Equinix, Colt Earn Uptime 'Stamp of Approval'

The first two recipients of the new Management and Operations ‘Stamp of Approval’ from the Uptime Institute are Equinix and Colt, the companies said this week.

The new designation from the Uptime Institute provides third-party assurance that the site management satisfies industry-recognized criteria for 24 x 7 uptime. The evaluation criteria was developed by and for the data center industry and validates staffing levels, a training and professional development assessment, preventative maintenance program and processes, operating conditions and housekeeping, and planning management and coordination practices and resources. To have a site awarded the Management and Operations Stamp of Approval it must be an operational data center, have 24x7 uptime, have a significant cost of downtime, be a non-Tier certified design and facility, and have a commitment to excellence in operations.

Equinix

Equinix (EQIX) announced that  it is the first company in the Americas to receive the new Management and Operations (M&O) ‘Stamp of Approval’ Award. Equinix was a key member of the Uptime Institute’s eleven member M&O Coalition that developed the assessment criteria for its new Management and Operations Program and Site Assessment Service. "Equinix’s exceptional uptime is one of the most important reasons our customers choose us and our work with the Uptime Institute helps us become even stronger in the critical area of management and operations," said John Shultz, vice president, global product management and development at Equinix. The site award was given to the  Equinix Ashburn data center.

Colt

Colt announced that it has been awarded the Management and Operations Stamp of Approval for its London 3 site. Colt underwent an intensive audit which scrutinized every aspect of how it manages and operates its data center site. The audit took into consideration everything from the processes for servicing equipment and investment in training through to the effectiveness of its communications to staff and subcontractors.
"This is a milestone, not only for Colt but for the industry as a whole," said Guy Ruddock, VP of Operations at Colt. "This standard is industry-led and directly links staffing, maintenance and operations to uptime and through it we have proved our people and processes are world class."

"Colt's participation in the coalition went above and beyond our expectations," said Julian Kudritzki, Vice President at the Uptime Institute, "not only helping clarify those behaviours that need to exist in a data centre, independent of the infrastructure, but opening up access to staff and facilities for hands-on validation."