling, security, and operational standards. Firstly, uptime is crucial; our clients depend on us to maintain an exemplary record because any lapse in uptime is just not acceptable. This is the baseline of what we provide—consistent, reliable power and cooling systems that ensure our clients’ operations never skip a beat.

Secondly, as threats evolve, so does the importance of robust security—both physical and cyber. Our clients trust us to protect their data against all forms of threats, which is why security remains a high priority.

Finally, while operational standards, such as tier certifications indicating resilience levels, are important, they often come after the essentials of uptime and security are assured. These standards are a part of our commitment to excellence, but they are typically not top of the priority list when our customers begin their search for a data centre provider. However, we certainly strive to meet high tier standards, but our focus on ESG, reliability, and security are what truly define our value to customers.

Redcentric’s vision for our data centres is sharply focused on energy efficiency and sustainability, driven by a broader national imperative to become more energy efficient. In the UK, data centres are significant consumers of power, and with that comes a substantial focus on emissions. This is not only an environmental issue but also a financial one, as reflected in the taxation embedded within electricity bills, which can be mitigated through committed efforts towards carbon reduction.

Our goal is to enhance the efficiency of our existing facilities to match that of new builds that are setting today’s standards for energy efficiency. By doing so, we aim to ensure that our data centres remain competitive and attractive in the marketplace. This vision aligns with the growing expectations of our clients who prioritise environmental considerations alongside technological and operational excellence. We are committed to innovating and adapting our practices not just to meet current standards and improve sustainability within our data centre operations.