Get more market insights here:https://shorturl.at/QWTRtIn this video, Mike Netzer, VP of Sales and Marketing, and David Liggitt, President and Founder of datacenterHawk,​ share insights into the critical factors that influence successful data center site evaluation and development. Whether you're a real estate professional, developer, or decision-maker in the technology field, the topics covered will offer you a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to choose the right location for a data center.Key Evaluation Criteria for Site SelectionThe video breaks down the three primary pillars of data center site evaluation—power, connectivity, and location. Experts discuss the availability of reliable power grids, high-speed internet connectivity, and how proximity to urban centers or key infrastructure plays a role in site viability.Understanding Data Center Risks and ChallengesAn in-depth focus is placed on potential hazards and risks that could impact a data center project. From environmental factors like flooding and seismic activity to legislative and zoning challenges, every major risk is unpacked to help viewers make informed decisions.The Role of Scoring SystemsA detailed explanation is provided on how data center site scoring systems work. The video highlights how these systems quantify and prioritize factors such as cost, accessibility, climate conditions, and long-term scalability to deliver a transparent assessment of site potential.Get ready to gain actionable knowledge and a strategic edge in the competitive world of data center development!

Get more market insights here:https://shorturl.at/QWTRtThis video features Dedi Iskandar, the Regional Director for Asia Pacific at datacenterHawk, and Donny Gunadi, Senior Insight Analyst for Asia Pacific at the same company. Their joint experience and knowledge offer an invaluable insight into the diverse and complex data center market in the Asia Pacific region.Understanding the APAC Data Center Market- Dedi Iskandar highlights the diversity and complexity of the Asia Pacific data center market which stretches across approximately 33 countries.- He delves into the variables that make this region unique, such as differing demographics, varying levels of internet penetration, and the maturity of markets within the region.- The importance of cloud, AI, and content in driving the data center industry in Asia-Pacific is emphasized, highlighting the ever-growing digitization of the contemporary world.- Dedi identifies notable growth potential and challenges in various countries within the region, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia.AI and the Adoption of Data Center Colocation Services- Donny Gunadi discusses the impact of AI on the adoption of data center colocation services in the region.- He outlines the challenges and opportunities presented by AI applications in data centers, such as the demand for increased processing power and cooling requirements.- The discussion also spotlights the role of hyperscale cloud providers in encouraging the adoption of AI technologies in data centers.ConclusionThis enlightening discussion between Dedi Iskandar and Donny Gunadi gives us an exclusive look into the complexities of the Asia Pacific data center market. They outline the pivotal role of cloud, AI, and content in the industry while illustrating the potential for growth and the challenges faced in different countries within the region.Do watch the video for a closer look at how AI is influencing the adoption of data center colocation services and how increased processing power and cooling requirements are changing the game.

Host, Mike Netzer of datacenterHawk connects with the innovative minds behind Hyper Solutions, Dennis Strieter and Vladimir Gulkarov. Together, they delve into the unique world of the data center industry, discussing their journey, the challenges they've faced, and the future trajectory of the industry. From Humble Beginnings to Industry Leaders In the opening segment, Dennis and Vladimir recount their individual paths into the data center industry. Dennis transitioned from a humble role as an office manager to becoming a top salesperson in the industry, while for Vladimir, it was a familial influence that carved his niche in the sector, starting in high-performance computing before transitioning to PDI and Eaton Corp. The Birth of Hyper Solutions The discussion moves forward to the birth of Hyper Solutions, a company born out of the trials faced during the COVID-19 pandemic with the vision to bring innovative solutions to data center manufacturing. They aim to disrupt the industry through a network effect model, akin to companies like Uber and Airbnb. Hyper Solutions' approach focuses on improving assembly processes, cutting down on lead times, and enhancing quality through innovative engineering and the smart use of distributed resources. Future-Proofing the Data Center Industry The conversation then gravitates towards the future, underscoring the importance of sustained innovation, scalability, and adapting to emerging technological demands. They predict that the industry will shift towards water-cooled systems and increased miniaturization of equipment for enhanced efficiency in power distribution. This future-gazing discussion highlights the need for continuous innovation, waste reduction, and improved product design to meet the ever-changing data center requirements, catering to the demands of both hyperscalers and enterprises.

It's a game that’s won and lost on speed. The faster information can be delivered from a data center, the more valuable the data center can be to people outside its four walls. Customers Don’t Like Slow Delivery Times Imagine you run a logistics company. The success of your business depends on how quickly you deliver packages. As your operation grows, you build warehouses to swap packages on and off trucks that are going to different areas. Sometimes trucks have to stop at multiple warehouses to get everything they need to take to their destination. Ideally, your trucks can take interstate freeways directly to each warehouse instead of slogging through dense downtown traffic or winding through miles of dirt farm roads. Fast roads directly to a warehouse are better than slow roads that require a roundabout route. Traveling on slower roads or taking roundabout routes ultimately compounds into slower delivery times. Customers don’t like slow delivery times. This is what data center connectivity is all about. You probably caught on that the warehouses in our example are data centers. The packages are information. The roads are the connectivity, the focus of this article. The data center industry is usually accomplished via fiber optic cable lines. And just like the roads, if we want to get traffic where it needs to be as quickly as possible, it’s better to use the fastest, lowest traffic, and most direct route possible. We’ll still need to make stops every now and again to pick up packages or data, but the concept remains the same. The Importance of Connectivity In simpler days of the internet, one computer would talk directly to another and get everything it needed. And a delay of several milliseconds would not cause an issue. Today, companies are using increasingly complex systems to support their customers' needs. It’s not uncommon for a company to spread their IT workload between cloud, colocation, and in-house. Within those buckets, they may have a multitude of microservices spread across different servers. As the number of points of communication increases, so does the importance of keeping those communications as fast as possible. From a user experience perspective, all this operational speed is typically taken for granted, until something goes wrong. In terms of user experience, human factor studies have consistently shown over 30 years that delays of 1 second interrupt the user's flow of thought while delays of more than 10 seconds loses their attention. Users consistently bemoan the slow speeds of websites and apps. In the earlier days of the internet, it was understood that as companies were growing there would be some hiccups. Twitter’s fail whale, which indicated a service outage, even became a cultural icon. However today, as consumer choices on the internet proliferate, a slow load will ultimately become a no-load as customers go elsewhere. All the more reason to focus on speed.

In Podcast 40, we continue our Data Center Fundamentals series and dive into the basics of data center location. Why is the location of a data center important? We go through at all the reasons data center professionals need to know about the location of a data center. Economics Data centers are exponentially more expensive than other types of real estate, and the economic considerations have ramifications on all data center projects. Power cost is one of the most important factors when choosing a data center location as it can constitute up to 20% of the total cost of colocation. The cost of power can vary widely from region to region. Areas like Quincy or Montreal are $0.02-0.03 per kilowatt-hour, while locations in the Northeast US can be up to $0.15-0.16/kWh. For larger colocation providers and hyperscale companies who are building entire campuses, land availability and cost needs to be accounted for. In markets like Dallas and Phoenix, there is virtually unlimited land in every direction. In markets like Northern California, Northern Virginia, or Chicago, natural barriers like bodies of water or heightened demand make land acquisition more difficult. The market’s climate can impact the cost as well. In cooler markets, you can use the cool air outside to cool servers instead of air conditioning units. This can help keep power consumption costs down. In warmer markets, summers can have higher power costs due to peaks in demand. Most states offer tax incentives tailored to data center development in order to attract end-users. Larger data center investments can be eligible for tax credits based on the total development investment or receive exemptions from sales tax on equipment. A market’s competitive landscape and demand profile also impact lease rates. Heavy competition and/or an oversupply in a market may lower the amount data center providers can charge. This is what we're seeing in the Dallas and Chicago data center markets right now. Conversely, a smaller number of operators or lower supply in a market can enable providers to charge a higher rate. Hazards A data center’s location can also be influenced by geographical hazards. Natural hazards like earthquakes or hurricanes are important to consider when performing a site evaluation. Markets like Phoenix and Chicago are relatively safe from natural hazards. New Orleans and Orlando are examples of markets that have historically deterred data center development. Even with natural hazards, some markets are so strategic that providers build there anyway. In order to do so, they may need to make a larger investment to beef up the building’s physical infrastructure. For example, Northern California, Los Angeles, and Seattle are areas of high seismic risk but are also three areas of substantial data center investment. To account for natural hazards, data centers can be designed to absorb earthquake vibrations or withstand winds of 150+ mph. Man-made hazards also have an influence on a data center’s location within a market. The proximity to railroads, highways, airports, and nuclear power plants are often considered when selecting a data center location.

The European data center industry is full of growth and change. The increased demand from COVID-19 and individual European countries are at the forefront of that growth. Hear what EdgeConneX CMO, Phillip Marangella, has to say about it. This is an episode of HawkTalk, datacenterHawk’s series of candid one on one conversations with executives and leaders in the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe here. Below are some of our takeaways from the discussion. COVID-19 increased data center demand as traffic moved from offices to homes The COVID pandemic caused major shifts in the world. Many industries are hurting due to these shifts, but the data center industry has seen an increase in demand. People are home more now than they were a year ago. Whether they’re working from home, streaming tv shows, playing online video games, or anything else that requires an internet connection, homes are becoming the new edge in the data center industry. Opportunities are rising in secondary EU markets Building data centers in Europe can come with challenges like planning for long term scalable power. You need to be able to meet all of your customer's requirements as they continue to grow. Customer needs today are not what they will be in 5-10 years. Planning for expansion to meet needs in the future can be difficult to balance against the costs of building beyond the needs of today. There are still a lot of opportunities in the FLAPD (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, & Dublin) markets, but at the same time, there are a number of secondary markets that are beginning to have needs for data centers. That’s why EdgeConneX decided to build in Warsaw & Munich and are continuing to track markets outside of the FLAPD markets. Expansion into APAC The APAC data center market is a rapidly growing part of the global data center industry and one that EdgeConnex is tracking for future expansion. Expansion into the APAC market requires smart strategic planning and is quite a different task than building in either North America or Europe. A good partner in Asia to help navigate the opportunities there is key to success. We'll continue to track EdgeConneX as they grow and expand into new markets. Be sure to subscribe to this channel to stay up to date on the data center industry.

This is an episode of HawkPodcast, datacenterHawk’s viewpoints on the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, please subscribe. The main takeaways from 4Q 2020 2020 ended up being a year filled with events that no one expected. These unexpected challenges led to record demand in the data center industry. The fourth quarter wrapped up one of the largest growth years for the industry. Five of the top ten markets in North America (Dallas, Phoenix, Northern California, Northern Virginia, Northern New Jersey) had their largest growth year since datacenterHawk began tracking them. Two other top ten markets (Atlanta, Chicago) had their second best year ever and it came close to their best. Growth in Frankfurt and other European markets The Frankfurt data center market has taken a front seat it comes to the growth in the European markets for a few reasons. While London is still the largest market, Frankfurt has outpaced London’s growth in recent quarters. Frankfurt’s growth is due to its maturity as a market, its high degree of connectivity and the ability for developers to secure land and power. Market maturity means there are enough companies who have an established footprint in a geography that new entrants are more willing to grow their based on the experience of others who have gone before them. As connectivity becomes a larger factor in making colocation decisions, the fact that Frankfurt is highly connected adds to the appeal. Finally, developers in Frankfurt -and Germany as a whole- have been able to procure land and power more quickly than in other European markets. This “speed-to-market” ability is an advantage when it comes to landing large data center requirements. It’s not that the other major European markets aren’t growing, it’s that data center providers have put a lot of their focus in Frankfurt and have shown others how they can grow there. Amidst growth, rates have gone down Over the past 5-10 years, the data center industry has experienced increased demand all over the world, and yet we’ve seen a compression of rates. This is counterintuitive in the real estate world, but when you look at it over time, it makes sense. We’re still in a young stage of the data center industry. 10 years ago, rates were higher because there may have only been one or two data center providers in a market, which meant there was little to no competition. Increased presence in major markets by multiple operators has resulted in lower rates. Another reason for the lower rates is that the product has continued to become more efficient, which has driven costs (and the associated rental rates) down. As innovations continue and providers incorporate customer feedback so they are not developing unwanted facility features, rates will continue to compress. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our HawkPodcasts and don’t miss out on our latest release of market data for the data center industry.

We take a moment to review some of the questions our listeners have asked about the data center industry. Below are some of the topics and questions we cover in the above video. This is an episode of HawkPodcast, datacenterHawk’s viewpoints on the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe to our channel. 0:00 - Intro 1:20 - Pros and cons of floating data centers. 4:51 - How increasing rack density is changing data center development and sales. 7:35 - Microsoft’s recent announcement of 3 cloud data centers in Athens, Greece. 8:53 - Data center staffing from an IT standpoint. 10:55 - What is the advantage of doing business with a smaller data center (1-5MW) than big players with a 20-100MW+ capacity? How do smaller data centers attract big customers in order to grow? 13:11 - What is the breakdown between public/private companies with leasing? What is the main differentiator between public and private companies? Thank you for watching this video and you have a question about the data center industry, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! You can comment on any of our YouTube videos, message us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/datacenterhawk), or email us directly at hello@datacenterhawk.com. If you enjoyed this and want to stay up to date with the latest information in the data center industry be sure to sign up for the datacenterHawk newsletter here: https://lp.datacenterhawk.com/stay-up-to-date

Edge data centers continue to expand in Los Angeles as companies seek to keep latency low for their most demanding media customers This is an episode of HawkTalk, datacenterHawk’s series of candid one on one conversations with executives and leaders in the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe here. Maile Kaiser took some time to sit down with us to discuss the Los Angeles data center market and how the data center industry has changed over time. Below are some of our takeaways from the discussion. The growth of the Los Angeles market While the Los Angeles data center market isn’t one of the largest in the US, it has grown over the past few years. It’s been viewed as a market for edge data centers and a strategic location for customers who need to have their data close to their end-users. But an increase in innovations in the digital technology industry has caused a rise in the need for edge compute, which is part of the reason for the growth in the market. The future of The Los Angeles market Across the data center industry, more companies are going digital than before due to covid - driving the need for more data centers. These companies are seeing technology advance and want to take the opportunity to mature their digital footprints and connect more with their users.  The Los Angeles market has become an area with more edge growth, and with a population of over 10 million people, Maile predicts that reducing latency will continue to be a critical goal for application providers moving forward. Data center industry growth Typically the data center industry has almost been invisible to the wider population. It would work in the background and give access to the applications and tools that everyone uses on a daily basis without anyone knowing that they’re utilizing a data center. The pandemic seems to have brought more visibility to our industry. Technology stepped in to support people’s everyday needs from work to healthcare to education, with data centers being a massive component to supporting these needs. Overall COVID-19 has caused more growth and attention on the data center industry and made larger edge markets, like Los Angeles, more important than ever for faster speeds. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the data center industry.

If you’re short on time, below are some of our thoughts from the above video. 2021 Overview Based on the conversations we at datacenterHawk have had with people in the data center industry, we feel as though 2021 will be a solid year for the market. Ultimately a lot of the growth will depend on larger hyperscale deals being completed, but those companies are looking to add to their footprint all across Northern America and the world. The hyperscale companies that are going to be responsible for the majority of the growth in the industry are looking for flexible deals with data center operators. It’s not just about turn-key capacity anymore. Powered shell and build-to-suit developments are becoming more common. We feel confident that the demand seen in 2020 will continue at least through the first half of 2021. The persistence of the impact of COVID19 as well as the continued growth of secular tailwinds already in place pre-COVID may drive demand through the entirety of 2021. Enterprise demand in 2021 In 2020, enterprise demand was a bit on the lower end than we expected. We think that it will increase in 2021 from where it was in 2020. Many companies delayed IT projects to focus on supporting their employees as they began to work from home. Additionally, financial constraints further constrained directors ability to get funds for IT projects. We believe that even if the COVID pandemic is not fully solved, it has at least stabilized such that these companies will look to reboot in 2021 and start working on previously-shelved IT projects. How will the edge grow in 2021 In 2020 we saw edge-focused partnerships between large data center operators and smaller companies, such as Flexential and American Tower, Digital Realty and Vapor IO, Switch and FedEx. While the edge is still very nascent, these partnerships point to the increasing focus it is becoming among large, traditionally core data center operators. These companies believe there will be a more spread out infrastructure approach with higher demand moving forward. We see these data center operators are positioning themselves to handle that demand when it comes. Expect additional operators to enhance their edge capabilities through new product development or acquisition in 2021. If you enjoyed this and want to stay up to date with the latest information in the data center industry be sure to sign up for the datacenterHawk newsletter here: https://lp.datacenterhawk.com/stay-up-to-date

DATA4 Group CEO, Olivier Micheli shares how they develop and expand into new markets, even in light of recent trends. This is an episode of HawkTalk, datacenterHawk’s series of candid one on one conversations with executives and leaders in the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe here. DATA4 Group was founded in 2006 and has been a key player in the Paris and French data center markets ever since. After becoming a top data center provider in France, they decided to expand their circle to other European nations. Their CEO, Olivier Micheli, sits down with our lead European analyst to discuss the company and the markets that they’re in. Below are some of our takeaways from the discussion. Growth of the Paris data center market One of the main drivers for the growth in the Paris data center market has been the hyperscale users. Larger users to want to grow in Paris because is there is some catch up happening. Recently other major markets in Europe, namely London, Amsterdam, & Frankfurt, have seen dynamic growth and the hyperscale users see Paris as a market with the same amount of opportunity as those. Developing in Italy, Spain, and Luxembourg Data4 Group has their eyes on expanding to new markets, but they prefer to follow a strategic path and be strong in the markets they’re in before expanding to new areas. This is how they went about their expansion out of Paris. They stayed focused with a goal to become very strong in that market before moving to Italy, Spain, and Luxembourg. Now that they’re in those markets, they want to stay focused in those areas until they are able to build a strong foundation before moving to their next markets. Looking towards Frankfurt Micheli talks about DATA4 Group’s history and their strategy for getting into the markets they’re in now, but he also mentions their future and where the company wants to go moving forward. Frankfurt is one market that’s currently on their radar for its large stable economy and massive connectivity. But they want to follow the same expansion strategy they did the first time around focusing on becoming a top data center provider in their current markets before moving into new markets. It will be interesting to follow DATA4 Group as they continue to grow and we at datacenterHawk look forward to tracking with them and other providers in the European markets. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the data center industry.

David Dunn, COO of H5 Data Centers, shares how they think about evaluating smaller markets and developing the next generation of talent for the data center industry. H5 Data Centers has a unique focus on edge data centers and bringing data to people rather than focusing so strongly on where the largest supply and demand is happening in the data center industry. COO, David Dunn sits down with datacenterHawk to discuss this strategy and the future of the industry. Below are some of our takeaways from the discussion. H5’s big focus on smaller markets A lot of data center providers follow the strategy of finding land to buy in a major market and building a big brand new data center campus from the ground up. H5 takes somewhat of a different approach in their strategy. H5 has increased their focus on smaller data center markets such as Albuquerque, San Antonio, and Cleveland. While still having a presence in some of the larger markets, H5 takes pride in trying to find the markets that have untapped potential and growing in those areas. H5’s approach to evaluating new markets While knowing the supply and demand of the data center markets is important and can be a main way to make decisions in the industry, H5 also looks at the population sizes of markets and the distance between two major cities to determine whether they want to be in a market. For example, Albuquerque is a city with a decent population size, but it’s also hundreds of miles away from the next city that’s comparable in size. This tells H5 that there are people in that area who will need and want to use data, and likely don’t want to store it hundreds of miles away. Developing the next generation of data center professionals H5 takes a lot of pride in doing their part to move the industry forward. One way they do this is by helping educate the next generation about IT needs and the data center industry. They have made it a point to be involved in the STEM programs of local schools. They want to help create the future jobs in the industry and give kids who might not have had an opportunity to learn about the data center industry a chance and mentor them. datacenterHawk will continue to follow H5 Data Centers as they continue to on their paths of growth and we look forward to seeing the next steps that they take in the industry.

The Frankfurt data center market is active and poised for growth. Equinix is in a position to be a big part of the growth in the market. This is an episode of HawkTalk, datacenterHawk’s series of candid one on one conversations with executives and leaders in the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, please consider subscribing to our channel. Dan Scarbrough, Lead European Analyst at datacenterHawk, got the chance to sit down with Michael Winterson, the VP of Business Development-EMEA & Jen-Peter Feidner, Managing Director Germany at Equinix to discuss the Frankfurt data center market and Europe as a whole. Below are some of our take aways from the discussion. How COVID has changed business as a whole COVID has changed so much in our world from a business standpoint. In the above video, Michael explains that the biggest issue for Equinix and their customers is how difficult it has been to transition to a socially distanced world. Before the pandemic, Equinix had about 2,000 visitors per day across all their facilities. when the pandemic hit, they severely limited the number of people that could come into their facilities to avoid locking down any of their locations. Michael and the Equinix team are grateful for their customers who adjusted to these new security measures, including having all appointments scheduled and booked in advance. The other major change that Equinix noticed related to COVID was the need to rapidly shift network. Networks have had to adapt quickly to the demand that was produced when so many people shifted to working from home and utilizing virtual meetings. The trend of Asian capacity coming to the Frankfurt market Equinix has seen a good amount of interest and deployment from Asian data center users in the Frankfurt market. These users not only are coming to Equinix but also building their own smaller footprints in the Frankfurt market. Germany is a Central European country and has good commercial relationships beyond the digital industry. Specifically in manufacturing and importing and export. country and that there are good commercial relationships beyond the digital industry. These relationships, alongside the access to the digital industry is a big reason for Asian data center users to enter the Frankfurt market. New entrants and demand growth in the Frankfurt market There is a surge of demand growth in the European markets right now and specifically in Frankfurt. As Jens-Peter Feidner puts it in the above video, “People wouldn’t enter a market if there’s not enough demand. Everyone looks at where to invest the dollars. Even if money might be cheap and it’s a good industry to invest, you still don’t want to lose money. So that proves that there’s enough demand.” Feidner goes on to say that Equinix and other data center providers who have been in the Frankfurt market for a long time, benefit because they have the name, brand, and service that prove they have been able to deliver quality to their clients in the past. The newer entrants in the market have yet to gain that same level of credibility. Frankfurt is a data center market to keep your eye on moving forward so be sure to stay tuned to datacenterHawk for more up to date content on it and other major US and European markets.

On our latest edition of the datacenterHawk Podcast, Mike Netzer and David Liggitt engaged in a discussion about the future of data centers. They touched upon a range of topics from the potential of alternative energy sources to the growth in key markets such as Atlanta and Dallas. In this blog post, we distill the significant insights from the conversation and gauge their impact on the evolution of the data center industry. Global Market Trends in the Data Center Industry The conversation underscored the hefty investments pouring into data centers worldwide – North America, Europe, Latin America, or the Asia-Pacific. Concentrating on unique market microtrends, we see an industry evolving towards a more globalized approach. This shift is propelled by soaring demands for data center services and the necessity for advanced infrastructure to support emergent technologies like AI. The Evolution of Data Center Designs Another central issue discussed was the changing design of data centers, particularly with respect to liquid cooling density. Tech giants like Microsoft are reassessing their campus designs to accommodate new technologies and enhance efficiency. Reflecting the industry's relentless urge to adapt to changing needs and optimize operations, as data centers grow more intricate and power-demanding, innovative design solutions become critical to cater to the burgeoning demand for digital services. Navigating the Power Supply Challenge in Data Center Contracts The conversation also delved into the intricacies of securing utility provisions in data center contracts. With emphasis on PowerShell deals and the necessity for flexibility in lease structures, data center operators are steering through convoluted agreements to maintain a steady power supply. As the industry progresses, the significance of strategic partnerships and robust contractual frameworks increases. By facing these challenges head-on, data center operators can circumvent risks and enhance operational resilience. Putting Data Centers in Space? Leveraging the insights shared by Mike and David, the concept of data centers in space introduces a groundbreaking frontier for the industry. By utilizing the unique environment of space, operators can harness benefits such as consistent cooling due to extreme temperatures and the potential for efficient energy use through advanced solar technologies. Additionally, placing data centers in orbit could alleviate terrestrial constraints, such as land scarcity and environmental impact, while enabling faster global networking through reduced latency in certain configurations. However, this ambitious vision comes with significant technical, logistical, and regulatory challenges that require innovative solutions, extensive collaboration, and substantial investment. As this area continues to evolve, it represents a bold step toward redefining the possibilities within the data center landscape. Wrapping up, the dialogue between Mike Netzer and David Liggitt presents an insightful lens to view the current and future trajectory of the data center industry. From geographical expansions to design innovations and contractual nuances, the industry is witnessing massive transformations to cater to the demands of an increasingly digital world. By staying abreast of these changes and being adaptable, data center professionals can effectively steer through these shifts and drive sustainable growth in the dynamic data center market.

The data center industry can be complicated to get a grasp on. Part of the reason for that are the terms and lingo. So in podcast 36 we thought it would be helpful to decipher some of the common terms that are used in the data center industry. This is an episode of HawkPodcast, datacenterHawk’s viewpoints on the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe here. Below are the terms we go over in the podcast above. kW (kilowatt & megawatt) - These are the units of power measurement that leases in the data center industry are measured in. They refer to how much power capacity your IT infrastructure has access to. Gross + E - A type of lease and also a simple equation for how much it will cost you to be in a data center. “Gross” stands for having the right to access the power infrastructure and “E” stands for the actual power that you utilize. Triple Net Lease “NNN” - This is a different type of lease from the “Gross + E” that we mentioned above. A “Triple Net Lease” is mainly reserved for larger companies who will take care of some of the building operating costs that are usually provided by the data center operator themselves. Carrier Neutral Facility - A facility that offers multiple fiber providers instead of just one. Almost all multi-tenant data centers today are carrier-neutral facilities. Ping, Power, & Pipe - This is a phrase for referring to the basic components of a data center colocation lease. It is another way of referring to power, space, and cooling. Managed Services - Any service that a data center provider will offer in addition to power, space, and cooling, for example, firewall management, remote hands or rack and stack. Rack & Stack - Another example of a managed service where the provider will assemble your hardware for you in their facility. Purpose-Built / Retrofit - These are the two different types of data center construction. Purpose-built means the reason a facility is being built is to be a data center. Retrofit means that a building was not originally meant to be a data center, but has been renovated and changed to be one, likely because it’s in a good location with good power and connectivity. Absorption - This is the word that the data center industry uses to measure demand/growth in a given time period. Dark Fiber - A dedicated fiber route between one facility and another. Dark fiber is typically used by a single customer as opposed to shared. Since it is a dedicated resource, it will be more expensive than lit fiber. Lit Fiber - A fiber route that goes directly into a facility is considered “on net” or “lit”. Data centers will typically have multiple fiber providers entering their facility. Lit fiber is a shared resource. PUE - Stands for Power Usage Effectiveness. This is a metric that data center facilities will use to measure the efficiency of their design. It measures how much of the power that comes into a facility is used by things other than the data center space (e.g. office space). Compliance Acronyms (ISO, PCI, SOC1, FEDRAMP, etc) - Compliance is a very important aspect of the data center industry. This has grown in importance due to data breaches and other security issues. There is a long list of acronyms that can be categorized under the compliance umbrella, but the jest of what you need to know is that there are dedicated teams in the data center industry that need to know what all of these acronyms stand for and the specifics of them. Thanks for listening to this podcast, we hope you’ve found this information to be helpful. If you did, it would help us a ton if you would like, share, and subscribe to our content.

Looking to the future, we see amazing technologies that will only require more data center infrastructure to support them. Ty Miller, the CRO of STACK INFRASTRUCTURE is looking forward to it. This is an episode of HawkTalk, datacenterHawk’s series of candid one on one conversations with executives and leaders in the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe here. STACK INFRASTRUCTURE has become a leader in the data center industry based largely on theirwork with large customers in the space. STACK’s ability to grow and provide the speed and scale needed by hyperscale users has been pivotal in their journey as a company. The growth of the cloud Some examples that are contributing to our era’s current digitalization are new technologies, such as AI, 5G, IoT, as well as others. All of these are creating more network demand which ultimately has to live in building, and that building is a data center. Looking at trends of cloud growth we see that at the end of 2019 the 3 top cloud service providers, AWS, Azure, & Google all had resounding annual growth rates at 33%, 62%, and 68% respectively. Now looking at 2020 and the shift caused by COVID-19 that has forced millions of people to begin working from home and using technology more, it’s a safe bet that the cloud growth rates will grow even more. Speed and scale are requirements for growth STACK INFRASTRUCTURE has put in place a formula for growth, specifically growth along side hyperscale users to target partnerships with. Two major factors of that growth are speed and scale. The ability to bring a facility with a high capacity to market quickly is one of the things that attracts large users to partner with STACK. STACK also invests in acquiring land for future building and growth. This allows them to be in the right place at the right time when a large deployment is needed in a market that STACK has already invested in. Once they know the need is there, they are able to utilize the land that they already own, and that enables them to be faster at building a facilty than a provider that doesn’t already have land. Technologies that will contribute to future data center industry growth Looking forward at some of the things that will drive data center industry demand, we see a couple of technologies that contribute to it. Some technologies that have high compute requirements are AI and machine learning for an example. This technology sector that is growing rapidly will continue to push the data center industy forward because of the amount of compute power that it will utilize. Technologies that have high network requirements such as the IoT (internet of things) thrive on connectivity and are requiring more and more data storage. The more data that these technologies create and send to other devices will continue to grow and need a place to be stored which would ultimately be a data center.

Listening and supporting customers while planning an entrance into the European data center markets has been a main goal for Vantage recently. Hear Josh Buis talk about their strategies and how their customers play a role in their decisions. This is an episode of HawkTalk, datacenterHawk’s series of candid one on one conversations with executives and leaders in the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, be sure to subscribe to our podcast. Vantage Data Centers, a North American provider, recently entered the European data center market. As they look to expand in Europe, they’ll be shaping their strategy by paying close attention to their customer's needs. If you’re short on time, check out a few quick takeaways from our chat below. Customers know best Vantage has a clear focus on their customers. That’s why when they’re looking to expand into other markets, they begin by listening to what markets their customers want to be in and move from there. While they have an interest in expanding to tier one European markets like Frankfurt and London, Vantage also continues to watch some of the smaller markets like Milan, Poland, and Zurich. Vantage will continue to track markets all across Europe and listen to where their customers want to be as they continue to grow and expand in Europe. The UK data center market Most of the activity in the UK has been in and around London, but Vantage entered the UK market by acquiring a data center in Wales from local provider NGD. While Vantage will continue to plan and ultimately aim to be a part of the London market, they are happy with their entrance into the UK with their new Welsh facility. Moving forward to a more sustainable future The data center industry as a whole has a focus on the future, but not everyone has their focus set on sustainability. It’s no secret that data centers use a lot of power, and that’s the reason why there have been pushes from providers to make sustainability a goal moving forward. Vantage focus’ on their customers, and more so than any other influence that’s where they are getting the most push to make their facilities more sustainable. While government regulations are being put into place for energy and water use, Vantage has an even higher standard from their customers with requests like being diesel free by 2030 and needing to produce a positive water flow from data centers in 2030. If you enjoyed this video discussion be sure to check out our other HawkTalks on our site datacenterhawk.com

In Podcast 35, David and Mike take a dive into the 3Q trends and analysis based on their thoughts and predictions they made at the beginning of the quarter. This is an episode of HawkPodcast, datacenterHawk’s viewpoints on the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe here. You can also click here if you want to read our 3Q 2020 data center overview for North America and Europe. 3Q has wrapped up, you can read more about it on our 3Q 2020 data center market overview. Below are our biggest takeaways and the points we discuss in the podcast above. The biggest takeaway from the last quarter We think this will be a record-setting year for the data center industry even with the challenges that have come with the pandemic. We saw demand spread across all of the primary US markets in the third quarter. Looking back at the second quarter, the Northern Virginia market was responsible for about 70% of the US demand and in third quarter that demand dropped to around 50% of the total US market demand. We saw markets like Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta and others contribute more to the total demand in 3Q. What surprised us in the third quarter In the early 2010’s there was a lot of demand specifically from the financial industry in the Northern New Jersey market. Since that time there hasn’t been that amount of large demand in the market. Then in the first and second quarters of 2020 we saw a lot of those financial companies that had large demand in the past wanting to mature their footprint and bring that demand back into the market. We expected this demand to continue in the third quarter, but instead there was a bit of a pause. This pause could be attributed to the possibility of the state legislature levying taxes on financial trades, which may cause companies to consider moving their IT infrastructure to a more tax-friendly market such as Chicago or Dallas. Looking forward to next quarter At the end of 2020, we will likely be wrapping up the largest demand year ever in the US. What’s more remarkable about that is understanding what took place in 2020 and how the world was turned upside down. So for the data center space to be recording its largest year ever is truly a feat to acknowledge. When looking back at the fourth quarter in 2019, we saw a lighter amount of demand than the previous quarters in 2019. We’re on the side of believing that 4Q 2020 will not follow this trend, but instead be a strong demand quarter to close out the year. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our HawkPodcasts and don’t miss out on our latest release of market data for the data center industry.

In Podcast 34, we dive into the European data center market trends that we witnessed in the third quarter and talk about their future. We’ve been tracking the major European data center markets for several quarter it’s been interesting to look back and see the changes that have occured during 2020,. In this podcast, we dive into some of the third quarter specifics of the European markets and also look forward to 4Q and into 2021. If you’re short on time, check out a few of our quick takeaways below. Development activity during COVID-19 We saw growth and demand across all the European data center markets in the third quarter. Generally, there was a significant amount of development and leasing activity in these markets even during this COVID-19 environment. The European markets are continuing to be a strong area of growth and look to be in place for more interest moving forward. The Frankfurt data center market continues to grow Frankfurt continues to be an attractive location for data center providers and users moving forward into the rest of 2020 and beyond. One data point that shows this is that it has a lower population with a high density of data centers. Looking at the overall power usage in the city, some estimates show that 35-40% of the power in Frankfurt goes directly to powering data centers. This is a massive jump compared to other major data centers markets with larger populations such as London. What the future looks like for the European markets Predicting the future is always tricky, especially when it comes to the European data center markets. Growth in the data center industry happens when deals get done. This can make figuring out how much growth to expect in a quarter difficult to determine with precision. A good way to get an accurate feel of a market is by finding out if there are a number of deals pending and waiting to get done. In the European markets specifically, there are a lot of pending deals which we expect to lead to good growth in the future. Wrapping up, the European markets continued their growth in the third quarter with the Frankfurt market specifically standing out as an area of consistent activity. The European data center markets as a whole should have a strong fourth quarter as well as continued growth in 2021.

LightEdge started out as an ISP and fell into becoming a data center company which led them to build a data center inside a limestone mine and expanding to 3 colocation facilities. Here’s the story of how they got there. This is an episode of HawkTalk, datacenterHawk’s series of candid one on one conversations with executives and leaders in the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. LightEdge began their journey in the data center industry after starting out as an internet service provider and then out of necessity building and operating their own colocation facility. Since then they have become a data center provider with multiple facilities across the US that focus on compliance. If you’re short on time, check out a few of our quick takeaways below. LightEdge’s entrance into the data center industry LightEdge started out as an ISP, but built their first data center in Des Moines, Iowa out of necessity after they deployed their first cloud platform. They partnered with a construction company and built a data center because at that time the idea of a colocation facility had yet to become as wide spread as it is today. Growth into the Kansas City market LightEdge had maxed out the first facility they built with 4-5 years, so they decided to expand into Kansas City with another building. LightEdge got connected with Lamar Hunt and his family, who committed to filling 800,000 SF of data center space if they were to build a Kansas City facility. With that commitment, LightEdge began construction of their 2nd data center which is located inside of a limestone mine that is owned by the Hunt family. Acquiring a third facility in Omaha After building facilities in Des Moines and Kansas City, LightEdge looked to add a 3rd facility to their profile and wanted it to be near their already existing data centers. After surveying options, they settled on building in Omaha because that location would give them a good triangulation between their other two data centers and offer similar hazard risk as their other facilities.

Growth for data center providers is a must, and partnering with hyperscale users can immensely benefit that growth. Get the inside details of what these relationships look like from Bill Fathers, CEO of Cologix. This is an episode of HawkTalk, datacenterHawk’s series of candid one on one conversations with executives and leaders in the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe to our channel. Cologix has made it a goal to own the most connected facilities, known as carrier hotels, in the markets they’re in. Bill Fathers, CEO of Cologix, sits down and discusses this and other strategies they have and how they plan to grow in the future. If you’re short on time, check out a few of our quick takeaways below. The recent area of growth for Cologix Cologix has kept the same value proposition for its customers over the past 20 years with a focus on network dense carrier hotel type facilities. The Cologix customer enters their facilities for one of two reasons, they want access to a dense number of carriers, and they want to connect to other Cologix customers. This is made more interesting with the rise of public cloud. Cologix’s number one customer type has shifted to the major cloud service providers, such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google, etc. who all want to be connected to one another and because Cologix already operates highly connected carrier hotels, the relationship makes sense. Hyperscale growth in the Columbus market Cologix has seen the interest from major Hyperscale users such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon in the Columbus market. Columbus offers a central location as well as tax incentives aimed at data centers, so it makes sense that these large companies have built 600+ acres of data center space in this market. This has been a welcome sight for Cologix since they already developed and owned the carrier hotel in Columbus before the interest from the hyperscale users. With the massive increase in traffic that their carrier hotel has seen, Cologix has decided to build an additional 24MW facility to accommodate other cloud service providers. Cologix’s presence in Canada Montreal first piqued the interest of Cologix because of its extremely low cost of electricity as well as it being a high percentage of renewable energy. One of Cologix’s first acquisitions was to acquire the carrier hotel in Montreal, and shortly after they grew into the Toronto and Vancouver markets as well. Their first goal for these markets was to own the carrier hotel environments there. Then after five years they implemented their second phase of growth which was to add additional facilities in each of these markets. Moving forward, Cologix has started building new 30MW+ build to suite facilities specifically for hyperscale users in Montreal, & Toronto. As cloud service providers have risen to prominence, their connectivity requirements have matched up well with data center providers who focus on connectivity, like Cologix. Bill Fathers and his team hope to continue growing along side these prominent cloud service providers that are changing the industry.

Digital Crossroads CRO, Bill Winsininski, unpacks the Chicago data center market and talks about some of the innovations at their newest facility in the market - that resides in Indiana. This is an episode of HawkTalk, datacenterHawk’s series of candid one on one conversations with executives and leaders in the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe here. On HawkTalk 53, Digital Crossroad’s CRO Bill Winsininski joins David Liggitt to discuss the Chicago data center market as well as their new facility that is slated to go live in 4Q this year. The facility, even though it’s located in Indiana, is less than 15 fiber miles away from downtown Chicago and is directly connected to the carrier hotel in Chicago, 350 E. Cermak. If you’re short on time, check out a few of our quick takeaways below. Characteristics of the Digital Crossroad facility The Digital Crossroad facility is located on Lake Michigan which they take full advantage of by using 900 gallons of water per day from the lake as a cheap and renewable source of cooling, not to mention the views the lake provides. Digital Crossroad has big plans for its campus just outside of Chicago, including 1.7 million square feet in its final stage. Phase 1 of the campus is planned to go live this October with their first 20 megawatts. Chicago will be looked at by bigger data center users moving forward One of the most effective ways for states to bring economic activity to a market is to add incentives. The state of Illinois did just that when they put in place tax incentives that would eliminate sales tax for data center providers who invest at least $250 million dollars to building data center facilities in the state. This is a clear attempt to attract new IT investment, and it seems to be likely that more of the bigger data center providers and users who are looking to build new facilities will give Illinois and the Chicago market more looks. Future data center industry trends Bill has been in this industry for a long time and has seen it grow to what it is today, we took the opportunity to get his predictions on where it’s going to go in the future. The constant change and improvement in technology is the primary trend for Bill. 5G will continue to become more widespread and relevant, which will make the overall speed of wireless technology increase exponentially. Specifically, in this time of COVID-19, we’ve seen how so many people have begun to utilize technology more in their daily lives whether their ordering groceries online or jumping on a video conference with co-workers. We’re truly seeing a paradigm shift in the way people use technology in their daily lives.

In Podcast 33, we continue our Data Center Fundamentals series and dive into the basics of data center infrastructure. Electrical Infrastructure (Power) Electricity travels along what’s called the power chain, which is how electricity gets from the utility provider all the way to the server inside the data center. A traditional power chain starts at the substation and eventually makes its way through a building transformer, a switching station, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), a power distribution unit (PDU) and a remote power panel (RPP) before finally arriving at the racks and servers. Data centers also utilize on-site generators to power the facility if there is an interruption in the power supply from the substation. Think of a data center like a giant laptop. The main power cord comes out of the wall (utility power) and is then transformed into usable power for the laptop (little box in the middle of your laptop cord). Finally, if any of the components of the cord fail (main power outage, transformer failure), the laptop has a battery to provide temporary power. Mechanical Infrastructure (Cooling) The amount of power a data center can consume is often limited by the amount of power consumption per rack that can be kept cool, typically referred to as density. In general, the average data center can cool at densities between 5-10 kW per rack, but some can go much higher. The most common way to cool a data center involves blowing cool air up through a raised floor, which is pictured above. In this setup, racks are placed on a raised floor with removable tiles, usually three feet above the concrete slab floor. Cool air is fed underneath the raised floor and is forced up through perforated tiles in the floor around the racks. The warmer air coming out of the servers rises up and is pulled away from the data hall, run through cool-water chillers to cool it, and fed back beneath the raised floor to cool the servers again. In certain climates, data centers can also take advantage of “free cooling” where they use the outside air to cool the servers. Instead of taking the hot air and cooling it to be used again, they allow the heat to escape and pull in the cool air from outside. This process is, as expected, much cheaper and energy efficient than operating more man made cooling infrastructure. Connectivity Infrastructure A data center’s connectivity infrastructure is also important. Without it, a data center would just be a building full of computers that can’t communicate with anyone outside the building. As data centers are the primary foundation for activities happening online, the buildings themselves need to be highly connected. Access to a variety of fiber providers connects a data center to a wide network able to provide low latency connections and reach more customers. Fiber traditionally runs into a data center through secured “vaults” and into the building’s meet-me-room or directly to a user’s servers. A meet-me-room is a location where fiber lines from different carriers can connect and exchange traffic. Redundancy Redundancy is communicated by the “need” or “N” plus the number of extra systems. The example above would be considered N+1. The data center needs 10 chillers and has one extra, thus it would be labeled as N+1. If the data center above had 10 extra generators in addition to the 10 they needed to operate, their redundancy would be double their need, or 2N. Redundancy applies to most aspects of a data center, including power supplies, generators, cooling infrastructure, and UPS systems. Some data centers have multiple power lines entering the building, or are fed from multiple substations to ensure uptime in the event a line is damaged somewhere. The same approach can be taken with fiber lines. Data centers support the internet ecosystem that more and more of the world relies on today. As such, they require robust infrastructure to ensure there’s no interruption in the services they provide.

The internet doesn’t magically float through the air from continent to continent, it travels via giant cables at the bottom of the ocean. Get an insiders perspective from Gil Santaliz, CEO of NJFX, a cable landing station in Wall, New Jersey You don’t often associate Wall, NJ with Europe and South America - but for NJFX, they’re more connected than you think. Gil Santaliz is CEO of NJFX, a data center and subsea cable facility in Wall, NJ that has access to cable directly connected to multiple points in Europe and South America. We got his take on the data center industry as a whole and specifically in Northern New Jersey in our latest HawkTalk video. If you’re short on time, check out a few of our quick takeaways below. Why cable landing stations are significant to the data center industry Cable landing stations represent the transmission of 99% of global internet traffic. These stations are where the subsea cables land and connect continents. NJFX specifically, located in Wall, New Jersey, is a landing station for 4 cables. These 4 cables, connecting North America to Ireland, Denmark, Norway, The UK, and Brazil. Trends in the Northern New Jersey data center market datacenterHawk has recently seen an uptick in activity, specifically from financial companies in the Northern New Jersey data center market. From Gil’s perspective, the recent changes in the culture due to Covid-19 in New York has made it difficult for people with any interest to get to the data centers in the market. As a result, activity has been spilling into adjacent markets like Northern New Jersey. Future trends in the data center industry In the US, data centers have consistently grown in areas where there are tax incentives attracting data center companies to build. Areas that have not had these types of programs in place have seen the missed opportunities of having data centers built in their regions. However, these same regions have seen a slow increase in property taxes, negating some of the benefits of the original tax incentives. This could cause states and areas with no property taxes, like New Jersey, to attract more data center activity.

Discover fresh insights about the Northern American data center market from the experts themselves. In our recent podcast, Ed Socia, our Director of North America, and Montana Myer, our Senior Analyst delve into market trends, growth indicators, challenges, and opportunities. Hyperscale Users: Dominating the North American Landscape In the first segment of their discussion, Socia and Myer explore the increasing influence of hyperscale users in North America, especially within the United States. They delve into the dichotomy of self-building vs. leasing practices and their implications on the market dynamics. The duo also discuss how various government incentives, including state and local tax benefits, act as considerable pull factors in this region, directly influencing site selection and development decisions. Primary Markets and Submarkets: The Powerhouses of Growth Next, the discussion moves onto the primary data center marketplaces. Socia and Myer shed light on the continued expansion within established markets such as Northern Virginia, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix, and Silicon Valley. They highlight an interesting trend: hyperscale users are experimenting with a combination of self-building and leasing principles within these markets, indicating a shift in data center development strategies. Emerging Markets and Connectivity: The Future of Data Centers Finally, Montana and Ed discuss some of the exciting emerging data center markets within North America, including areas like Charlotte, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas. These regions are attracting a lot of interest from both hyperscale users and third-party developers. The importance of solid connectivity and power infrastructure in operating a successful data center is underscored, emphasizing strategic partnerships with utilities and fiber connectivity as a prerequisite for success. datacenterHawk: Navigating the Future of Data Centers In closing the discussion, Socia and Myer express their ongoing commitment to guiding industry professionals to make informed decisions in this dynamic landscape. With these insights and the support of datacenterHawk, they encourage everyone to navigate the ever-evolving complexities of the North American data center market confidently. Stay tuned for more insights!

In Podcast 32, we continue our Data Center Fundamentals series and answer the question “What is the cloud?” The most simplified way to describe the cloud is the use of virtual servers versus the use of physical servers. Utilizing someone else's IT infrastructure instead of having it yourself describes how people use the cloud today. If you’re short on time, check out a few of our quick takeaways below. Operating in the cloud has distinct advantages, primarily driven by the absence of physical infrastructure and the associated CAPEX. Instead of physically commissioning and installing new servers as you would with colocation, cloud servers can be deployed almost immediately and at a lower initial cost. Users also have easier access to their cloud ecosystem and can interact online instead of physically managing the servers from inside the data center. There are three use-cases of the cloud: private cloud, public cloud, and hybrid cloud. Each one has their own benefits and challenges. Private cloud Private cloud is your most controllable type of cloud deployment. Typically this is infrastructure in an area where you know where the physical servers are and they are dedicated just to you. This allows access only to the hypervisor or software layer that assigns workloads to the physical servers, but physical servers are only accessible by a single tenant. Public Cloud With public cloud you might not know exactly where your physical servers are, but you know the region they’re in. In contrast with private cloud, physical servers may be shared by multiple customers. This allows access to your data when you need it with a lower latency in that particular region. Some examples of companies who utilize public cloud include Azure, AWS, Google Cloud Platform, IBM Softlayer. Hybrid Cloud Hybrid cloud is exactly what it sounds like. It can be a mixed use of public, private, colocation, and even some on premise IT services. Companies will typically use a hybrid cloud approach to accommodate applications with different requirements around security, latency, etc. Almost every company utilizes the cloud in some capacity. It solves problems that leasing physical servers can’t. Instead of housing a handful of racks on premise or going to colocation, now most small companies deploy their systems straight to the cloud and large companies utilize the cloud in various operations. While the cloud has taken some requirements away from colocation, it has substantially increased the demand for colocation overall. In fact, cloud adoption is one of the biggest sources of data center absorption, based on our analysis and discussion with top providers, and we expect to see that trend continue. Other things we talked about: -The benefits and challenges of the colocation side of the cloud -How COVID-19 has changed how businesses utilize the cloud -The reality of the cloud take over

Becoming the CEO of a company is no easy task, especially in the middle of a pandemic. Evoque’s new CEO, Andy Stewart tells us about the process and where he plans to take Evoque in the future. As Evoque’s new CEO, Andy Stewart gives us insight to what it has been like assuming the executive role during this strange time. He comes from a CFO position at TeirPoint from which he can be credited for helping build from its one data center to now having dozens all across the US. He discusses what has led him to this current opportunity and what his plans are for the future of Evoque. If you’re short on time, check out a few of our quick takeaways below. Hyperscale growth has been a trend we’ve seen, but Evoque has a different plan Evoque has been a retail enterprise data center provider since it’s beginning. That’s what they’ve based all of their facilities on and that’s the customer segment they will continue to pursue moving forward. Hyperscale users get a lot of attention, and in that attention are data center providers who look to land those big MW deals. Andy tells us that Evoque plans to pursue and have relationships with the hyperscale companies, but they’re going to keep the enterprise users as their main focus and double down on them for the 2nd half of 2020. Evoque & datacenterHawk both think enterprise activity will grow in the 2nd half of 2020 The enterprise sector of the data center industry was no doubt affected by COVID-19. These enterprise businesses put more focus on the safety of their employees rather than their IT infrastructure needs. As time moves forward and there is more clarity around COVID-19 and what the future will look like, you should expect to see enterprise activity pick back up and make up for the pause in the first half of 2020. The importance of connectivity The decisions of where to put your IT equipment, how to manage your network, how to manage your public cloud are all choices that need to be thought about in the same conversation. When Evoque bought their data centers from AT&T they were faced with the challenge of not being highly connected. Over the last 18 months, Evoque has focused its strategy on bringing in more high quality, globally-connected carriers into their facilities to make them more carrier-neutral and carrier dense. We also talked about… The challenge of becoming a CEO during a pandemic Evoque has data centers in Singapore and Hong Kong, which put them in a position of being able to learn from those first lockdowns and put into practice a more advanced strategy when lockdowns happened in other areas of the world. What data center providers can do to not only help their customers today but also in the future Don’t forget to check out the rest of our HawkTalk's and don’t miss out on our latest release of market data for the data center industry.

This is an episode of HawkTalk, datacenterHawk’s series of candid one on one conversations with executives and leaders in the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, please subscribe. We recently hosted Russell Cozart, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Strategy at Cyxtera as part of our HawkTalk series. Russell started in the data center industry 15 years ago with Terramark and has spent time at Dell, VMWare, and prior to joining Cyxtera, managed GE’s cloud hosting portfolio. We covered topics like what it looked like to launch Cyxtera three years ago, the trends that are informing their go to market strategy now, and his read on the challenges enterprise IT leaders are having today. You can check out the full interview in the video above, or if you’re short on time, skim some of our top takeaways below. Focus On Focus After acquiring Century Link’s data center assets, the Cyxtera team focused on how they could make and deliver data center products and services better - and faster. Russell summarized it as the team asking themselves: how do we deliver the core value that we want to deliver with the combination of innovation, stability, and resiliency that customers had come to know with the Century Link data center asset? Part of that required a renewed focus. For example, the data center team spun their cyber security offerings off into separate companies so that they could focus more on delivering a world class experience to their enterprise customers. COVID-19 Has Accelerated, Not Changed, IT Mandates Particularly with COVID-19, the mandates placed upon CIOs and IT teams have remained the same - just accelerated. Everyone is asking how they can get to Point B faster. These leaders are looking for partners that can help them as they start to charge faster down the path of digital transformation. That trend of transformation is likely to hockey stick, especially around people using a hybrid combination of public cloud and colocation. IT Challenges Remain The Same While IT mandates remain the same, so do the challenges of the enterprise data center user. CapEx budgets are shrinking, many are supporting aging legacy infrastructure, and the drive to a hybrid IT strategy has left many with skills gaps and complex solutions. These have historically been challenges in the enterprise IT space, but now with COVID-19 the pressure is heightened. At the same time, leaders are trying to get what they need without sacrificing core tenants of delivering on their own IT strategy, like staying flexible and agile while being fast to market. This flexible and agile environment is top of mind for a provider like Cyxtera as they think about bringing products to market. How To Build Products That Resonate With Customers Maintaining a solid roadmap that leads to successful products across the globe takes work. Cyxtera has a presence across 29 markets globally and has invested heavily in developing an intimate understanding of their customers and their challenges. This enables them to then map out an architecture that will assist their customers in their journeys and ultimately ingest it into Cyxtera’s roadmap to ensure they bring valuable products to market. Looking Forward Looking forward, “the next 3-5 years are going to be game changing for the industry”, Russell says. Data center providers are on the precipice of major changes, driven primarily by the changes we’re seeing in the enterprise. The next 3-5 years are going to be game changing for the industry. Russell Cozart Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Strategy at Cyxtera “[At Cyxtera, we’re] excited to deliver the cutting edge and make sure that’s something that resonates with customers. Their lives are changing and that’s for us and the industry as a whole make sure we’re there.”

1623 Farnam’s president Todd Cushing discusses the importance of carrier hotels and connectivity This is an episode of HawkTalk, datacenterHawk’s series of candid one on one conversations with executives and leaders in the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe here. On HawkTalk 49 David chats with Todd Cushing about 1623 Farnam and what it means to be a carrier hotel in today’s data center industry. They discuss the importance of connectivity as it continues to be a higher priority to businesses today, and the growth of the Omaha data center as a whole. If you’re short on time, check out a few of our quick takeaways below. The value of the carrier hotel Carrier hotels are places where connectivity lives, whether it’s regional, long haul, dark fiber, or another type, the carrier hotel is a location for it all to aggregate. Connectivity has become an important factor in the last 5-10 years as businesses have learned to create mature IT infrastructure that ultimately allows their business applications to work more efficiently. 1623 Farnam - a rich ecosystem of connectivity 1623 Farnam has become a crucial part of connectivity growth in the Midwest. The company is focused on a better network, lower latency, and faster connectivity. The growth of fiber in Omaha is a big reason why 1623 Farnam has put so much of their focus on connectivity. With the fiber infrastructure continuing to grow they see it as an opportunity to control fiber access in Omaha. The Omaha data center market and why it’s growing It’s not surprising the recent major growth has come from hyperscale users. From social media companies to major search engines, they’ve all established a presence in Omaha which is causing continual growth to the area. We also talked about… The transformation of 1623 Farnam, from a bank building to Omaha’s carrier hotel Todd’s prediction of the creation of data in the coming years The impact of COVID-19 on the data center industry Don’t forget to check out the rest of our HawkTalk's and don’t miss out on our latest release of market data for the data center industry.

In Podcast 31, David and Mike take a quick look back at the first half of 2020 and also take a look forward to discuss what the second half will look like for the data center market. This is an episode of HawkPodcast, datacenterHawk’s viewpoints on the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe to our newsletter on our site. 2Q has wrapped up, you can read more about it on our 2Q 2020 data center market overview, but we’ve started to look forward to the 2nd half of 2020. Below are a few of the points we discuss in the podcast above. Big demand in 2nd half of 2020 We think the 2nd half of 2020 will look similar to the 1st in that demand will continue to be pushed forward by big buyers all across the industry. The enterprise sector of the data center industry took a bigger hit from COVID-19, but we expect to see those businesses rebound with increased demand in 3Q and 4Q. Markets that will be active in 2nd half of 2020 After seeing the trends from 2Q, we think that there a few markets primed for activity in the 2nd half of 2020: Portland – Though only a handful of providers have a Portland presence, it continues to see healthy growth due to the attractive power costs and connectivity to subsea cables. Chicago – Tax incentives passed in 2019 were a factor in winning opportunities in 2Q. Given the large population and need for companies to be near their users, we expect growth to continue through the second half of 2020. Northern New Jersey – This market had a strong absorption quarter and continues to surprise in 2020 after it’s been quiet in recent years. Northern New Jersey had a lot of activity back in 2011-2013, so we think that there may have been some long term contracts in place that are now starting to expire, and naturally, some companies will be making decisions that could cause activity and movement in this market. Data center growth in Europe The European data center industry has different challenges than the US does, a main one being that the growth is happening in different countries. Even with those challenges, we expect to see hyperscale maturity in the major European markets. This growth should trickle down to the secondary European markets as well. Other things we talked about: • Our 2Q 2020 Data Center Market Overview • HawkTalk 45 with Andy Cvengros about the Chicago market • HawkPodcast 30 with our lead European analyst, Dan Scarbrough Don’t forget to check out the rest of our HawkPodcasts and don’t miss out on our latest release of market data for the data center industry.

In Podcast 30, David is joined by datacenterHawk’s lead European analyst to discuss some of the trends we’ve seen in the European data center market. Check out a few quick takeaways from our conversation below. This is an episode of HawkPodcast, datacenterHawk’s viewpoints on the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe here. You can also click here if you want to read our 2Q 2020 data center overview for North America and Europe. European Demand Trends Looking back at 2019, the majority of the activity in Europe was seen in a few markets, with Amsterdam receiving most of that activity. So far in 2020, the demand is more even across the five main European markets, including Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin. Growth in Frankfurt, Paris, and Dublin seems to be increasing in 2020. European Hyperscale Growth American data center providers have taken an interest in the five major European markets in the past year. This new interest has attracted more hyperscale users to look at these European markets, which has created more competition for the regional European developers and has caused them to shift their strategy. Emerging European Markets With major European markets receiving increased development interest from US data center operators, regional developers in Europe are expanding in other locations. Areas like Zurich, Warsaw, Marseille, and Barcelona are emerging markets expected to see growth based on that trend. The maturity of the subsea cable industry is also creating interest in these smaller European markets as well. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our HawkPodcasts and don’t miss out on our latest release of market data for the data center industry.

Colocation is leasing digital infrastructure from a data center operator. On this podcast, David and Mike go over the second of eight topics on data center fundamentals. We covered this in a blog series as well as an email course. Today, we answer the question “What is colocation?” and discuss some of the defining characteristics of this aspect of the data center industry. What is colocation? One option of having digital infrastructure is to build and operate your own data center, but this is mainly for large scale data center users. Colocation offers the option of leasing data center power and space from a data center provider. Colocation leases can range in size from several servers to an entire data center. Data center providers prefer to structure leases in different ways depending on user needs and lease size. Leases of 50 kilowatts (kW) and less Smaller footprints are usually all-in leases, where the user pays a set price per month with little variation. The price includes both the rental rate and power cost. Leases of 50 kW – 5 megawatts (MW) These leases are often Gross + Electric, where the user pays a set price per kW of data center infrastructure they lease per month, plus the cost of the power they use. Leases of 5 MW and higher Larger leases are often Triple Net (NNN), meaning the user pays the provider to use the space, but manages a larger portion of the operations and utilities themselves. Benefits of colocation vs on-premise data centers 1. Save on outsourcing specialized skill sets Data center operation requires a level of expertise that many companies often lack. While it’s possible for companies to develop a staff to fill this role, it’s often faster, less expensive, and more efficient to outsource the requirement. Data center providers are experts in colocation and can provide specialized solutions that best fit their customer’s needs. 2. Increased flexibility Because IT strategy can change quickly, companies value fluidity with their data center infrastructure. A company’s data center may fit their needs today, but could be inefficient later. Colocating provides flexibility and helps users avoid getting stuck in a solution that doesn’t fit their needs. 3. Cost savings from provider’s scale Data center providers are experts in designing and building data centers and often do it in a more cost-efficient manner. Large providers can also leverage their size to lower construction and power costs, and these lower costs are passed on to the user, creating lower operating expenses than owning the data center themselves. 4. Ease of customization Data center providers offer a variety of services to meet their users’ needs. They can also use their scale to attract third-party service providers, which creates a valuable ecosystem hard for single users to replicate. 5. More fiber connections A colocation data center often has stronger fiber infrastructure and easier access to cloud service providers, giving users low latency to their cloud environments and the end-customer. 6. Easier path for growth Growing your data center presence is easier with a data center provider. The relationship between a user and data center provider is typically seen as a long-term partnership. Should a company need a data center in a new market, they can often deploy infrastructure in their provider’s facility in that region. Providers like Digital Realty, Equinix, and CyrusOne report the vast majority of their customers have deployments in more than one of their data centers and many in more than one country.

T5’s Chief Operating Officer Aaron Wangenheim gives his input on Los Angeles, one of the most strategic US data center markets. This is an episode of HawkTalk, datacenterHawk’s series of candid one on one conversations with executives and leaders in the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. Please subscribe to our podcast to be notified when we release a new episode. On HawkTalk 48 David chats with Aaron Wangenheim about the large and strategic Los Angeles data center market. They discuss the history of the market, the reason for the recent growth there, and why the hyperscale user is attracted to this market. Here are a few quick takeaways from our conversation below. The Growth of the Los Angeles Data Center Market T5 Data Centers has been in the LA data center market since 2006, and they’ve lived the growth and challenges that have taken place over the years there. Naturally, the market has always circled around media and entertainment, which is still the case today. But with its high land, power, and tax prices, the providers who have chosen to enter this market are the ones who need to be there from a strategic standpoint. Why 2019 L.A. Data Center Market Growth was at an all-time high Most of the growth that we’ve seen lately in the LA market has been from the hyperscale users. This market has always aimed to serve the media and entertainment industry, and hyperscale users have recently taken an interest in servicing these industry verticals. While that growth is happening, the enterprise user still maintains a strong presence in the LA market. What Hyperscale Users Value in a Data Center Provider One of the main concerns for hyperscale users when making a decision on where they should deploy is they need to know that they can grow if they need to. When a hyperscale user picks a market and a provider to deploy their product in, they know that they’ll need more in time. Often they don’t know how much or by when they’ll need that space, but they do know that they’ll need a partner that will grow with them. We also talked about… Specifics about the T5 facility in Los Angeles How COVID-19 has changed T5’s 2020 plan Work from home trends and how company communication trends are evolving Don’t forget to check out the rest of our HawkTalk's and don’t miss out on our latest release of market data for the data center industry.

Life on the edge can be dangerous. Randy saw it as an opportunity to found EdgeConneX, a data center company built to bring speed to the market. He took some time to walk us through his journey and how his experience shapes his outlook on today. This is an episode of HawkTalk, datacenterHawk’s series of candid one on one conversations with executives and leaders in the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog or listen to them in podcast form. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe here. On HawkTalk 47 David visits with Randy Brouckman and discusses the beginnings of EdgeConneX, how COVID-19 has changed the industry, it's long term effects, and what the future of the international data center markets could look like. Randy gave us some great insights based on his experience starting and leading a top tier data center provider in EdgeConneX. Check out a few quick takeaways from our conversation below. EdgeConneX aims to bring speed to the market EdgeConneX was founded with a goal of bringing speed to the everyday technology user, or in other words “eliminating the spinning pinwheel.” They planned to do this by bringing the data closer to the user. EdgeConneX recently embarked on a data center building blitz to realize this vision, building 23 data centers over 24 months. The effects COVID-19 will have on the data center industry COVID-19 has acted as an acceleration of the digitalization of businesses. Within the first 30 to 40 days of COVID-19, there’s been tremendous growth specifically in the connectivity to the cloud. Users have been moving towards needing more power and more space with the growth of technology usage. The future of the European data center markets In Europe, there will be no slow down in the expansion of the big core markets: Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, & Dublin. While expansion is going to continue to take place, the data sovereignty in Europe could also be driving the opening of new availability zones in new markets. Adding a second availability zone in Germany because Frankfurt isn’t enough could be a possibility, or opening a zone to service eastern Europe. These availability zones could very well be led by edge data centers. We also talked about… How newer technologies such as autonomous cars & 5G affect the edge What Randy is excited about being a leader in the data center industry Don’t forget to check out the rest of our HawkTalk's and don’t miss out on our latest release of market data for the data center industry. ------ Thank you for watching this video. I am appreciative of your thoughts and comments - and thankful for the opportunity to serve the industry through datacenterHawk. ------ Learn more about the data center industry and receive insight to US and European markets at https://www.datacenterhawk.com ------ For more exclusive content with data center professionals, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/c/datacenterHawk?sub_confirmation=1 ------ Receive the latest information on US and now European data center markets by staying in touch with us here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datacenterhawk_/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidliggitt/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/9488532/admin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/d_liggitt Twitter: https://twitter.com/datacenterhawk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/datacenterhawk/ SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/datacenterhawk

What is a data center? We dive into the fundamentals of a data center and give a basic overview for anyone who is looking to get into the industry. On this podcast, David and I are going over the first of eight topics on data center fundamentals. We covered this in a blog series as well as an email course. Today, we answer the question “What is a data center?” and discuss some of the defining characteristics of this real estate class. A data center is a facility that houses digital infrastructure. That’s the most basic definition that we could build to answer that question. Data centers are unique buildings with unique purposes. As such, people care about several unique aspects that you won’t always find in other commercial real estate assets classes. Location & Risk Mitigation A data center’s location is important. Every region comes with its own hazards and data centers are designed to mitigate the risks associated within that region. Most are built to withstand winds of 125+ mph, high scale earthquakes, and are located outside of flood plains. Power Consumption is the Key Metric Data centers consume 3% of our world’s electricity, and the best way to understand a data center’s size is to recognize how much power is being utilized at the site. Data centers can be measured in square footage but are more accurately measured in power. Servers consume power at a relatively consistent rate, meaning the overall power needs of a data center is a more accurate indicator of the size of a facility. A single rack of servers in a data center consumes between 2-10 kilowatts (kW) of power, while the entire data center facility can consume between 5-75 megawatts (MW). Connectivity Matters A well connected data center includes a high number of fiber providers located at the site, which provides a company flexibility with the fiber providers they want to use for the business operations. Cooling Is A Concern Servers produce a significant amount of heat. Temperature control is one of the primary limiting factors on how large a data center can be. In theory, power providers can deliver hundreds of megawatts to a data center, but a data center’s size is limited by the amount of power it can cool. It’s standard for a data center’s cooling capacity to range from 2-10 kW per rack, but new technology is now allowing organizations to achieve higher densities with their footprint. High Availability Through Redundancy Having systems in place to handle a negative equipment event is critical for data center success. Data centers typically have redundant transformers, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), backup generators, and cooling systems to keep the facility online at all times. Meeting Compliance For Multiple Industries Most industries have strict methods, procedures, and standards around operations. This also applies to how they store their data, meaning a data center must meet that industry’s requirements for a company to use it. Data center compliance focuses on a range of subjects, but often involve the security, redundancy, and operational risk of a data center. Top Tier Security Planning to reduce risk also means securing a data center from man-made hazards. Most of these facilities are surrounded by high-grade perimeter fencing with controlled access gates. Inside, 24/7 security personnel, man-trap entrances, biometric scanners, card key access and floor to ceiling steel caging all help to ensure a company’s data center environment is well protected. More Expensive Than Office Space Data centers require a high degree of specialization and design, which leads to a higher cost to build and operate a data center. Traditional estimates are 10 times more expensive than traditional office space. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our HawkPodcasts and don’t miss out on our latest release of market data for the data center industry.

The global data center industry is evolving rapidly, fueled by increasing demand for power, sustainability initiatives, and the growth of emerging markets. In this panel discussion, datacenterHawk Regional Directors from North America, EMEA, and Latin America (LATAM) share their perspectives on the trends shaping the industry in 2025.

North America continues to lead the data center market, with hyperscalers employing a dual approach: self-builds alongside third-party colocation deployments. Power availability remains a critical challenge, driving exploration of natural gas and renewable energy solutions. Emerging submarkets like Charlotte, Kansas City, and Minneapolis are gaining attention, complementing the robust activity in established hubs like Phoenix, Dallas, and Northern Virginia.

EMEA remains a dynamic region for data center growth. The Nordics stand out for their access to renewable energy and lower operating costs, driving significant hyperscale deployments. AI-driven demand is shaping market trends, with requirements often exceeding 10 MW. Secondary markets such as Spain, Italy, and Eastern Europe are emerging as key players, leveraging infrastructure investments to support large-scale projects. Sustainability initiatives remain central, with commitments to carbon neutrality by 2030 shaping regional strategies.

Latin America is rapidly emerging as a high-growth region in the global data center landscape. Brazil leads the charge, with Sao Paulo serving as a primary hub, supported by its strong renewable energy resources and established infrastructure. Secondary markets like Rio de Janeiro and Bogota are gaining traction, driven by hyperscaler interest and the increasing digitization of the region’s economies. While challenges such as power constraints and high import tariffs exist, LATAM markets are innovating to attract investment, including leveraging renewable energy to meet sustainability goals.

• Power Availability: Reliable and sustainable power sources are becoming a central focus, prompting shifts to regions with robust energy resources.
• Emerging Markets: Secondary and tertiary markets, such as Rio de Janeiro, Bogota, and Spain, are growing rapidly and attracting hyperscalers.
• Technological Innovation: The demand for high-density computing, driven by AI, is pushing advancements like liquid cooling technologies to the forefront.
• Sustainability: The commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030 is reshaping data center design, energy sourcing, and operational strategies across all regions.

Join us as we explore the exciting changes shaping the future of data centers in 2025.

Tim and David dive into the Northern Virginia market and look at how the data center industry has evolved over time, and how COVID-19 has impacted it. ––––––––––– This is an episode of HawkTalk, datacenterHawk’s series of candid one on one conversations with executives and leaders in the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe here. You can also listen to the podcast version here. ––––––––––– On HawkTalk 46, David visits with Sabey’s EVP of Sales & Marketing, Tim Mirick. Together they discuss the Northern Virginia data center market and how it’s become the largest data center market in the world. Check out a few quick takeaways from our conversation below. Why data center operators are drawn to Northern Virginia There are a multitude of reasons why Northern Virginia has become the largest data center market in the world. The region boasts excellent connectivity, a strong power structure, excellent government incentives, a strong labor pool, good transportation, and close proximity to several major airports. With all of that coming together, it starts to become a cycle that feeds itself, and in turn, becomes what it is today. Data center design has changed over time to fit the needs of end users Especially in the Northern Virginia market, data center operators need to have the ability to respond to their customers' requirements as they get bigger. For example, since Sabey deployed their first facility in Northern Virginia, they've needed to triple the size of their facilities in order to respond to users who required a larger environment. The scale of user requirements is a large reason why facilities have changed over the past 5-10 years. COVID-19 is changing how data center operators prioritize their presence Before COVID-19, the world spent a lot of energy focusing on moving physical objects and people around but now we’ve seen a change where the focus is turning toward moving and manipulating more data. This means that the data center industry will have a larger load to carry. From additional virtual meetings, virtual learning, and even tradeshows and conferences that are turning towards a total virtual experience, the data center industry will continue to be a part of the critical distribution system that allows all of these events to take place. We also talked about… • Renewable power will continue to be a main focus in the data center industry • COVID-19 has been a catalyst in a way to making our world more virtual Don’t forget to check out the rest of our HawkTalk's and don’t miss out on our latest release of market data for the data center industry. ------ Thank you for watching this video. I am appreciative of your thoughts and comments - and thankful for the opportunity to serve the industry through datacenterHawk. ------ Learn more about the data center industry and receive insight to US and European markets at https://www.datacenterhawk.com ------ For more exclusive content with data center professionals, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/c/datacenterHawk?sub_confirmation=1 ------ Receive the latest information on US and now European data center markets by staying in touch with us here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datacenterhawk_/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidliggitt/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/9488532/admin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/d_liggitt Twitter: https://twitter.com/datacenterhawk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/datacenterhawk/ SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/datacenterhawk

JLL’s Senior Vice President Andy Cvengros knows the ins and outs of the Chicago data center market and shares his knowledge with us on the current state of the market. This is an episode of HawkTalk, datacenterHawk’s series of candid one on one conversations with executives and leaders in the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe here. On HawkTalk 45 David discusses the always interesting Chicago data center market with Andy Cvengros. Andy lives in the Chicago area and is continually active in the data center industry while working from home through COVID-19. Here are a few quick takeaways from our conversation below. Historical growth of the Chicago data center market As a major metropolis, Chicago has always been in a prime location when it comes to being the connectivity hub of the midwest. When the financial market grew so rapidly in Chicago, it brought many other industries up with it, including the data center industry. Now, data center development is spread throughout the city to facilities accommodating both hyperscale and enterprise data center users. Chicago, the tale of two data center markets Chicago can be divided into the downtown and suburban data center markets. The suburban area is composed of larger-scale facilities that attract more hyperscale users, and the downtown area is more competitive at attracting companies with higher latency needs. Recently passed tax incentives expected to boost Chicago interest Chicago was previously known as a market that had higher taxes which made the decision for data center professionals to jump into that market difficult. That changed for last year when Illinois passed a few general infrastructure bills that also included data centers which meant that the industry would receive benefits from these changes. This move made Chicago similar to the Dallas or the Northern Virginia markets when it comes to tax benefits, and has seen a lot of additional activity begin to form since then. We also talked about… •How COVID-19 will impact the Chicago market in the future •What the story of the Chicago market will be for the rest of 2020 •Some of the benefits for Andy since he’s been working from home Don’t forget to check out the rest of our HawkTalk's and don’t miss out on our latest release of market data for the data center industry. ------ Thank you for listening. I am appreciative of your thoughts and comments - and thankful for the opportunity to serve the industry through datacenterHawk. ------ Learn more about the data center industry and receive insight to US and European markets at https://www.datacenterhawk.com ------ For more exclusive content with data center professionals, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/c/datacenterHawk?sub_confirmation=1 ------ Receive the latest information on US and now European data center markets by staying in touch with us here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datacenterhawk_/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidliggitt/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/9488532/admin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/d_liggitt Twitter: https://twitter.com/datacenterhawk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/datacenterhawk/ SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/datacenterhawk

HawkTalk 44 - Bill Cory offers his insight into the growing Portland/Hillsboro data center market Flexential’s Regional Vice President Bill Cory, is an expert on the Portland data center market and gives us an inside look as to why it’s seen as a hot spot in the industry today. Here are a few quick takeaways from our conversation: On HawkTalk 44 David dives into the Portland data center market with Bill Cory, who oversees the western coasts of the US and Canada for Flexential. He currently lives in the Portland area and has been there since 2000. Starting in the telecom industry and transitioning to Flexential (then ViaWest Data Centers) in 2015. Why data center users find the Portland data center market attractive. With the growth of all the SAAS companies, Portland’s location, being that it’s close to both the bay area and Seattle, played big part in why operators and users have become more attracted to the market. Portland has a much cheaper cost of real estate than what you would find in the bay area or Seattle, without being too far away from either. The government, both at the local and state levels in Oregon, have incentives for data center operators to build facilities, while also offering no sales tax which is a benefit for the users to look at the Portland market. Portland’s subsea cable access is one of the major benefits of the market. The amount of data creation is increasing more and more which is making the connectivity of data centers just as much of an important factor as the data itself. Oregon has become a diverse access point for subsea cables crossing the pacific with a favorable and easy coastline to build on. These cables not only are adding a new POP (point of presence) but also add resiliency to the west coast of the United States. What the Portland/Hillsboro market will look like in the coming years. The most recent change in this market has been the increase in large data center facilities. Hyperscale users with larger deployments typically prefer these larger facilities compared to the traditionally smaller facilities that were built years before. There are currently individual facilities planned that are larger than the entire capacity that the Hillsboro market has had for the last 20 years. We also talked about… –How COVID-19 had effected the data center industry –What makes Bill excited to be in the data center industry moving forward ------ Thank you for listening. I am appreciative of your thoughts and comments - and thankful for the opportunity to serve the industry through datacenterHawk. ------ Learn more about the data center industry and receive insight to US and European markets at https://www.datacenterhawk.com ------ For more exclusive content with data center professionals, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/c/datacenterHawk?sub_confirmation=1 ------ Receive the latest information on US and now European data center markets by staying in touch with us here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datacenterhawk_/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidliggitt/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/9488532/admin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/d_liggitt Twitter: https://twitter.com/datacenterhawk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/datacenterhawk/ SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/datacenterhawk

This is an episode of HawkPodcast, datacenterHawk’s internal conversations about the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe here. On HawkPodcast 27 David and I look back at HawkPodcast 20, where we made our predictions for 2020, and see what we got right, and what we missed, and how COVID-19 has impacted them. (spoiler: we didn’t predict a global pandemic would occur.) Here are a few quick takeaways from our conversation as well as links to what we talked about below. Data center facilities continue operating despite COVID-19 challenges Data center operators have figured out how to move forward in the midst of the pandemic. We feel bullish on the amount of activity that has already taken place in the 2Q 2020 and believe that COVID-19 hasn’t materially impacted data center operator’s ability to bring supply online.​ Virtual tours and remote monitoring highlight flexibility as data center operators look for new ways to attract and service customers​ COVID-19 is changing business as we know it and it’s caused data center operators to take a different approach to some of their norms. For example, some major operators have created virtual tours for their major data centers, such as Aligned Energy, Stream Data Centers, & Equinix. Operators with robust remote monitoring systems in place are seeing usage increase dramatically and those who do not are moving to implement them. ​ A look toward the second half of 2020 in the data center industry Toward the end of the episode, David & Mike discuss where the data center industry is headed in 2020. A couple of predictions that we discuss are, large cloud service providers leasing activity will be increased when compared to 2019, due in part to COVID-19. A little less M&A activity in the first half of 2020, but we expect there to be more in the second half. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our HawkPodcasts and don’t miss out on our latest release of market data for the data center industry. ------ Thank you for watching this video. I am appreciative of your thoughts and comments - and thankful for the opportunity to serve the industry through datacenterHawk. ------ Learn more about the data center industry and receive insight to US and European markets at https://www.datacenterhawk.com ------ For more exclusive content with data center professionals, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/c/datacenterH... ------ Receive the latest information on US and now European data center markets by staying in touch with us here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datacenterh... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidligg... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/9488... Twitter: https://twitter.com/d_liggitt Twitter: https://twitter.com/datacenterhawk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/datacenterhawk/ SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/datacenterhawk

Dallas is a major data center market, but how did it get there and what does it's future look like? Anthony Bolner of Stream Data Centers has been in the industry for 20+ years. On this episode he breaks down his view of the current Dallas data center market with our CEO, David Liggitt. ––––––––––––––––––––––– This is an episode of HawkTalk, datacenterHawk’s series of candid one on one conversations with executives and leaders in the data center industry. If you enjoyed this episode, you can check them all out on our blog. If you’d like to know when we release future episodes, you can subscribe here. ––––––––––––––––––––––– If you’re short on time, you’ll find a few quick takeaways from our conversation as well as links to what we talked about below. Recent hyperscale activity indicates a healthy outlook for Dallas Dallas has always had a healthy enterprise demand but in the past two to three years we’ve seen multiple hyperscalers and cloud service providers enter the market. It certainly isn’t at the scale of other markets but we view it as a strong indicator of future growth. Comparatively low economic costs in Dallas make it an attractive market The cost of doing business in Dallas makes it an attractive market for data center operators. Electricity in Dallas can run under $0.045/kwh which is among the lowest in the nation. Oncor is the primary electricity provider in the market and has made good paths to renewable resources, which continues to grow in importance particularly for cloud providers. The cost of living, labor market, and availability of land also make Dallas attractive. Dallas suburbs are seeing more data center development than downtown Twenty years ago the Dallas data center market centered around the carrier hotels. Lately though it’s become a suburban development game as the industry seeks larger sites and bigger floor plans. Campuses continue to grow in popularity because it provides additional flexibility around the scale and timing of bringing capacity to market. Hyperscalers are creating large dark fiber paths which leads providers to build data centers based off the proximity to these key players. Even with extensive land in the suburbs, Dallas is starting to see two story designs come into the market, which was previously unthinkable. Stream continues to expand even during COVID-19 Stream has continued to expand by leaning heavily on their processes and procedures. They’ve continued with construction on 4.5 MW in Phoenix with an eye to eventually scale up to 200 MW. They’re under construction on 3.5 MW in Chicago and for end users, currently have product available in Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, and Minneapolis among other markets. We also talked about… How the Dallas data center market has changed over the years How data center users think about the facilities they will go into What the key indicators will be in Dallas moving forward Don’t forget to check out the rest of our HawkTalks and don’t miss out on our latest release of market data for the data center industry. ------ Receive the latest information on US and now European data center markets by staying in touch with us here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datacenterhawk_/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidliggitt/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/9488532/admin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/d_liggitt Twitter: https://twitter.com/datacenterhawk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/datacenterhawk/ SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/datacenterhawk

Data Foundry knows a thing or two about Texas data centers. They're a data center provider and know how to produce a great product! Data Foundry began in 1994 and owns 6 data centers in the Austin and Houston markets. They’ve focused on the Texas data center markets and as discussed in the video have honed their product to offer a high quality service. Their Chief Technology Officer, Edward Henigin made time to sit down with David and talk all about the different Texas markets. Edward was Data Foundry’s first employee 20+ years ago and has been an integral part of Data Foundry’s evolution over the years. Here’s a break down of what we talk about in the video: 10:30 - Why Data Foundry has chosen to focus on Texas markets 12:20 - Specifics about the Houston data center market 15:45 - Specifics about the Austin data center market 20:00 - How companies today can get the colocation process right 25:00 - Why connectivity has become so important to the data center business 27:30 - The typical day of a CTO in the data center industry 29:15 - The biggest electrical and mechanical changes in the data center industry 33:00 - What’s going to impact the data center market in the next 3-5 years We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did. If you would like any more information on the Houston, Austin, or any of the other US & European data center markets check out our site, datacenterhawk.com. We provide information about data center providers, and their specific facilities as well as market overviews. ------ Thank you for listening. I am appreciative of your thoughts and comments - and thankful for the opportunity to serve the industry through datacenterHawk. ------ Learn more about the data center industry and receive insight to US and European markets at https://www.datacenterhawk.com ------ For more exclusive content with data center professionals, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/c/datacenterHawk?sub_confirmation=1 ------ Receive the latest information on US and now European data center markets by staying in touch with us here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datacenterhawk_/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidliggitt/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/9488532/admin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/d_liggitt Twitter: https://twitter.com/datacenterhawk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/datacenterhawk/ SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/datacenterhawk

David gets the opportunity to sit down with Peter Jones, CDO at Yondr Group. Yondr in based in Amsterdam so dcH loved getting Pete's input on the data center market in Europe. Let us know some of your thoughts on the European data center market in the comments below.

Join the conversation as David and Corey dive into the data center industry and some of Digital Realty's strategic decisions. Great talk with a ton of info to take away from it. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. ------ Thank you for watching this video. I am appreciative of your thoughts and comments - and thankful for the opportunity to serve the industry through datacenterHawk. ------ Learn more about the data center industry and receive insight to US and European markets at https://www.datacenterhawk.com ------ For more exclusive content with data center professionals, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/c/datacenterHawk?sub_confirmation=1 ------ Receive the latest information on US and now European data center markets by staying in touch with us here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datacenterhawk_/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidliggitt/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/9488532/admin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/d_liggitt Twitter: https://twitter.com/datacenterhawk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/datacenterhawk/ SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/datacenterhawk

We've released our quarterly insight and Mike and David recorded a safe at home podcast just to go over the biggest headlines in some of the major markets. They go over what happened in Northern Virginia, Phoenix, and Northern California in the first quarter of 2020. They also talk about how COVID-19 has had an effect on our industry and what it could do long term to the data center markets. Blog post going over 1Q 2020 trends: https://www.datacenterhawk.com/blog/1q-2020-north-american-european-data-center-market-analysis ------ Thank you for listening. I am appreciative of your thoughts and comments - and thankful for the opportunity to serve the industry through datacenterHawk. ------ Learn more about the data center industry and receive insight to US and European markets at https://www.datacenterhawk.com ------ For more exclusive content with data center professionals, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/c/datacenterHawk?sub_confirmation=1 ------ Receive the latest information on US and now European data center markets by staying in touch with us here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datacenterhawk_/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidliggitt/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/9488532/admin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/d_liggitt Twitter: https://twitter.com/datacenterhawk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/datacenterhawk/ SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/datacenterhawk

While you're safe at home, listen to how Covid-19 is causing a surge in the data center industry. Will it last or will there be a fall out once everyone is able to leave their homes again? Listen in as Mike and David discuss it. HawkTalk with Steve Lim from RagingWire NTT: https://youtu.be/omrXbb60uEM Data center fundamentals blog series: https://www.datacenterhawk.com/blog/what-is-a-data-center-a-guide-for-new-industry-professionals ------ Thank you for watching this video. I am appreciative of your thoughts and comments - and thankful for the opportunity to serve the industry through datacenterHawk. ------ Learn more about the data center industry and receive insight to US and European markets at https://www.datacenterhawk.com ------ For more exclusive content with data center professionals, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/c/datacenterHawk?sub_confirmation=1 ------ Receive the latest information on US and now European data center markets by staying in touch with us here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datacenterhawk_/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidliggitt/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/9488532/admin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/d_liggitt Twitter: https://twitter.com/datacenterhawk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/datacenterhawk/ SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/datacenterhawk

Bringing together Ed Socia, datacenterHawk's North American Insight Director, and Mike Elias, the Senior Equity Research Analyst at TD Cowen, we've entered an intriguing dialogue revolving around the future of the data center industry. The riveting video discussion elucidates the evolution of the industry, the impact of AI, and the potential growth that could reshape the landscape in the coming years. The Journey of Mike Elias into Data Center Industry The dialogue begins with Mike Elias, the seasoned Equity Research Analyst from TD Cowen, sharing his professional voyage into the data center industry. He sketched out his impressive journey from the realm of engineering to equity research. The viewers could clearly perceive his strong passion for data centers and his profound knowledge in this field, especially when he elucidated the changing needs for digital infrastructures in recent years. Shift in the Demand for Digital Infrastructure Our discussion further delved into the evolution of demands for digital infrastructure, particularly in the post-Covid era. Mike emphasized the escalating need for data center capacity in today's digitized world. He also stressed the role of hyperscalers as the prominent drivers of market demand and the changing requirements for larger data centers. Potential Impact of AI on Data Centers The conversation went on to explore the potential impact of AI on data centers. Mike shared a sense of optimism about the diverse applications of AI across various sectors in future and highlighted the positive implications for society at large. The grand vision he shared emphasized the long-term benefits for the data center sector as AI investments continue to proliferate. Changing Dynamics of Capital in Data Centers Towards the end, Mike shed light on the changing dynamics of capital in the data center domain. He discussed the implications of interest rate changes on data center pricing and the potential for public companies to re-emerge in the market. The need for capital, intended for long-term support to foster the growth of the sector, was highlighted. In conclusion, the insightful dialogue between Ed Socia and Mike Elias offered a valuable peek into the future of data centers. As the industry continues to evolve, the prospects for growth and innovation appear promising. Certainly, this sector will continue to offer abundant opportunities for investment and development in the foreseeable future.

Steve Lim, SVP of Marketing at NTT Global Data Centers discusses NTT's market strategy with datacenterHawk from inside their Dallas facility, TX1. He talks about NTT's presence in Silicon Valley, Sacramento, Chicago, Northern Virginia, & Hillsboro. Listen in to get a deeper look into the data center industry in all of these markets.

A first for datacenterHawk. Coronavirus has forced us to stay home, but we're not going to stop producing content! The data center industry is unique when it comes to how it has been impacted by coronavirus. David and Mike break down what they've seen happen so far in the industry and how different people should react to all this unknown. Things talked about in this episode: Podcast 13 - Challenges of the data center user: https://youtu.be/jXyUPDUtygA Data center fundamentals blog series: https://www.datacenterhawk.com/blog

What are the types of data centers? Mike and David go through them and help bring clarity to the differences between them. Colocation Data Centers - 14:48 Retrofit Data Centers - 23:45 Hyperscale Data Centers - 26:05 Enterprise Data Centers - 32:36 Carrier Hotels - 39:40 Edge Data Centers - 45:20 Our recent blog post about the different types of data centers: https://www.datacenterhawk.com/blog/t... DCD Dallas Panel – Is sale leaseback the final destination?: https://youtu.be/TKr7akjJ-Bc