Insight Type: Blog

Colocation – what our experience has shown to matter most

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Building data centre resilience

Since launching our flagship FRN1 data centre in 2012, we’ve gained invaluable insights into the growing demand for secure and scalable data centre capacity. We’re using these insights to expand – notably the construction of our brand-new Manchester site, MCR2. Nearing completion, this cutting-edge facility will meet the increasing needs of businesses requiring reliable and innovative data solutions, solidifying our commitment to supporting digital growth and resilience.

10 things we’ve learned

#1 Sustainability – it's possible to create essential data centre infrastructure sustainably

Data centres are enablers of digital technology, and increased demand brings escalating environmental responsibilities. There’s a common misconception that sustainable data centre construction must be prohibitively expensive, but our MCR2 construction proves otherwise. By incorporating sustainable practices into the design and construction process from the outset, significant sustainability gains can be made without costs spiralling out of control.

#2 It’s amazing how much a lean and focused company can achieve compared to a large and unwieldy one

We might not be the biggest data centre, but our offering and reputation is acknowledged across the industry and by peers. We can go toe to toe with the big players and demonstrate to top-level organisations that we are the best solution on the market. Our smaller size gives us more agility and flexibility compared to large-scale providers and, as a relatively new player in the colo market, we have had the freedom to explore new ideas and develop innovative solutions without being constrained by ingrained corporate procedures.

#3 It’s not about winning contracts at any cost

Sometimes, if the price point won’t allow us to deliver the quality of service we benchmark ourselves against, we have to accept that we should walk away from the deal for the good of the business (and indeed the market). Success lies in offering the most suitable solutions for clients, even if they diverge from market trends. For instance, while cloud technology was widely promoted in recent years, it’s crucial to assess whether it genuinely aligns with the client’s specific needs rather than adopting it as a default option.

#4 Colocation is a service – not a property play

Flexibility, both operational and commercial, is key to delivering a tailored solution to our enterprise clients. All clients have different technical demands and being able to adapt our service and solution to meet those demands is key to us winning some of our larger deals. Our service management can be a life saver for enterprise clients engaged in complex digital transformation processes, and for service providers who are onboarding multiple clients simultaneously.

#5 A client-facing engineering team is more than a ‘nice to have’

By not keeping our engineering team hidden away in the depths of the engine room, we ensure quick responses to client requests and a simple ‘one stop’ engagement process between our clients and our engineers. Many of our peers channel communications through account managers or outsource remote hands services. In contrast, we prefer a more open and collaborative approach.

#6 To offer a truly excellent service, the right hand must know what the left hand is doing

In larger organisations, roles and responsibilities are often very defined. Our relatively compact team means that we all work exceptionally closely with each other, and we all have a good understanding of what everybody else is doing. This benefits our clients and partners, who can pick up the phone directly to anyone in our organisation and receive a helpful response

#7 The importance of location shouldn’t be underestimated

The location of a data centre plays a vital role in ensuring optimal performance, security, and accessibility. Proximity to users reduces latency, enabling faster data transmission and an improved user experience. Access to reliable power sources and connections to multiple network providers ensures uninterrupted functionality. Farnborough – the location of our flagship data centre – serves as a pivotal hub for businesses in London, offering seamless connectivity and operational reliability in one of the world’s leading financial and commercial centres. Meanwhile, our Manchester site supports the dynamic northern powerhouse, catering to a rapidly growing economy driven by innovation and industry diversification.

#8 Transparency and openness are key

For us this means listening to our clients’ requirements, acting on feedback and ensuring that we always do what we commit to doing. There is nothing to be gained from being anything but 100% honest and open with clients if we are to manage, meet (or, ideally, exceed) expectations.

#9 Work to your strengths

By outsourcing the management of the underlying data centre infrastructure (M&E) to a high-quality provider rather than doing it in house through a ‘mixed’ responsibility engineering team, we ensure focus and first-rate operations. After all, if our engineers are faced with M&E issues at the same time as a client needs assistance, which should they focus on first?

#10 Our partner ecosystem adds value

To augment our colocation solution, we work with selected partners to provide additional services for our clients. By combining our colo with the services provided by our partner ecosystem, we can present a market-ready, end-to-end digital transformation solution and mitigate the need for our clients to source and manage diverse suppliers and service.

See our data centre facilities in action

We’re excited to be nearing completion of our MCR2 data centre in Manchester, expanding our operations to three cutting-edge facilities. And we’re not stopping there! Planning permission has been secured for a second data centre (FRN2) adjacent to our flagship FRN1 site in Farnborough. If you’re considering migrating your business-critical IT and workloads off-premise, we’d love to discuss your needs. Better yet, why not book a tour and see our facilities in action?

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Our environmentally efficient data centres

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The business case for sustainable data centres

Data centres play a central role in supporting critical IT infrastructure. But as demand for digital services grows, so does the responsibility to manage environmental impact.

For businesses relying on off-premise data centres to futureproof their infrastructure, selecting a provider that prioritises sustainability is a crucial step towards achieving their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals. This alignment with ESG objectives helps organisations reduce their carbon footprint, meet regulatory standards, and build stronger credibility with stakeholders who prioritise environmental responsibility.

Data centres to power progress sustainably

  • Continuous environmental monitoring: we continuously monitor environmental risks and impacts, ensuring any issues are addressed quickly and effectively.
  • 100% renewable electricity: all our facilities are powered entirely by renewable energy, significantly reducing our carbon footprint.
  • HVO generators: we’ve replaced traditional red diesel in our backup generators with Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) for a much cleaner source of emergency backup power.
  • Highly efficient free cooling chillers: resulting in energy and cost savings.
  • GRESB benchmarking: we actively participate in the GRESB framework, continually measuring and improving our ESG performance.

Building for a better future – forward-thinking infrastructure to support growth

Selecting a sustainable data centre provider is essential for businesses aiming to futureproof their infrastructure while aligning with environmental and corporate responsibility goals. For maximum efficiency, sustainability should be embedded from the outset, and examples like our near-completed MCR2 data centre at our Manchester site highlight the importance of this commitment.

Sustainability has been a key driver at every stage of the construction and forthcoming operation of this new development, earning it two award nominations even before completion. MCR2 has been recognised for its heat reuse capabilities with a nomination for ‘Sustainable Project of the Year’, and for its innovative design, striking a balance between sustainability and operational efficiency, with a nomination for ‘Data Centre Design Project of the Year’.

Our MCR2 construction has set a benchmark for our future construction projects such as FRN2 (planning permission approved), situated next to our flagship data centre, FRN1, in Farnborough with features such as:

  • An embodied carbon assessment – sustainable construction: by analysing the carbon impact of materials and construction processes, we have been able to address and mitigate environmental impact at every stage.
  • An attenuation tank: MCR2 features an attenuation tank to reduce flooding risks and ease demand on local drainage systems.
  • Heat reuse capability: MCR2 is ‘heat reuse-ready’ to support community heating networks through our waste heat.

Infographic: our commitment to sustainability in data centres

A snapshot of the key measures we’ve implemented at our data centres to promote sustainability …

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Find out more

The best way to truly understand our sustainability initiatives is to take a tour of our data centres and see them in action – you’ll have the chance to ask questions and engage directly with our team – get in touch to book a tour.

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Sovereign UK data centres in a changing global climate

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Reassessing digital infrastructure

With the announcement of new tariffs from the US, the world’s financial markets are once again reminded of their vulnerability to the geopolitical landscape. For UK businesses relying on US-based public cloud services, this may well be a signal to reconsider where, and with whom, critical digital infrastructure and sensitive data are housed.

The far-reaching impact of foreign policy

Decisions made across the world can profoundly affect markets and digital assets. The continued relevance of the US CLOUD Act underscores this point. This legislation empowers American authorities to access data stored by US tech companies – regardless of the data’s physical location. Whether your business-critical databases are in London or Frankfurt, if your provider is American, they’re still under US legal reach.

Coupled with the unpredictable nature of international trade policies and political shifts, it’s clear that relying on US public cloud providers raises genuine questions about compliance, sovereignty, and the practical ability to control your own information.

Why repatriate data to UK-based sovereign data centres?

Some organisations view cloud repatriation as expensive or potentially disruptive when, in fact, the hidden costs of uncertainty, regulatory complexity, and unexpected data-access disputes can be far greater than the up-front costs of repatriation.

Transitioning to a UK sovereign data centre guarantees operational continuity in the face of shifting international policies, and retains control under clear, familiar regulatory frameworks.

  • Legal protection under UK law: hosting in a data centre owned and operated entirely within the UK means your data remains completely governed by UK regulations. That means full alignment with GDPR, straightforward compliance, and increased transparency.
  • Predictability and stability: a sovereign setup mitigates the risk that a new law or executive order across the Atlantic could directly impact your access and control over your data.
  • Strategic independence: for modern enterprises, data sovereignty ensures operational resilience and the freedom to chart your own strategic direction, without external interference.

Building trust in your infrastructure

Choosing a UK-based data centre enables businesses to fully align data strategy with business objectives and supports long-term planning by reducing exposure to unpredictable international forces. As such, there’s a compelling case for UK businesses to entrust their IT infrastructure and workloads to UK-based data centres, especially in view of the risk of global volatility.

Our two UK data centre locations – in the south east (Farnborough/London-edge) and the north west (Manchester) – strategically position us in two of the country’s most economically dynamic regions. Sustained demand for our successful colocation formula, which emphasises environmentally responsible, client-centric, and bespoke solutions, has led us to add further capacity. Our second Manchester data centre (MCR2) is nearing completion, and planning permission has been granted for a second facility (FRN2) adjacent to our flagship Farnborough site. Book a tour today to see our data centres in action.

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Data centre connectivity - what you need to know

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Connection is key

When evaluating data centres, one of the most critical aspects to consider is their connectivity offering. The quality and diversity of connectivity options can directly impact performance, cost, resilience, and overall business operations.

The importance of connectivity choice in a data centre

The quality and variety of connectivity options in a data centre play a key role in ensuring speed, reliability, and resilience. Choosing a facility with a wide array of network providers and connectivity solutions can have immediate and long-term benefits:

  • Lower latency and higher performance: with multiple connectivity options, your data can traverse the shortest and fastest routes, minimising delays. This is crucial when serving customers across large geographical areas.
  • Enhanced resilience: a diverse mix of carriers ensures that you’re not reliant on just one provider. Even if one connection faces issues, others can take over to maintain uptime.
  • Custom solutions: facilities with multiple on-site carriers allow businesses to create bespoke networks tailored to their specific needs. You’ll have the freedom to work with your preferred carriers and optimise costs through competitive pricing.

For colocation buyers, the carrier list of a provider is often viewed as a stamp of quality. The more carriers with a presence in the data centre, the greater the opportunities to build reliable, cost-effective, and high-performing networks.

Data centres worth their salt will serve as Points of Presence (PoP) for leading internet exchanges, establishing them as hubs for global connectivity and giving your business access to even more options and markets. Over 25 network providers have chosen to invest in building out primary Points of Presence (PoPs) at our facilities, including the London Internet Exchange (LINX).

Connectivity in the cloud

With organisations increasingly dependent on cloud-hosted applications and storage, high-capacity, fast connectivity is vital to support day-to-day operations and critical services. This shift away from on premise infrastructure places greater emphasis on the need for robust and scalable connections.

To capitalise on the power of the cloud, ensure your chosen data centre offers:

  • multiple Tier 1 networks in their carrier list, ensuring premium connection quality;
  • sufficient bandwidth to handle growing business demands;
  • a diverse range of connectivity solutions, including options for private networking or interconnections between data centres.

Benefits of carrier diversity in a data centre

When choosing your next data centre, always assess the diversity of carriers it supports. Here’s why this matters for your business:

  • More choice: a wider range of carriers means more flexibility to select connections that best meet your performance and cost requirements.
  • Competition-driven pricing: multiple carriers within a facility create competition, which can result in reduced costs for your business.
  • Validation of quality: establishing a PoP within a data centre is a significant investment for network providers. If multiple carriers have deemed a facility to be worth the investment, it’s a strong indicator of the data centre’s quality and reliability.

Key questions to ask when evaluating data centre connectivity

  1. How many carriers are present, and do they include Tier 1 network providers?
  2. What is the bandwidth capacity available at the facility?
  3. What range of connectivity options are offered, including private circuits or inter-data centre connections?
  4. Does the data centre act as a Point of Presence for any major internet exchanges?
  5. Are there direct links to other data centres for multi-site solutions?

Make the right connectivity choice

With more carriers to choose from at a data centre, clients benefit from flexibility, lower operational costs, and enhanced network resilience. Additionally, the presence of esteemed carriers within a facility reflects its reputation and credibility.

To find out how our well-connected, carrier-neutral data centres can support your business as it grows, get in touch with a member of our team.

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Why moving to colo may be the best IT decision you ever make

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Colocation for hybrid models

IT is a major business overhead these days and expenditure is growing rapidly. According to research by Gartner, worldwide IT spend is projected to total $5.61 trillion in 2025, an increase of 9.8% from 2024. For businesses operating increasingly complex hybrid IT models, this growth comes as no surprise.

As organisations opt for ever more complex hybrid IT models, the demands on IT infrastructure increase. So too does the demand for increased security, faster connectivity, greater reliability and higher-performance computing, all of which can be fulfilled by colocation.

Colo – optimising costs and operations

Whilst we should include the proviso that decisions about business-critical IT should not be driven purely by financial considerations, adopting colo does have the added benefit of helping to control costs. And here’s how…

1. Free up costly real estate by migrating IT infrastructure off-premise

It’s not only IT spend that is increasing – so too is the cost of property rental or ownership, especially in high price areas such as London. Historically, some organisations have been cautious about moving their data off-premise for security or compliance reasons, or because they find the migration too daunting. But most now realise that the right off-premise solution by far exceeds on-site storage in terms of security, resilience and scalability, and that partnering with the right data centre provider means benefiting from expertise and experience, which makes the migration relatively stress free.

The added value:

  • Minimise real estate expenses, especially in high-rent urban areas.
  • Benefit from enhanced on-site security and scalability compared to in-house setups.

2. Expert advice means increased efficiency

Providing you pick a service-focused partner for your off-premise IT, migrating to colocation should also mean benefitting from the help of an expert who can help you optimise your setup and manage it more efficiently. Getting advice and guidance on designing the best deployment strategy (including a review of technical design to identify any improvements that could save time and money) and receiving regular service reports and reviews throughout your contract, means that you know your IT estate is being monitored and managed. This frees you up to focus on big-picture IT development instead.

The added value:

  • Expert guidance on infrastructure design and deployment.
  • Freed-up in-house IT team, allowing them to focus on growth initiatives.

3. Consolidate costs through colocation

One of the other great benefits of colocation is that you can consolidate and reduce all your basic running costs. Your colocation partner will be providing the cooling, power, bandwidth and physical security for your servers, so it’s a great chance to benefit from their economies of scale and reduced rates. It’s also very convenient to have one bill for all data housing requirements, which saves you the time and money associated with managing multiple suppliers.

The added value:

  • Lower operational costs through economies of scale.
  • Simplified billing, saving administrative time and effort.

4. Move from CapEx to OpEx expenditure

Building or maintaining your own data centre is an expensive capital expense that many organisations can no longer afford or justify. Colocation enables you to avoid this expense and lower your overheads by moving from a CapEx to an OpEx model. The result is that you can allocate long-term IT running costs much more predictably and efficiently and scale infrastructure more easily.

The added value:

  • Lower upfront costs compared to in-house data centre investments.
  • Budget predictability and flexibility for long-term operational expenses.

5. Colocation as part of a hybrid strategy

Many businesses are adopting increasingly hybrid strategies when it comes to cloud because different applications demand different solutions. Colocation is a great way to enable this and achieve the cost savings and performance you need. At Datum, for example, we can support your hybrid requirements with direct connects between your kit and private and public cloud platforms. These avoid potential internet issues of speed, reliability and security.

The added value:

  • Flexibility to integrate colocation with public and private cloud systems.
  • Improved performance, reliability, and security with direct cloud connections.

Colocation – the next logical step

Not only does colocation offer financial benefits, but it also positions your business for the future by enabling hybrid strategies and staying ahead of evolving technology trends. If you would like to find out more, contact us today.

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Understanding the environmental impact of data centres in context

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The growth of data centres

At first glance, data centres might seem like a villain in the conversation about climate change. After all, the IT industry currently contributes an estimated 2-3% of total global greenhouse gas emissions according to PWC. Add to that the projected surge in global data centre demand by 2025 (Data Center Dynamics), and it’s easy to paint a bleak picture. But is this truly the full story? Are data centres really as damaging as they appear?

A necessary solution

The truth lies in context. To answer this question, we have to rewind the clock by a couple of decades. Back then, servers hummed away inefficiently in broom cupboards and under desks, cooled by outdated air conditioning systems with little to no consideration for energy efficiency. Without the consolidated infrastructure we now call data centres, emissions from ad-hoc server setups and scattered computing systems would be far higher than the 2-3% figure we’re working with today.

Datum’s Account Director, Matt McCluney, offers a simple yet powerful analogy when it comes to understanding the role of data centres:

“Think of data centres as buses – they might be large and not always aesthetically pleasing, but isn’t it far better to share the ride rather than have everyone hopping into individual cars? The alternative is far less efficient, more damaging to the environment, and completely unsustainable. And as technology improves, buses now run on hydrogen – and similar advances can be enjoyed by data centre operators and their clients.”

The reality is that data centres aren’t going anywhere. Our appetite for digital activities – online shopping, streaming, remote work, cloud storage – alone guarantees this. These facilities are essential, and they’re designed to create efficiencies through economies of scale.

Beyond data storage

Data centres are the backbone of some of the most critical research and development happening today. Within the aforementioned 2-3% of global emissions lies the computational power driving vaccine development, genetic medicine, cancer research, and countless other scientific breakthroughs. These are the tools that allow researchers and engineers to tackle humanity’s toughest challenges.

Without the speed, scalability, and connectivity offered by data centres, this work would take decades longer (or even be impossible), involve far greater energy costs and inefficiencies. From technological innovation to societal progress, data centres are deeply intertwined with the solutions shaping our world for the better.

And then there’s how data centres touch our everyday lives. Think of the conveniences we depend on – from next-day Amazon Prime deliveries to uninterrupted video calls. Data centres make this all possible, and they do so with far greater efficiency than the piecemeal systems of yesteryear.

Data centres must fuel progress … sustainably

This isn’t to say that data centres get a free pass. The industry’s impact on the environment is undeniable, and its leaders have to take accountability to ensure their operations are sustainable. Many organisations falsely believe that outsourcing their workloads to the cloud is enough to reduce emissions. While it’s true that consolidating workloads improves efficiency, data centre providers themselves must go above and beyond to be a part of the broader decarbonisation solution.

This means adopting bold methods to achieve carbon neutrality while supporting rapid technological and economic growth. Sustainable practices need to underpin every aspect of data centre operations – only then can they be a truly positive force in the fight against climate change.

What we’re doing

At Datum, we are committed to being an essential part of the solution. Here are just a few of the steps we’re taking to minimise environmental impact while supporting the growing demand for digital infrastructure:

  • All our power contracts supply our facilities with 100% renewable energy.
  • Our data centres employ high-efficiency free cooling chillers to reduce energy use.
  • All new construction projects include solar PV panels to generate renewable energy on-site.
  • Our new Manchester data centre (nearing construction completion) is designed with heat reuse capability, enabling a district heat network for nearby housing.
  • We use hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in our backup generators – one of the world’s purest and greenest fuels.
  • We minimise water consumption to reduce environmental impact.

A balanced perspective

Data centres have the potential to not only minimise their impact on the environment but also actively contribute solutions through smarter design and sustainability initiatives. By appreciating the progress we’ve made so far and continuing to push for better energy practices, we can ensure that data centres remain indispensable engines of progress whilst reducing their burden on the planet. If you’re looking to migrate your data centre off premise, get in touch to talk to us about your requirements.

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What to look out for when choosing a colocation provider

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Looking beyond cost

Choosing the right colocation provider is a critical decision for any business. After all, your IT infrastructure is fundamental to your operations, and you need a partner you can rely on to meet your needs both now and in the future. While price gets a lot of attention, we all know it’s not the only factor to consider. Value for money is important, but it’s the range of services, suitability for your business size, and round-the-clock technical support that often make the real difference.

Essential technical criteria

When evaluating potential colocation providers, the focus naturally begins with their technical offerings:

  • Resilience: does the facility meet stringent uptime requirements? Check for redundancy levels to ensure your operations remain uninterrupted.
  • Security: physical security measures like 24/7 surveillance and biometric access controls.
  • Connectivity: look for carrier-neutral connectivity and fast network speeds to support seamless operations.
  • State-of-the-art facilities: cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure that align with your IT needs.
  • Environmental impact: sustainability matters. Energy-efficient operations and low carbon footprints should be a priority for any responsible colocation provider.

The top five traits of a good colocation partner

While these technical considerations are the bedrock of any decision, choosing a provider goes beyond the technical specs. The ‘softer’ service elements can hugely impact your experience and satisfaction.

1. Collaborative approach

Your business is unique, and your colocation provider should recognise that. A good partner will take the time to assess your specific requirements and recommend tailored solutions that deliver the most value. Be cautious of inflexible, one-size-fits-all models. Whether it’s part of a hybrid strategy or a broader disaster recovery plan, the right provider will design a solution that aligns with both your immediate and long-term goals.

2. Flexibility

Business demands don’t stay static, so your colocation services shouldn’t either. Whether you need to scale up, scale down, or adapt to new technologies, your provider must be able to accommodate changes quickly and seamlessly. Look for a partner that values flexibility and can evolve alongside your business without compromising quality or service delivery.

3. Proven expertise and accreditation

A strong track record can’t be overstated. Seek out providers with good client references and industry-standard accreditations. These are clear indicators of reliability and professionalism. Beyond this, look for evidence that they exceed expectations, going beyond the basics to deliver exceptional client support.

4. Comprehensive migration support

Moving your IT infrastructure to a new provider is no small feat, but it shouldn’t feel like an insurmountable challenge. The best colocation providers understand this and offer comprehensive transition support to simplify the process. This may include:

  • design assistance during the initial transition phase;
  • proactive service reporting to ensure smooth operations;
  • dedicated client service managers to guide you through the entire project.

5. A client-centric team

At the heart of every great provider is a dedicated team of professionals who care about your success. Long-term partnerships thrive on good working relationships. Take the time to evaluate the ethos and values of the team behind the business – are they approachable, committed, and aligned with your expectations? Do they put the client first?

Partnering with Datum

At Datum, we understand that choosing the right colocation provider is a big decision. That’s why we fully encourage potential clients to dig deep and examine every aspect of our service. We’re proud to provide everything you need to make an informed decision, from detailed information on our approach to client references and even a guided tour of our highly resilient and secure facilities.

If you’re looking for a colocation provider that prioritises your unique needs, delivers exceptional service, and fosters a long-term working relationship, we’d love to help. Contact us today to learn more, arrange a consultation, or visit our state-of-the-art facilities.

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Digital transformation projects: the big questions

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Driving change through digital transformation

Technological innovation creates opportunities for businesses to become more agile, more intelligent in the way they approach their markets and operations, more open-for-business, and more efficient in execution. With this, corporate stakeholders’ business expectations increase. Globalisation continues to intensify the competitive landscape, and the stress on the bottom line demands tighter budgets, so companies are seeking strategic solutions to thrive in this demanding environment.

Historically, the focus to alleviate these pressures would have fallen on the finance department. Today, however, IT has become the focal point for driving change and meeting these challenges in the form of digital transformation. Plenty has been written on how to achieve this transformation, and there are some common themes that emerge.

A strategic imperative

Digital transformation is increasingly being positioned at the centre of organisational growth and efficiency. Modernising IT infrastructure is often a critical step in transformation initiatives, and the integration of cloud capabilities is frequently part of this process. However, embarking on digital transformation is not without challenges. Organisations must review their existing IT architecture and carefully assess how, when, and why they should move forward with their transformation plans.

We are often approached by enterprise organisations or third-party consultants planning digital transformation projects who are frequently asking similar questions:

  • Should they consolidate, design, and then move infrastructure?
  • Should applications take priority over hardware migration?
  • How can risks be mitigated to ensure business continuity throughout the process?
  • Is it wise to move infrastructure now, or plan consolidation later, avoiding overprovisioning?

Flexible and client-focused

Overprovisioning might be a risk with some data centres, but our key strength (alongside our high quality, highly resilient, ultra-secure facilities) is our client-centric approach. Unlike traditional models that operate on a landlord-tenant basis, our service-driven business model is built around fostering long-term client relationships. As such, we offer bespoke solutions, working closely with our clients to provide the ideal infrastructure for their needs. This includes flexible contracts with pricing based on power consumption rather than real estate occupied.

Once their infrastructure and workloads are in place, our clients have opportunities to rationalise operations – reducing space use and energy consumption without compromising capacity or service quality. This flexibility not only results in financial savings but also creates room for future growth. In addition, this allows organisations to move their infrastructure from multiple locations to our highly secure data centres as part of their modernisation process.

We support hybrid cloud strategies through our extensive connectivity options. With direct links to both public and private cloud platforms and access to a wide range of carriers, we provide seamless integration to enable businesses to extract the full value of their transformation projects.

Strategically located

Our data centre locations in Farnborough (south east England) and Manchester (north west) are strategically positioned in two of the UK’s most economically active regions. Offering unmatched reliability and security, these facilities deliver the robust foundation needed for IT transformation. Our Farnborough site is located on a highly secure, government-grade campus, while our Manchester data centre boasts an on-site NSI Gold Approved BS5979 police-linked alarm receiving centre – giving our clients the peace of mind that their critical infrastructure is housed in environments designed for operational excellence and security.

Let us support you with your digital transformation

Digital transformation has become a key business enabler, offering opportunities to streamline processes, enhance decision-making, and optimise resource allocation. From mitigating the risks of legacy systems to harnessing the flexibility of cloud-enabled infrastructures, investing in IT transformation empowers organisations to be more agile, efficient, and competitive.

If you’re thinking of migrating infrastructure and workloads off premise as part of your digital transformation processes, get in touch to discuss your requirements.

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Cloud repatriation: why some companies are moving back to data centres

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The rise of cloud repatriation

Cloud computing has been the go-to solution for many businesses seeking scalability and innovation. However, in recent years, some organisations have begun to reassess their strategies and are now moving some workloads, applications, and data from public cloud environments back to private data centres or hybrid setups. This shift highlights that while public cloud solutions continue to bring immense benefits, they’re not always the best fit for every company, all of the time.

This cloud repatriation doesn’t mark the end of cloud innovation – it represents a shift towards smarter, purpose-driven infrastructure decisions. In-house deployments and flexible colocation providers are back on the agenda for businesses when it comes to realising the greatest control and efficiency from their IT estate.

The case for repatriating workloads

For some businesses, public cloud services have reached a point of diminishing returns, prompting them to seek alternatives that provide better cost-efficiency and control, such as off-premise data centres/colocation facilities combined with private cloud. When companies repatriate workloads to data centres like ours, they often cite significant benefits that are difficult to achieve in the public cloud or hyperscale environments.

Several factors are driving this movement to data centres like ours:

  • Cost pressures: in some circumstances, public clouds can lead to unpredictable and rising operational costs, especially as workloads grow. Our clients benefit from controlled and predictable spending.
  • Reconsidering hyperscale: one trend we’re observing is organisations leaving hyperscale data centres in favour of more agile providers. One distinct challenge with hyperscale data centres is their shift towards property-led models – many are property companies that prioritise long-term contracts with lease covenants. This inherently limits flexibility for businesses that need to adapt quickly to emerging operational demands. This rigidity is particularly problematic for organisations repatriating workloads that prioritise control and customisation, which are often stifled by the hyperscale model. Our clients continuously highlight that they value flexibility in both infrastructure design and contract terms – something hyperscale providers frequently lack.
  • Data control: some organisations, particularly those operating in sectors where data sovereignty and compliance are paramount, require greater visibility and control over their data than public clouds can offer. Additionally, some businesses may need to maintain a data centre presence in a single geographic location, with the added assurance of being able to directly access and manage their own hardware
  • Performance optimisation: the ability to adapt infrastructure to workload requirements, rather than trying to fit into predefined models proposed by more off-the-peg hyperscale solutions, facilitates improved performance and reliability.
  • Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS): this model provides flexibility similar to that offered by public cloud services, but with the ability to support far more complex requirements. When combined with our adaptable colocation services, organisations can enjoy the best of both worlds – cloud-like flexibility alongside robust infrastructure control and the capacity to tackle greater operational complexities.
  • Good working relationships: our business model prioritises close working relationships based on collaborative working to create bespoke solutions over and above a tenant/landlord relationship.

Scalability and flexibility offered by colo

For businesses choosing colocation, the transition doesn’t need to mean compromising on agility – data centres like ours offer scalable, configurable environments that can adapt to specific business needs. We understand the importance of customer-centric contracts that avoid the rigidity of traditional models, and we also understand that cloud resources are part of the equation for the right workloads. As such, our on-ramps to the industry’s top public cloud providers such as AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Oracle facilitate public cloud connections for our clients who require them.

This flexibility makes it easier for companies to move out of public clouds or hyperscale facilities and into a more bespoke environment, or to get the best of both worlds by combining cloud with our colocation:

  • Flexible contracts and footprint: contract flexibility and the ability to flex footprint up or down based on changing requirements – solutions that grow with your business.
  • Ease of collaboration: collaborative partnerships – so much more than a tenant/landlord relationship.
  • Customised solutions: by tailoring infrastructure to meet specific workloads, we can help companies manage costs and achieve their performance goals.

Making your choice

If you’re currently exploring your options for migrating workloads, we’d love to show you how our facilities and flexible approach can help you make the most of your infrastructure investments. Get in touch with our team to learn more about simplifying cloud repatriation for your business.

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Why our two data centre locations are better than one

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The perfect pair

Why would you want only one good thing, when you could have two?

A dual-site data centre strategy isn’t just a convenience – it’s a competitive advantage. At Datum, we’ve embraced this approach with our flagship Farnborough data centre (FRN1) and our Manchester facility (MCR1 and MCR2 – currently under construction), positioning us in two of the UK’s most economically significant regions. Here’s why having two is so much better than one.

The same great service – but more of it!

With two locations focused on our ethos of flexible colocation and outstanding service, we are able to provide our clients with more of what we’re good at – this means more capacity (with more in the pipeline at both locations) to help our clients:

  • focus on their core business activities;
  • achieve their ESG targets through our efficient and environmentally intelligent colocation;
  • move towards a more sustainable OpEx model for business-critical IT;
  • ensure ultimate security of business-critical IT and workloads.

Built-in resilience and disaster recovery

Our multi-site footprint offers increased geographic resilience in the event of a localised outage, which provides a firm basis for our clients’ disaster recovery strategies.

By distributing business-critical IT across more than one location, organisations can ensure that their data is backed up and protected in the event of a localised outage. This type of geographic resilience is essential for businesses that rely on data to operate and cannot afford to have their operations disrupted. In the event of an outage at one site, traffic can be routed through the other sites to keep the business running.

Our dual-site status means that we can provide our clients with primary and secondary systems in the two most economically active regions of the UK without having to partner with other data centres. Instead, our clients can spread their infrastructure and workloads across facilities that are under our control, which offers peace of mind for our clients that they are going to receive the service and performance levels they have come to expect.

And for those clients who haven’t already embraced the dual-site approach, a proportion of their equipment can now be moved easily and painlessly to one or other of our sister sites to spread the risk and ensure resilience.

Access to new services

Our dual-site strategy unlocks new opportunities.

  • Connectivity: our Manchester site is a LINX Point of Presence, offering extensive network options. Both sites have strong carrier networks and public and private cloud access, which can be shared across locations for maximum flexibility.
  • Future expansion: construction is well underway of MCR2, our new Manchester data centre, which is scheduled to go live in Q2 2025. Planning permission has also been granted for a second site (FRN2) adjacent to our Farnborough data centre. These expansions showcase our commitment to growth and innovation, ensuring your business has access to the infrastructure it needs, as and when it needs it.

Together is stronger

When it comes to safeguarding business-critical IT, together is unquestionably stronger. Our dual-site colocation offers the capacity, resilience, and service excellence your organisation needs to thrive.

Want to see the benefits up close? Talk to us or arrange a tour of our Farnborough or Manchester facilities today.

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