Redbus Interhouse (Germany) GmbH, the German division of Europe's most advanced, independent colocation and managed services provider, today announces that it has been appointed by eurodata GmbH & Co. KG of Saarbrücken to provide colocation and associated services for eurodata and infoServe, its wholly owned subsidiary.
eurodata will use the Redbus Interhouse Frankfurt data centre as part of its expansion strategy to provide highly available web applications and connectivity services. eurodata has been a successful solution provider of business management applications for over 40 years, employing approximately 500 employees in 11 offices across 9 countries. As eurodata’s clients move away from the more traditional data transport models, such as disk and storage media, towards web based data transfer, the importance of resilience and high availability will increase.
With customers predominantly in the energy, tax consultancy and healthcare industries the company develops, implements and manages corporate IT solutions. Their expertise comprise complex Internet projects, corporate network infrastructures, including VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), security solutions and the management of highly available web applications. Both eurodata and infoServe specialise in handling the requirements of highly decentralised companies, which operate through multiple outlets such as retail shops or service stations. Additionally, eurodata offers financial management and payroll services based on an application service provider (ASP) model which is used by more than 50,000 clients.
The Saarbrücken based companies also implement databases, analysis and archiving tools, as well as B2B ebusiness solutions and enterprise resource management systems, using both commercial software and their own developed software. infoServe’s clients include Peugeot, Villeroy & Boch and Saarländischer Rundfunk (Saarland Radio), eurodata’s clients include amongst others all petroleum companies operating in Germany and over 800 tax consultancies. As early as 1996 infoServe had already established a regional Internet network infrastructure, under the trademark saarNet®, providing Internet access for businesses and private households throughout Saarland and neighbouring industrial areas.
High availability is critical!
eurodata and infoServe need to deliver the highest possible availability, particularly for corporate networks and the management of client-specific web applications. This is achieved by using two separate data centres, both operating in Saarbrucken, connected by redundant, dedicated fibre lines. However by the spring of 2005 it already became clear that a presence in Frankfurt would be necessary to achieve more flexibility in the net infrastructure.
“Frankfurt is at the heart of the Internet community“, explained Dr. Werner Stein, General Manager of infoServe.“ All major service providers and services are available here, as are high performance connections to the most important European backbones. This excellent infrastructure means that ‘State of the Art’ Internet products are available quicker and more cost-effectively than anywhere else in Germany. We have been connected to this infrastructure via redundant lines at up to 300 Mbit/s since 2001, hence it was clear that our expansion strategy would be executed in Frankfurt.”
Large differences in the quality of services
Over a three-month period, the company researched all the reputable data centres in Frankfurt, held on-site meetings with them, and invited each to submit proposals. In so doing, it became apparent that there were some fundamental differences in the quality and professionalism of the various providers.
“Several of the data centres failed to reach our required quality standards in areas such as security and high availability, both being crucial to our business. Security in particular simply wasn’t handled satisfactorily," says Dr. Stein. He added: "Redbus Interhouse are professionals, totally focused on quality. They have sophisticated security concepts, provide an excellent and continuous service as well as redundant, highly available backbone connections, and offer outstanding value for such a high quality service. "
Colocation and Services
eurodata and infoServe are using server racks located in different fire protection zones within Redbus Interhouse. These systems are connected by redundant, dedicated lines to the company’s two data centres in Saarbrücken. “In the past we achieved an annual average availability of 95-98% at our own data centre. However as our clients’ requirements continue to increase we need to ensure a monthly average availability of at least 98-99% to attract certain client groups. This is not an issue for Redbus Interhouse. By using their data centre, we expect to achieve virtually 100 % availability”, said Dr. Stein. “
The long-term plan is to gradually relocate all services, generating substantial volumes of traffic, to Redbus Interhouse. Along with data services, relocation support and 24/7 monitoring of the data centre by Redbus Interhouse, eurodata and infoServe have taken office space in the building as well as services from Redbus Interhouse within the scope of the 2-RZs partnership. These allow systems to be ‘mirrored’ at a second hot standby data centre in Frankfurt. Dr. Stein concluded: “Redbus Interhouse’s overall concept convinced us. Redbus Interhouse is the right alternative to satisfy our needs and meet our requirements.”
About eurodata The software and systems house eurodata GmbH & Co. KG develops ASP-based solutions in the areas of financial management, wages and payroll systems and management analysis. As a full service provider, eurodata offers its clients complete solutions for secure, Internet-based access to applications as well as revision-secure and regulatory compliant long-term archiving and storage of corporate documentation. As a service for small and medium-sized companies, eurodata manages complex electronic service processes, e.g. in the EDI environment, at its data centre.
eurodata works with selected specialists to implement complex applications, e.g. SAP systems, using the ASP model.
eurodata GmbH & Co. KG was founded in 1965 and has 500 employees in Europe. eurodata has 11 subsidiaries in 9 European countries. For further information, please visit: www.eurodata.de
About infoServe
infoServe GmbH, the systems and consulting house founded in Saarbrücken in 1995, optimises business activities using Internet technology and provides Internet-related services. infoServe is an effective partner for consulting, conception, integration and management of complex web applications and corporate network infrastructures. Their focus is to serve as a “one stop shop” for tailor-made solutions. System solutions developed in-house, combined with leading brand products (Cisco, Oracle, Linux, etc.) ensure a secure basis for effective network solutions, which are then integrated into the client’s existing IT framework. A company with c. 30 employees, infoServe provides a complete service package managing networks, Internet, security, system integration and eBusiness for numerous clients throughout Germany.
For further information, please visit: www.infoServe.de
About Redbus Interhouse
Redbus Interhouse (www.interhouse.net) is Europe's most advanced independent colocation company. For business-critical online, data or telecom applications, Redbus Interhouse offers versatile, cost-effective and secure housing facilities backed-up by state-of-the-art infrastructure and 24/7 engineering and facilities support. Redbus Interhouse offers business resilience services within its own independent colocation facilities in Europe's key business centres allowing its customers to rapidly access markets across Europe without losing focus on their core businesses. The enterprise has data centres in London, Paris, Milan, Frankfurt and Amsterdam. Its independence gives customer’s freedom of choice from a wide range of telecommunication providers, Internet Service Providers and Content Providers. Its continued sales success combined with a strong balance sheet, means that Redbus Interhouse enjoys a leading position in this marketplace. In June 04, Redbus Interhouse plc demonstrated its high level of competence in information security management by having the first collocation independent data centre in Europe to be awarded with the BS7799 accreditation, the ultimate benchmark for information security.
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