Republic Bank Limited Statement of Requirements, Design, Engineering, Construction Management

Republic Bank Limited

Port of Spain, Trinidad

Statement of Requirements, Design, Engineering, Construction Management

IBM/BRUNS-PAK were selected by Republic Bank Ltd. to develop a statement of requirements, architectural design and engineering, construction management consulting and commissioning services for a new data center and support infrastructure building to be developed on a Greenfield site outside Port of Spain, Trinidad. Upon completion the facility has become the new primary data center for the Bank.

The project scope included the infrastructure development of the undeveloped site; providing communications and utility services. The single story structure, which is approximately 26,000 square feet in area, is raised roughly five feet above the surrounding grade to enhance security and provide protection from flooding. The new facility provides the Bank with over 10,000 square feet of raised access floor space; including  approximately 5,000 square feet of “white space”, 2,500 square feet of future expansion “white space”, a Command Center, a War Room, a Staging area and other raise floor support functions. The structure, designed to withstand category ‘3’ hurricane winds, is a concrete frame with an insulated exterior metal wall panel system over concrete block exterior walls and covered by a ‘double roof’ system. The receiving area / loading dock supports both the IT technical functions and the mechanical / electrical infrastructure areas.

The mission critical facility incorporates a ‘2N’ segregated independent redundant electrical systems to provide concurrent maintainability in an “A/B” configuration, with the potential of a future “A/B/C” configuration. The mechanical system provides ‘N+1’ redundant configuration and utilizes a ‘hot aisle’ containment system in the Data Center. A ‘double interlock’ pre-action sprinkler system provides protection of the entire facility while a full flooding gaseous suppression system provides primary protection for the Data Centre and other critical areas. An Aspirating Smoke Detection (ASD) system provides for early detection in critical areas.

The World Is Changing. Is Your Data Center Strategy Keeping Up?

The World Is Changing. Is Your Data Center Strategy Keeping Up?
Big Data. Hybrid Cloud. Edge Computing. Just a few years ago these concepts were being explored in the ivory-tower conversations of academics and bleeding-edge startups. Today, each technology has become a foundational building block for IT strategies designed to address the accelerated pace and scale of global business. Cloud computing has redefined the standards for cost-effectiveness, scalability and speed to market. Managed effectively, it can help IT departments ensure the enterprise achieves strategic value from the use of technology, regardless of where that technology resides and who owns it.However, integrating cloud technology with an existing on-premise and hosted services architecture requires different strategies and management practices to address unique governance, risk, compliance, security and reliability challenges.

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About BRUNS-PAK

Data Center Services

Cloud integration strategy and planning is just one part of a portfolio of services we offer to help customers plan and implement data center facilities that are energy efficient, flexible, resilient, scalable and recoverable.

What are the main reasons for adopting DCIM in your Data Center?

RECENT ENTERPRISE DATA CENTER SURVEY RESULTS

In a recent survey by BRUNS-PAK, more than one hundred (100) Enterprise Data Center CIO’s, Directors & Managers answered ten (10) industry dominating questions. Following are the results of that survey.

Q. What are the main reasons for adopting DCIM in your data center?
(multiple selections permitted)

112 Surveyed, and percent of responses listed below:

ASSET MANAGEMENT – 53%

POWER MANAGEMENT – 47%

CAPACITY MANAGEMENT – 46%

COOLING MANAGEMENT – 37%

REAL TIME ALARM MONITORING – 31%

LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT – 31%

CHANGE MANAGEMENT – 25%

CABLE MANAGEMENT – 21%

WORKFLOW PROCESSES – 19%

DO NOT HAVE A DCIM TOOL – 18%

2D / 3D FLOOR LAYOUT – 17%

CFD MODELING – 6%

WHATS DCIM? – 4%

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How concerned is your enterprise and Data Center regarding cyber attacks & the impact on your brand?

In a recent survey by BRUNS-PAK, more than one hundred (100) Enterprise Data Center CIO’s, Directors & Managers answered ten (10) industry dominating questions. Following are the results of that survey.

Q. How concerned is your enterprise regarding cyber attacks & the impact on your brand?

MORE THAN 75% OF RESPONDANTS SAY THEIR ENTERPRISE IS VERY CONCERNED – See breakdown below:

Level of Concern – 108 Data Center subjects

1-3 people said very low or less concern

1-4 people had low concern

1- 10 people had Medium concern or less

22 people had high concern

76 people had Very High concern

Data Center Survey Results…On which assets do you have life cycle replacement / maintenance program with MOP’s?

In a recent survey by BRUNS-PAK, more than one hundred (100) Enterprise Data Center CIO’s, Directors & Managers answered ten (10) industry dominating questions. Following are the results of that survey.

Q. On which assets do you have life cycle replacement/ maintenance program with MOP’s? (multiple selections permitted)

N-112 – Percentages of those individuals surveyed said….

FACILITY INFRASTRUCTURE – 73%

DISASTER RECOVERY – 46%

ENERGY EFFICIENCY – 45%

CYBERSECURITY – 42%

NETWORK / CONNECTIVITY – 41%

MODULARITY / SCALABILITY / RELIABILITY – 40%

CLOUD INTERNAL / EXTERNAL – 37%

REGULATORY COMPLIANCE – 25%

SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS – 24%

PERSONNEL – 23%

COMPUTER HARDWARE – 19%

COLOCATION – 17%

MIGRATION/RELOCATION – 17%

INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES – 14%

CAPEX VS. LEASE / OPEX – 14%

COMPUTER SOFTWARE / APPS – 13%

LEGAL REPERCUSSIONS – 0

MODULAR DATA CENTER – 0

Understanding Data Center Enterprise Transformation

Mark Evanko, co-founder of BRUNS-PAK, will moderate a panel on data center enterprise transformation at Data Center World Local, Washington D.C.

 by Danny Bradbury, Data Center Knowledge, April 10th 2018
Here is the text from the article below, great read!

When you want to know what trends should be on your radar as a data center professional, Mark Evanko is a good source of knowledge. With nearly four decades of experience in the data center space, the co-founder and principal engineer at data center consulting firm BRUNS-PAK understands where today’s trends came from – and where they’re going.

He has his ear close to the ground, getting feedback directly from BRUNS-PAK’s target market. He hears what issues are top of mind for board executives and senior management when planning their data center developments and uses this to help maintain a multi-point strategic planning model.

In the past, that model has featured 18 elements that impact enterprise data center solutions. They have included cloud computing, colocation and disaster recovery.

Evanko will be moderating a panel about trends in the data center space at Data Center World Local, Washington D.C. on May 15. Attendees at this Data Center Enterprise Transformation presentation will learn the “elements” and fundamental concepts associated with the continued transformation. The panel will also explain what board of directors, senior management, stock holders, trustees, and taxpayers are looking for in their data center solution and provide a vendor-neutral overview of total cost of ownership vs. risk.

Security and the Cloud

One of the most significant factors associated with data center transformation is cybersecurity, especially as it pertains to cloud computing, Evanko warns.

“If data is ever taken, stolen or corrupted at a third-party venue, there is no recovery for the enterprise. They can’t sue the third-party provider because they absolve themselves of any liability,” he says. He adds that large third-party cloud and colocation service providers will generally not take liability for security breaches in client contracts because it would be prohibitively expensive for them.

“Some of these large enterprises are weighing that risk,” he explains. This manifests itself in decisions about which applications to take off-site and which to retain on a company’s premises. He has a process called ‘candidacy’, in which BRUNS-PAK reviews products and services against several tiers of mission-criticality. The cloud has a role in less critical applications, he says.

Evanko warns that there is still much educating to be done as companies struggle to keep track of a rapidly-changing data center landscape. “Many of the customers that we have come across have not necessarily understood what the impacts are,” he says.

Therein lies his fundamental message. When it comes to managing transformational data center trends like edge and cloud computing while keeping your information safe, data center professionals must understand how to balance risk, total cost of ownership, and functionality.

That can be a difficult path to walk, which is why understanding the impacts of these new technologies is so critical

Data Center Survey Results, What is your organization’s plan to leverage Edge Computing?

RECENT ENTERPRISE DATA CENTER SURVEY RESULTS

In a recent survey by BRUNS-PAK, more than one hundred (100) Enterprise Data Center CIO’s, Directors & Managers answered ten (10) industry dominating questions. Following are the results of that survey.

Q. What is your organization’s plan to leverage edge computing?

(number of surveyed individuals – 110)

CLOUD – 39%

WHAT’S EDGE COMPUTING? – 23%

MICRO DATA CENTERS (I.E. IDF/MDF ROOMS) – 20%

MODULAR DATA CENTERS – 7%

COLOCATION – 11%

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FIND OUT WHERE ENTERPRISE’S APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING HOSTED

ENTERPRISE DATA CENTER SURVEY RESULTS

In a recent survey by BRUNS-PAK, more than one hundred (100) Enterprise Data Center CIO’s, Directors & Managers answered ten (10) industry dominating questions. Following are the results of that survey.

Q. What is the current ratio of applications hosted within the following?

ENTERPRISE – 65%

COLOCATION – 15%

CLOUD – 20%

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Data Center Hybrid Solutions

If you were lucky enough to see Mark Evanko’s recent presentation at AFCOM Data Center World in Washington DC, you are likely fully aware that Cloud vs. Onsite discussions are put to rest with the idea of a Hybrid Solution as the only way to move ahead.

For Enterprises to success in their Data Center Space they must consider a multitude of elements which leads them to their own custom Hybrid Solution. We would like to link over to a version of Mark’s presentation from earlier this year. Please don’t hesitate to complete our RFI form to connect to BRUNS-PAKs team immediately!

The 2014 Data Center Transformation

Welcome to BRUNS-PAK’s Mission Critical Data Center Blog. We hope to provide you with interesting and timely information to help you navigate the ever changing Data Center in your facility. With that said, lets shed some light on one of our clients most basic and pressing questions:

“WHAT IS CAUSING THE 2014 DATA CENTER TRANSFORMATION?”

  1. Worldwide economic downturn from 2008 – 2014 to conserve capex spending – do more for less.
  2. The availability of the emerging co-location / cloud / container / disaster recovery strategies.
  3. The maturation of the total cost of ownership models (15 elements) revealing a “hybrid” solution (in many cases) that optimize return on investment while balancing risk (warning: risk models evolving 2014+).
  4. Improve the “quarterly bottom line” at all costs.
  5. In the private sectors, focus on the short term stock appreciation, is in many cases, priority one.

WHAT ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED DURING A NEW OR RENOVATED DATA CENTER PROJECT?

We are very proud of our FAQs page, as it is an extensive list with great information for future planning of your Data Center. Discussions regarding your data center are happening and so the topic of “Energy Efficiency” is an inevitable challenge that will come across your desk. We would like to highlight some topics covered on our FAQs page to help arm you with the necessary information you need come Data Center decision making time!
WHAT ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED DURING A NEW OR RENOVATED DATA CENTER PROJECT?
  1. ASHRAE 9.9 – Higher Inlet Temperatures
  2. Why pay for electrical consumption for mechanical cooling?
  3. CFD Models
  4. Heat Wheel
  5. 400v AC/DC
  6. DCIM
  7. Virtualization of services
  8. Higher efficiency computer equipment
  9. March 14, 2014 – Federal data center efficiency legislation passes US House of Representatives

WHAT ARE KEY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN LOOKING AT CO-LOCATION AS AN OPTION?

WHAT ARE KEY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN LOOKING AT CO-LOCATION AS AN OPTION?
  1. Leased data center constructed space
  2. Capex schedule of delivery minimized
  3. ROI – see total cost of ownership – 3+?
  4. Other tenants? – Impact of security
  5. Downtime: Who pays?
  6. Security Breach: Who pays?
  7. Terms and conditions (Legal Beagles 2014!!!)
  8. Senator Menendez – New Jersey sponsoring new legislation 2014
  9. True “partner” of equal financial stability

WHAT ARE KEY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN LOOKING AT CO-LOCATION AS AN OPTION?

WHAT ARE KEY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN LOOKING AT CO-LOCATION AS AN OPTION?
  1. Leased data center constructed space
  2. Capex schedule of delivery minimized
  3. ROI – see total cost of ownership – 3+?
  4. Other tenants? – Impact of security
  5. Downtime: Who pays?
  6. Security Breach: Who pays?
  7. Terms and conditions (Legal Beagles 2014!!!)
  8. Senator Menendez – New Jersey sponsoring new legislation 2014
  9. True “partner” of equal financial stability