Data Center Links: IO, PhoenixNAP, ViaWest

Here’s our review of some of this week’s noteworthy links for the data center industry:

IO selected by Choice Hotels.  IO announced that it has been awarded a contract by Choice Hotels International. Delivered from the IO Phoenix data center, IO will provide Choice Hotels with Data Center as a Service to house all of their mission-critical systems, such as the total global distribution platform and reservations at IO without having to invest resources in maintaining its own data center. "We have a longstanding commitment to invest in forward-thinking technology and high-caliber facilities that support our business as it continues to expand," said Patti Goodrich, VP of Enterprise Infrastructure for Choice Hotels. "With IO's Data Center 2.0 technology platform and their exceptional experience in delivering modular data center innovation, we are able to maximize our capabilities, decrease the risk of downtime in the future, and quickly deploy new capacity as needed for growth."

PhoenixNAP selected by Orvant. Phoenix NAP announced that Orvant, Inc., a premier cloud-based network security service provider, has selected the data center for its hosting needs. Extensive security systems and solutions, wide variety of carrier options and various amenities were reasons cited by Orvant for selecting PhoenixNAP.  “We are excited to welcome Orvant, Inc. to Phoenix NAP,” said Ian McClarty, president of Phoenix NAP. “The company’s focus on pinpointing potential risks for its customers to avoid possible disaster is completely in line with what Phoenix NAP has done and continues to do through our array of security systems and solutions and we look forward to building a strong, long-lasting relationship with them.”

ViaWest strengthens compliance portfolio.  ViaWest announced it has enhanced its library of compliance and attestation reports. The company now has a Service Organization Controls (SOC) SOC 2, Type II report on the Security and Availability Trust Services Principles in addition to its SOC 1, Type II report in accordance with SSAE 16 and ISAE 3402 and its SOC 3 report on the Security and Availability Trust Services Principles. It has also doubled the number of facilities covered by the Payment Card Industry Report on Compliance for Sections 9 and 12 (PCI ROC). Furthermore, ViaWest has now added a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) report for physical controls covering four of its datacenters. “ViaWest is 100% committed to delivering transparency through insight into our operations and assurance via third-party assessors that validate ViaWest as a trusted partner,” states Mary Sparks, Director of Compliance for ViaWest. “We do this because we understand the mission-critical nature of data to our customers’ businesses and the need to meet standards within the ever-changing compliance landscape. We put customer trust first.”