Intelligent Data Centres Issue 07 | Page 6

NEWS Digital Realty announces expansion in Frankfurt igital Realty, a leading global provider of data centre, colocation and interconnection solutions, has announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 34-acre land parcel in Hattersheim, approximately three miles from Frankfurt Airport, for the development of its next data centre campus. D The proposed project will be Digital Realty’s third location in Frankfurt, building upon the rapid absorption of its existing campus in Sossenheim and supporting the company’s investment in its coverage of Western Europe, including the recent appointment of Christian Zipp as Vice President, Sales with responsibility for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The acquisition is subject to certain closing conditions, including zoning and planning permissions. Immediately upon closing, Digital Realty expects to commence development of a connected campus, which will support the next phase of the company’s growth in Frankfurt with the delivery of up to 84 megawatts of IT capacity. “Frankfurt is a critical connectivity hub for our customers in Europe and this strategic land acquisition demonstrates our long- term commitment to securing our supply chain and supporting our customers’ growth across the region,” said Digital Realty’s Chief Executive Officer, A. William Stein. “Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in opportunities to meet the growing demand for data centre solutions across the region.” Abu Dhabi Digital Authority and Trend Micro launch cyberdefence challenge bu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA) has held the ‘Cyber Defense Challenge’, in partnership with Trend Micro, to strengthen the protection of servers and hybrid cloud data centres operated by organisations in Abu Dhabi. The Cyber Defense Challenge seeks to support the technical infrastructure and cyber ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and the UAE. The one-day hands-on workshop led IT professionals to experience simulated cyberattacks and adopt a ‘think like a hacker’ approach. The initiative comes in line with ADDA’s strategy to collaborate with the private sector and enhance cybersecurity which is one of the main pillars of Abu Dhabi’s Digital Transformation agenda. Mohamed Geyath, Executive Director- Information Security Operation Sector, ADDA, said: “Abu Dhabi Digital Authority continues to engage in initiatives that increase the IT protection of the Emirate and the country’s digital infrastructure, systems and data. A ADDA and Trend Micro have signed an MoU to adopt the latest cybersecurity solutions and conduct a series of awareness workshops for IT government employees. ADDA implements a common security transformation framework for all Abu Dhabi government entities. 6 Issue 07 “The Cyber Defense Challenge is one of the strategies that ADDA supports and promotes to help strengthen our security capabilities following innovative solutions and training, and thereby enhancing the skills of our human capital.” www.intelligentdatacentres.com