Westpole Belgium & Datacenter United: a strong partnership
Professionalism and strong collaboration
At WESTPOLE Belgium, there is frequent contact with Datacenter United's technical team. Whether it's daily operations or complex challenges, the team is always ready with quick and efficient support. ‘Our technical people have a lot of contact with Kevin M. and Joeri VE. from Datacenter United, and that cooperation runs smoothly. Problems are dealt with immediately and we always get the right information at the right time.’
Security without compromise
At WESTPOLE Belgium, security is high on the agenda and Datacenter United meets their expectations. ‘Whether it is fire safety, electricity or physical security, we have never seen a problem here,’ says WESTPOLE.
In addition, Datacenter United has been proactive in meeting the stringent requirements of the Criminal Court, among others, for which Jens worked with Datacenter United to create a comprehensive security dossier. ‘Audits are carried out regularly and all stringent requirements are met,’ he says.
The improvements in access control are also appreciated. ‘Double authentication with the SAS has been greatly improved from last year. The virtual badge system is a nice addition, especially at night, where a security notification must be responded to within 15 minutes. This gives extra peace of mind to know that everyone is safe and accounted for.’
Fast and effective: always available when needed
A key aspect in working with Datacenter United is its excellent responsiveness. ‘In case of problems, the hotline is always answered within a minute. We have never had to call twice.’ Even when a rack code changed unexpectedly in the middle of the night, help was provided immediately.
Speed is also maintained via e-mail or the ticketing system. ‘There is no difference in response time between urgent and less urgent queries. That inspires confidence.’
Sustainability as a shared priority
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important, and Datacenter United is actively responding to this. ‘In RFPs, PUE values are often asked for and Datacenter United scores extremely well on this.’ WESTPOLE Belgium also sees other initiatives such as the transition to LED lighting, efficient consolidation of environments and ensuring optimal airflow in the racks as positive and conscious choices.
Solution-oriented thinking and high-quality service
Datacenter United not only offers colocation but also thinks along with you about additional services. ‘Antwerp DC's quality is excellent, and we like to show customers how efficient the operation is in Antwerp,’ says WESTPOLE. Staging, transport and storage of servers is also seen as a valuable service.
In addition, the option of a dedicated internet line for redundancy remains a reliable and efficient part of WESTPOLE's IT infrastructure: ‘Everything works as it should, without any problems.’
A reliable partner with a personal approach
WESTPOLE Belgium has been working with Datacenter United for more than a decade and particularly appreciates the personal approach and flexibility. ‘We don't feel like a number, everyone knows each other and things are switched quickly.’ The technical capacity and solutions are excellent, although there is still room for improvement in the look and feel of the data centre. Security measures are well thought-out and practical, without excessive procedures. The availability of infrastructure such as tables, chairs and ladders which are available outside business hours are also appreciated, although an additional toolkit would be a nice addition.
Rating? 8.5/10: A reliable and thoughtful partner.
