Nick Collins and Annabel Cornish joint managing directors - ZebraHosts, talk about how they set up their data centre in Newcastle

Set up in 2001, ZebraHosts was formed when managing director, Nick Collins identified the need for a good regional data centre having witnessed companies board the train to London with their server on a trolley.

Explains Nick: “I noticed business people physically lugging large servers full of data onto London trains. When I began to think of the resources and man hours it was costing companies to house their servers in London, I knew there was a definite business opportunity in the North east.”

Faced with an empty room and without a great deal of data centre knowledge the team at ZebraHosts soon became experts in data centre design and development bred from sheer necessity, using the ‘learn as you go along’ theory.

Teaming up with Project North East, ZebraHosts used its server knowledge and took advice and guidance from Project North East to design the very successful ZebraHosts data centre.

Nick comments: “When faced with an empty room you need to begin at the beginning. We began with finding a building with the right ceiling height and space for our needs.

“The entrance was kept subtle for security reasons and we immediately began securing the room ensuring that it could only be accessed with swipe cards, was fully alarmed and contained CCTV.

“Next on our tick list was power and ensuring we had enough power to keep servers running, along with a back up supply for increased resiliency. We also installed the best air conditioning system money could buy at the time and ensured we had the right flooring and cabling infrastructure.

“It would be great to say that we had a grand plan for designing the data centre but at the time it was designed practically rather than commercially and yes, we would do things differently if we were to build a new data centre tomorrow.”

As the ZebraHosts data centre was a refurbishment using an existing shell rather than a purpose built centre, the amount of space within the centre was finite, whereas room to grow and expand should always be considered.

Annabel Cornish, joint managing director of ZebraHosts comments: “We are now at a point where we need to expand, and unfortunately we can not do this within our current facility so we are faced with looking at opening either a second centre or completely relocating – both very costly options.”
Alternative options are being considered by ZebraHosts which include Virtual Dedicated Servers, meaning physically more servers could be housed in one space, but as business grows so rapidly, it seems room to expand it key.

As the internet and reliance upon it grows, so does the need for data centres. In a growing market such as this, anyone would be wise to invest. “It is by no means easy,” explains Annabel.

“It is very hard to get started and there are lots of industry standards to comply with and follow in order to remain competitive. However, as much as our physical data centre has contributed to our success, it is our staff that really set us aside from the competition.

“We have been very lucky to have our staff grow along with the business. Our team have a fantastic industry knowledge and years of experience and due to this they constantly look for ways to improve and keep up to date. ZebraHosts customers get more that just a data centre, they get access to our technical knowledge and project planning skills.  We don't just work for our customers, we work with them."

“It may sound impossible but if you can find the foresight to plan for the things that you don’t know and have the enthusiasm to grow with technology you are sure to be successful.”  

There are things that can now be considered that could not be seven years ago. This includes the introduction of eco friendly servers and a general greener approach. “Being green was not an issue several years ago, but one which we would definitely consider if starting up a new data centre now” comments Annabel.

So, what makes a good data centre design? Excellent staff, room for growth and expansion, security and technology would be the answer Nick Collins gives.  

“I now know what makes a good data centre and for that purpose I wouldn’t hire an outside consultant for advice as I’ve been there, done that and made it a success”, says Nick.

“My words of advice for anyone starting up a data centre would be to know your market and its constraints, try and plan for what you don’t know such as how your businesses is going to change expand and grow and hire the right team as experience and skills lie at the core of any business.