The Data Center Frontier Show

Latest Episodes:

Sabey’s Tim Mirick: Why We Like the Austin Data Center Market May 19, 2022

Show notes

Sabey Data Centers has deployed more than 4 million square feet of mission-critical space across the United States, including a new data center in Austin, Texas.

Sabey Chief Revenue Officer Tim Mirick joins us to talk about Sabey's history in data center development, and its big 2022 expansions in Austin and Central Washington. Tim shares insights into how Sabey thinks about expansion and growth markets, the rising profile of digital infrastrucutre, and the new technologies driving data center growth.

Here's a timeline of topics Rich and Tim discuss on the podcast:

1:00 - Sabey's history as a pioneer in data center development.
2:15 - Sabey's entry into the Austin, Texas market.
4:30 - Why Sabey likes Central Washington for data center development.
11:00 - The rising profile of data centers and digital infrastructure.
15:30 - How Sabey evaluates growth opportunities.
21:00 - Data center design innovations bring introduced at the Austin campus.

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Talking Data Center Sustainability With Sean Farney Apr 22, 2022

Show notes

In our Earth Day edition, DCF Editor Rich Miller talks with Sean Farney about the data center industry's progress on confronting climate change, and how sustainability has become a "board-level imperative" for all companies.

Sean has been involved in some of the most innovative projects in digital infrastructure, including one of the first web-scale data centers deploying servers in containers, and an edge computing startup focused on converting retail stores into data centers.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Sean and Rich discuss the future of backup power and the essential role of generators, the potential role of microgrids, the growing challenges procuring power in major global markets, and whether vacant retail and office space will become part of the edge computing, landscape.

Here's a timeline of topics Sean and I discuss on the podcast:

7:00 - Sustainability as a "board-level imperative."
12:00 - Evolutionary steps and optimizing existing infrastructure.
17:45 - How microgrids can enable better sustainability and reliability.
21:30 - Site selection gets harder. Is "bring your own power" the future for hyperscale data centers?
25:30 - What edge infrastructure looks like, and how it may evolve.
30:00 - Can retail stores and office space be converted into digital infrastructure?

Editor's Note: After we recorded this podcast, Sean began a new position with JLL.

Helping Veterans Find Purpose Through Data Center Careers Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

For Kirk Offel, the bottom line of his business is simple. "We're changing lives and saving people by finding them a sense of purpose," says Offel, the CEO of Overwatch Mission Critical, which provides military veterans with expertise in mission-critical operations and management. Overwatch helps data center owners and operates manage their facilities, but its biggest impact is in the lives of the military veterans it trains, employs, and places into data center careers.

In this podcast, Offel discusses his career in the military and the data center business, why he created Overwatch, and the importance of its mission in providing purpose to veterans. Kirk also shares about the qualities that military veterans can bring to the mission critical industry, including their integrity, tenacity, and their selfless attitude. It's an interesting and important conversation.

Here's a timeline of topics Kirk and DCF Show host Rich Miller discuss on the podcast:

2:00 - Kirk's career journey through the military and the data center industry.
5:45 - An introduction to Overwatch Mission Critical and its mission serving veterans.
22:00 - Kirk discusses Overwatch's business model and service portfolio, and how it has evolved.
32:15 - The challenges and opportunities in launching a startup at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
38:00 - The Road Ahead: The keys to filling the talent gap in the data center industry

Here are some links with more about Overwatch and its mission:

Data Center Firm Provides Veterans With Tech Skills, Sense of Purpose
https://datacenterfrontier.com/data-center-firm-helps-give-military-veterans-a-purpose/

Overwatch Mission Critical
https://weareoverwatch.com/

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Omicron: A New Resiliency Test for the World and the Cloud Nov 29, 2021

Show notes

The emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is making headlines around the world. It's not yet clear how serious Omicron may become, but it is a worrisome development in a pandemic that has extracted a high toll. What might Omicron mean to the data center sector and cloud computing? That's our topic today on the Data Center Frontier show, where we look at three areas of potential business impact: travel restrictions, supply chain disruptions, and the progress of the enterprise recovery in IT spending. Important Note: Our podcast focuses on the data center business and cloud infrastructure, so if you're seeking general healthcare information, please consult your medical professional or sources that specialize in healthcare. Here's a timeline of topics discussed on the podcast:

1:45 - What we know, and don't know, about the Omicron variant and its potential impact.
6:15 - The important role of data centers and cloud services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
6:50 - Data is global, and travel restrictions are a challenge for new deployments.
7:50- How travel restrictions could impact trade shows, conferences and in-person events.
10:20 - The state of the supply chain, and how data center operators are managing project delivery.
13:40 - The road ahead for the enterprise IT recovery.

Here are some resources discussed on the podcast:

How Data Centers Are Navigating the Supply Chain Crisis: https://datacenterfrontier.com/how-data-centers-are-navigating-the-supply-chain-crisis/

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Bill Kleyman: The State of the Data Center in 2021 Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

We're jazzed this week to have Bill Kleyman as our guest. Bill is Executive VP of Digital Solutions at Switch, as well as author of the AFCOM State of the Data Center research report and head of millennial outreach for Infrastructure Masons. Bill has been an editorial contributor for both Data Center Knowledge and DCF, and is a technology evangelist with nearly boundless enthusiasm for his work.

In this podcast, Bill and DCF Editor Rich Miller dig into some of the prevailing trends in digital infrastructure (digital transformation, cloud repatriation, FinOps and, yes, ROBOTS!) as well as the big challenges facing the data center industry (staffing, sustainability and inclusion). It's a fun, wide-ranging conversation.

Here's a timeline of topics Bill and I discuss on the podcast:

3:30 - The latest trends in how enterprise customers are using cloud, service providers and on-premises data centers.
7:30 - Cloud Repatriation: Is this a thing? How important is this trend? Bill digs into the details.
11:15 - FinOps is the hot new infrastructure specialty. Bill and Rich discuss the power of FinancialOps.
15:00 - The data center staffing challenge: Initiatives to introduce young workers to data center careers.
26:00 - How robots and autonomous systems may help maintain data centers.
35:00 - Why the growing focus on ESG is good for data centers and good for the planet.

Here are links to stories we discuss on the podcast:

Infrastructure Masons: https://imasons.org/
Sustainable Finance: The Next Frontier in the Data Center Climate Response: https://datacenterfrontier.com/sustainable-finance-the-next-frontier-in-data-centers-climate-response/
Oracle Unleashes Robot Dogs in Chicago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqL9mqmxh58

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Going Global: AJ Byers on International Expansion Jun 11, 2021

Show notes

The data center business has gone global. For developers, this means extending their operations across borders and oceans. For a first-hand account of this experience, Rich talks with AJ Byers, of Compass Datacenters about their new campus in Israel, opportunities in Europe, and the quest for more clean electricity in Montreal, where crypto and cannabis firms are also seeking power to expand their operations.

The $10 Billion Data Center Deal Jun 09, 2021

Show notes

The Blackstone acquisition of QTS Realty for $10 billion is the biggest deal ever for the data center industry. We highlighted the potential for these huge deals in DCF's 2021 forecast. Here's some thoughts on the Blackstone-QTS deal, what it means for data center M&A, and what comes next.
Links:
Blackstone to Acquire QTS in Blockbuster Data Center Deal
https://datacenterfrontier.com/qts-acquired-by-blackstone-in-blockbuster-data-center-ma-deal/
Data Center M&A on the Horizon as New SPACs go Shopping
https://datacenterfrontier.com/data-center-ma-on-the-horizon-as-new-spacs-go-shopping/

Pandemic Could Drive Data Center M&A, Reshaping Industry Landscape
https://datacenterfrontier.com/pandemic-could-drive-data-center-ma-reshaping-industry-landscape/

For all our 2021 predictions:

Eight Trends That Will Shape the Data Center in 2021.
https://datacenterfrontier.com/eight-trends-that-will-shape-the-data-center-industry-in-2021/

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Nancy Novak on Innovation in Data Centers Mar 31, 2021

Show notes

How do you build innovation into data center development? This week our guest is Nancy Novak, the Chief Innovation Officer at Compass Datacenters,. Nancy and DCF Show Host Rich Miller discuss how innovation is critical to faster and larger capacity deployments, and helped Compass deliver new projects during the pandemic. Nancy also shares her take on diversity in the data center industry - where there's progress, and how to meet the staffing challenges to come.

Here's a timeline of topics discussed on the podcast:

3:45 - The critical importance of sustainability in data center development.
8:35 - How COVID-19 altered the data center market.
10:00 - Why hyperscale operators are leasing more data center space, and why this trend may continue.
11:30 - How data growth drives innovation.
14:45 - Why diversity matters, and how (and whether) the data center industry is making progress.
18:30 - Construction tech, and how exoskeletons can support diversity.
22:20 - The "Cool Factor" and how it can help build the data center workforce of the future.

Here are some resources that tie into our discussion:

How Technology Can Transform Data Center Construction
https://datacenterfrontier.com/how-technology-can-transform-data-center-construction/

The People Challenge: Global Data Center Staffing Forecast, 2020-2025
https://datacenter.uptimeinstitute.com/2021-staffing-report.html

Executive Insights: Nancy Novak
https://datacenterfrontier.com/executive-insights-nancy-novak-compass-infrastructure-masons/

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Talking Data Centers With Compass CEO Chris Crosby Mar 11, 2021

Show notes

Rich Miller sits down with Chris Crosby, the CEO of Compass Datacenters, for a wide-ranging conversation about the latest trends in the data center sector. Chris is an industry veteran who was in on the ground floor of the data center boom in working with CoreSite, Digital Realty and now Compass. The conversation explores demand trends from edge to cloud, where new data centers are being built, and why a data center developer has a research and development unit.

Here's a timeline of topics Rich Miller and Chris Crosby discuss on the podcast:

4:00 - Demand for edge computing, and where we are on the growth curve.
6:39 - How Compass approaches client-centric data center design and construction
9:55 - Why Compass has a Research & Development division (most developers don't), and why it matters.
20:35 - The primacy of the network
22:45 - Data center site selection, and how Compass has been early in identifying cloud computing hubs
25:20 - "Availability Zone Thinking" and how resiliency designs guide where data centers are built
26:30 - Investors love the data center industry. Chris discusses the benefits of patient capital.

Here are some stories at Data Center Frontier that provide additional information about items Chris and Rich discuss.

Making Concrete Greener: Addressing Cement's Carbon Problem
https://datacenterfrontier.com/making-concrete-greener-addressing-cements-carbon-problem/

Compass Scales Up for Growth in Top Hyperscale Markets
https://datacenterfrontier.com/compass-scales-up-for-growth-in-top-hyperscale-markets

Compass EdgePoint Sees Opportunity in Building Better Networks
https://datacenterfrontier.com/compass-edgepoint-sees-opportunity-in-building-better-networks/

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Building Cloud Data Centers at Internet Speed Feb 25, 2021

Show notes

Our society relies on data as never before. The world needs more data center capacity, and it needs it yesterday. The key to meeting this challenge is industrialization – the ability to add cloud capacity in new places at Internet speed. Rich Miller looks at how the data center development is getting bigger, faster and more efficient.

Here are links to the additional resources Rich mentions:

Building Through the Pandemic: Data Centers Added 17 Million SF in 2020
https://datacenterfrontier.com/building-through-the-pandemic-data-centers-added-17-million-sf-in-2020/

At Cyrus One, More Sky for Bigger Clouds
https://datacenterfrontier.com/at-cyrusone-more-sky-for-bigger-clouds/

How Technology Can Transform Data Center Construction
https://datacenterfrontier.com/how-technology-can-transform-data-center-construction/

Voice of the Industry (Expert Columns)

Voices: Project Buffering to Build Data Centers Faster
https://datacenterfrontier.com/project-buffering-data-centers/

Voices: 5 Critical Success Factors in Data Center Construction
https://datacenterfrontier.com/success-factors-data-center-construction/

Voices: New Data Centers Designs for Hyperscale Cloud and the Enterprise
https://datacenterfrontier.com/data-center-designs-hyperscale-cloud/

This is the third in a series of broadcasts on the Eight Trends That Will Shape the Data Center in 2021.

https://datacenterfrontier.com/eight-trends-that-will-shape-the-data-center-industry-in-2021/

Be sure to subscribe so you won't miss future installments!

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