Consulting
Development of an individual, ideal data center concept - secure, efficient and economical
Analysis
An independent picture of the infrastructure as the basis for all decisions
Strategy
With the help of our strategy modules, we support you in aligning your IT and identify and evaluate the most important influencing factors - tailored to all current and future requirements
Project Development
We check the general conditions, keep an eye on norms and standards and develop a concept - including all necessary documents
Energy and Environmental Management
We uncover weak points and potentials in the area of energy consumption and demand, tap subsidies and accompany you through audits and certifications - all the way to the implementation of an energy management system
Documentation and Manuals
Analysis and documentation of the current and target state of your IT infrastructure in the area of documentation management, structures, procedures and processes to reduce corporate and liability risks for management and IT leadership
Certification Support
Whether it is an environmental quality mark, certification as a prerequisite for customer acquisition or a requirement from your insurer - we accompany you through the process right from the start
Location criteria for data centers
Choosing the right location for the secure and reliable operation of a data center
Engineering
We plan your data center completely from one source - independent of industry, infrastructure, location and new or model construction
Architecture
We plan sustainable architecture for your project
Technical building equipment (TGA)
The correct design and optimization of technical systems contributes to maximum energy efficiency with the professional planning of technical building equipment
Technical building equipment (TGA)
The correct design and optimization of technical systems contributes to maximum energy efficiency with the professional planning of technical building equipment
Construction
We take care of the realization of data centers and the protection of your IT infrastructures, tailored to your individual needs
General contractor
You have the plan, we carry it out - right through to turnkey handover
General transferee
Everything from a single source - complete and reliable implementation of your project
Data Center Solutions
We offer you modern and sustainable implementation options - whether modular, plug-and-play or CO2-neutral
Data Center Components
We take care of every suitable component in your data center planning - environmentally, budget and resource friendly
Brownfield
More space for your requirements – adaptation and expansion of existing data centers
Greenfield
Greenfield data center construction
Retrofitting
Optimize now to be future-proof tomorrow
We offer high security products for your IT infrastructure
Service
We take care of the maintenance, security and economic optimization of your IT infrastructures
Maintenance
Maintenance of existing and new equipment - reduction of possible malfunctions and failures, maintenance and checking of maintenance and service protocols, possible repair work
Preventive measures
We prevent possible weak points and uncover sources of error so that we can ensure the smooth operation of your data center
Controlling and Monitoring
Round-the-clock monitoring, 24-hour hotline exclusively for contract customers, and service level agreement (SLA)
Operating costs and energy optimization
We analyze your current situation and optimize the set screws of operating and energy costs to ensure the profitability and sustainability of your data center
Sustainable and secure IT infrastructures for educational and research institutions
Educational institutions such as schools, colleges and universities face the challenge of making their IT infrastructures future-proof, efficient and secure. The requirements for data centers vary depending on the size and focus of the institution - from elementary school to research-intensive universities with HPC or AI applications.
Strict standards such as DIN EN 50600 or ISO/IEC 27001 as well as the focus on energy efficiency and heat recovery play a central role. The Data Center Group supports you in the planning, implementation and modernization of your IT infrastructure so that your educational institution is set up sustainably and in compliance with standards.
At a glance:
Standards and certifications for research and education
This series of standards defines requirements for availability, energy efficiency and physical security. For educational institutions, it provides a basis for future-proof and sustainable IT infrastructures.
This internationally recognized standard ensures the protection of sensitive educational data and supports a robust information security management system (ISMS).
Concepts for heat recovery, particularly for university campuses or district developments, offer educational institutions the opportunity to reduce operating costs and promote sustainability.
The Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG), which has been in force since November 18, 2023, presents data center operators with new challenges. It obliges them to increase energy efficiency and places specific requirements on energy consumption and heat utilization. For educational institutions, this means
- Minimum requirements for the PUE value: Data centers must comply with staggered PUE limits depending on the year of commissioning. For example, the PUE value for existing data centers must not exceed 1.5 from 2027.
- Heat utilization: Operators must provide heat capacities that can be used by heat network operators. The proportion of reused energy (ERF) must be at least 20% from 2028.
- Renewable energies: From 2027, 100% of the energy purchased must come from unsubsidized renewable sources.
The “Blue Angel” ecolabel certifies energy-efficient and environmentally friendly data centers. Educational institutions can use the certification to
- Document their contribution to climate protection
- Reduce operating costs by identifying potential energy savings
- Apply for funding for consulting and certification
We are a listed consultant for the application for funding consulting and an auditor for the application to the relevant testing institute (RAL UMWELT).
The IT Security Act (IT-SiG) requires a minimum level of IT security for operators of critical infrastructures (KRITIS). For research-intensive colleges and universities, this means
- Introduction of robust security management
- Obligation to report security incidents to the BSI
- Implementation of measures from the IT baseline protection compendium
This standard supports educational institutions in the introduction of energy-efficient IT infrastructures and is particularly relevant for universities and colleges that want to reduce their energy consumption and implement sustainable energy management strategies.
Colleges and universities with a focus on high-performance computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) require data centers that offer maximum computing power and efficiency.
The BSI's C5 catalog defines security and compliance standards for universities that use cloud services.
From 2025, the EU NIS2 Directive will require certain organizations, including some educational institutions, to implement extensive security measures. This primarily affects institutions that are classified as operators of essential or important services, e.g. research-intensive universities or colleges with critical IT infrastructures. Operators must report incidents, manage risks and demonstrate technical protective measures.
We support educational institutions in preparing for certifications. Our services include as-is analysis, action planning and support throughout the entire certification process.
IT and data security for educational and research institutions
We support you in identifying the requirements of your educational institution and implementing customized IT solutions.
Funding opportunities for sustainable IT infrastructures in research and education
Many measures to optimize IT infrastructures - such as heat recovery or the introduction of efficient technologies - are eligible for funding. Take advantage of this opportunity to make your educational institution sustainable and future-proof.
Our experts will help you to:
- Identifying suitable funding programs
- Advice on the implementation of eligible measures
- Preparation and submission of funding applications
Our expertise for research and educational institutions
Certified planning and implementation
DIN EN 50600-compliant solutions for educational institutions
Experience in the education sector
Numerous projects for schools, universities and colleges
Heat recovery concepts
Development and advice on sustainable solutions for educational facilities
We support educational and research institutions with their IT and data center strategy:
- IT strategy: We design and implement redundant data centers and hybrid data center/cloud solutions. We also support you in emergency management and optimize your IT infrastructure for the future.
- Data center strategy: We help you set up new, standard-compliant data centers and modernize existing ones. This also includes location and environmental risk analyses for standard-compliant operation.
Our solutions for High Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) support universities, colleges and research institutions in managing computationally intensive data processing:
- Tailor-made solutions: Development and scaling of HPC infrastructures according to your requirements.
- Energy efficiency: Optimized cooling technologies and sustainable concepts for energy-intensive computing.
Secure server room solutions for universities and colleges. These solutions are flexibly adaptable and offer high scalability to meet the growing requirements in education. DC IT Room systems can compensate for structural deficiencies.
Modular container data centers - mobile, robust and scalable for educational institutions of any size. They are quickly ready for use and can be flexibly expanded to grow with your requirements. These data centers can also be used as temporary backup data centers. Installment plan or leasing data center containers can also be configured as required.
DIN EN 50600 for data centers, ISO/IEC 27001 for information security and the NIS2 guideline for cyber security are particularly relevant. Concepts for heat recovery are also important
Heat recovery helps to use energy more efficiently and reduce operating costs. This offers sustainable solutions, especially for university campuses or neighborhood developments. We also offer concepts that aim to avoid waste heat in order to further optimize energy consumption. Well-planned waste heat concepts contribute to decarbonization. Further information on heat recovery and our research project on waste heat utilization “Bytes2Heat”.
There are various funding programmes that support investments in IT security, energy efficiency and digitalization. Our experts will help you to identify suitable programs.
We develop specialized data centers that are tailored to the high demands of High Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) - with a focus on efficiency, security and scalability. We can also modernize and adapt existing data centers to meet the specific requirements of HPC and AI machines.
We offer conversion and modernization projects to bring existing data centers up to current standards, reduce operating costs and maximize efficiency.
Converting to modern and energy-efficient technology, such as uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) or innovative cooling systems, reduces ongoing operating costs and meets the requirements of the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG). Our experts support you in planning and implementing customized solutions.
Compact solutions such as micro data centers, which offer maximum security and availability in a limited space, are ideal for schools. Find out more about our DC IT Safe.
Yes, redundant data centers offer educational institutions such as schools, colleges and universities considerable advantages. They increase reliability, protect sensitive data and ensure continuous operation even in the event of technical faults. In addition, centralized solutions can save costs and optimize IT security by using resources more efficiently.
Our experts develop customized solutions to implement the requirements of the NIS2 directive - if your educational institution is affected. This includes risk analyses, technical protective measures and the documentation of security standards. Together, we will check whether your institution falls under the NIS2 requirements and implement appropriate technical and structural measures.
Compliance with the highest quality standards begins during construction and continues during operation. We rely on:
- DIN ISO 9001: The Datacenter Group is 9001 certified
- LEED: We build according to the standards of LEED Platinum certification
- DIN EN 50600: Planning and implementation in accordance with the requirements of this standard, which ensures availability, energy efficiency and security.
- Operational quality management: Regular audits and energy monitoring in accordance with ISO 50001 to optimize efficiency and safety.
- Business continuity management (BCM): Risk management, emergency plans and training specifically for critical infrastructures to ensure smooth operation even in crisis situations.
For racks with high power densities, we recommend
- Direct water cooling: Efficient heat dissipation through direct water cooling of the processors.
- 2-phase cooling: For very high processor capacities, the use of 2-phase cooling based on the evaporation and condensation of a refrigerant is required.
Rotating heat exchangers enable efficient cooling of the data center and the use of heat recovery.
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