There are many ways to assess a data centre, but with so many factors to take into account, it can be difficult. One useful way of getting a feel for a data centre’s commitment to security, reliability and environmental sustainability is through its accreditations. We work incredibly hard to ensure that we have the most relevant accreditations and that we keep these up to date. Our accreditations are much more than a simple ‘tick-box’ exercise – a lot of work goes into achieving and maintaining accreditations and the process gives us a clear roadmap for improving our operations, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and achieving higher levels of quality, safety, and efficiency.
Data centre accreditations – what they mean and why they are important
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A mark of excellence and commitment
Our accreditations - ensuring service quality
ISO 9001:2015 - Quality Management
A standard that provides a framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving a quality management system. The standard requires us to define our processes and procedures, and to measure and analyse the effectiveness of these processes in meeting client requirements and achieving business objectives.
Our accreditations - ensuring sustainable practices
ISO 14001:2015 - Environmental Management
This standard is focused on helping us to reduce our environmental impact and ensure compliance with applicable environmental regulations and requirements. It provides a framework for establishing and maintaining an environmental management system. In order to achieve this standard, we had to identify and manage our environmental impacts and set objectives and targets for improving environmental performance.
ISO 50001:2018 - Energy Management
A framework for developing and maintaining an energy management system, which helps us improve our energy performance, reduce energy consumption, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving this standard required us to identify our energy use and opportunities for energy efficiency improvements, and set objectives and targets for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. We also have to regularly monitor, measure, and analyse our energy performance to ensure ongoing improvements. We underwent a rigorous audit to assess our energy management system against the requirements of the standard.
EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres
This voluntary initiative (developed by the European Commission in collaboration with industry stakeholders) aims to improve the energy efficiency of data centres in the European Union. The code of conduct provides a framework for data centre operators to measure, monitor, and reduce their energy consumption and carbon emissions. The code consists of a set of best practices and guidelines for data centre energy management, including recommendations for:
- measuring and monitoring energy use;
- implementing energy-efficient technologies and practices;
- optimising data centre layout and design;
- managing cooling and air flow;
- improving server efficiency and utilisation;
- reducing energy waste and standby power consumption;
- promoting renewable energy sources.
GRESB
Although GRESB (Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) isn’t an accreditation in the conventional sense, it plays a vital role in helping us assess and enhance the sustainability of our operations. GRESB provides a globally recognised framework for measuring and benchmarking environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance in real estate and infrastructure sectors. By participating in this scheme, we gain valuable insights into how we can further reduce our environmental impact, improve energy efficiency, and align with best practices in sustainability.
Our accreditations - ensuring security
ISO 27001:2022 - Information Security Management
This framework for implementing and continually improving an information security management system helps us establish and maintain effective security controls to protect our information assets and manage security risks. The standard requires us to identify our information assets and the risks they face, implement a range of security controls to manage these risks, and regularly review and improve our information security management system to ensure ongoing effectiveness.
PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)
This set of security standards protects credit and debit card transactions against theft and fraud. To become PCI DSS compliant, we had to meet a set of requirements and security controls that are designed to protect payment card data. These requirements include:
- building and maintaining a secure network and systems;
- protecting cardholder data through encryption and other security measures;
- maintaining secure access controls to prevent unauthorised access;
- regularly monitoring and testing security systems and processes;
- maintaining an information security policy.
NSI Gold Approved
The NSI (National Security Inspectorate) Gold Approval signifies the highest standards of excellence in technical expertise, business operations, and customer service. This certification demonstrates a commitment to delivering reliable, high-quality services and provides customers with confidence in our professionalism and integrity.
Manchester-specific certifications
Our Manchester site is equipped with a police-linked alarm receiving centre (ARC). In conjunction with this ARC, key certifications validate our adherence to stringent industry standards, ensuring reliable, rapid response capabilities and robust protection for our clients’ critical assets:
BS5979
Widely recognised as the UK benchmark for ensuring the security and reliability of remote monitoring and alarm receiving centres (ARCs). It specifies the requirements for their construction, operation and management.
PASF (Police-Assured Secure Facilities) certified
A security standard designed to ensure that facilities meet stringent security requirements to protect sensitive data and assets. It is backed by UK police authorities, ensuring that the facility adheres to high-security standards recognised by law enforcement.
Discuss your data centre needs with us
When reviewing a data centre, it’s well worth discussing their accreditations with them to ensure that you understand what the accreditations are demonstrating. We know that we are well accredited and that we are doing all that we can to maintain and enhance our service offering.
To discuss your data centre requirements with a member of our team, get in touch or arrange a tour of our London-edge or Manchester facilities. We have recently launched our second data centre (MCR2) at our Manchester site, and construction has begun of a second facility (FRN2) on our London edge campus, so this is a great opportunity to secure some highly coveted footprint.