What is a QTS data center?

A QTS data center is a facility that houses computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems. QTS data centers are specifically designed and built to provide a highly secure and reliable environment for the operation of these systems.

What are the Key Features of QTS Data Centers?

Some of the key features of QTS data centers include:

• High levels of physical security, including perimeter fencing, security cameras, access control systems, and on-site security guards.
• Sophisticated fire suppression systems, including smoke detectors and pre-action sprinkler systems.
• Precision cooling systems, including chilled water systems, computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units, and air handlers to maintain optimal temperatures.
• Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems and on-site backup generators to provide conditioned power with minimum downtime.
• Advanced monitoring of power, temperature, humidity, leak detection, and other environmental factors through building management systems.
• Redundant connectivity to telecommunication and network service providers.
• High capacity and resilient power distribution systems.

These engineered systems provide protections against power outages, temperature fluctuations, fire, flood, unauthorized access, and other threats to system availability.

What Types of QTS Data Centers are There?

QTS offers several types of data center solutions:

• Wholesale Colocation Data Centers – These massive facilities are designed for hyperscale customers like large cloud platforms. They feature high power densities up to 25+ kW per cabinet and can support applications with latency sensitivity.
• Megaport Enabled Data Centers – These facilities allow customers to provision virtual cross connects through QTS’ software defined interconnection platform Megaport. This enables fast, scalable, and flexible connectivity.
• Hybrid Colocation Data Centers – These offer wholesale colocation options combined with retail colocation and a range of IT services. They provide flexibility for customers with uncertain growth trajectories.
• Managed Service Data Centers – These facilities support managed hosting services in addition to colocation. QTS personnel can provide remote hands services on demand.

QTS locates its data centers in strategic markets around the world and designs them to meet the requirements of the given location.

What Colocation Services are Available?

QTS offers a broad range of colocation services including:

• Fully-enclosed locking cabinets and caged environments for physical security.
• Dense power configurations up to 25+ kW per cabinet.
• Interconnection solutions through Megaport and Hosted Connect.
• Diverse network connectivity options.
• Remote hands services for break fixes, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
• White space solutions for flexible data hall builds.
• Migration services for transitioning equipment safely into the facility.

With hundreds of globally recognized customers, QTS has extensive experience supporting complex colocation deployments. Services are backed by SLAs to provide performance assurances.

What are QTS’ Managed Services?

QTS offers a portfolio of managed IT services in addition to its core colocation offerings. These include:

• Managed Hosting – QTS provides dedicated servers, storage, and network capacity to support customer applications and workloads.
• Disaster Recovery – QTS offers recovery sites and services to ensure business continuity during outages.
• Managed Security – QTS manages devices like firewalls and intrusion detection on behalf of customers.
• Managed Storage – Customers can provision storage area network (SAN) and network-attached storage (NAS) solutions.
• Managed Backup – QTS provides backup administration, capacity planning, and restore services.
• Managed Network – QTS offers management of core switching, routing, load balancing, and other network infrastructure.

These services aim to offload management burden from customers and leverage QTS’ expertise designing and operating data center infrastructure.

What Compliance Standards do QTS Data Centers Meet?

QTS data centers follow rigorous compliance standards representing global best practices. Some of the key certifications held across the QTS data center portfolio include:

• ISO 27001 – Information security management.
• PCI DSS – Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard.
• SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 – Service Organization Controls for security, availability, and confidentiality.
• HITRUST – Standards for protecting healthcare information.
• FISMA – Federal Information Security Management Act standards.
• HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

QTS undergoes regular audits by accredited third parties to validate compliance with these standards. Customers can leverage QTS’ adherence to these standards to fulfill their own compliance requirements.

How Does QTS Provide Physical Security?

QTS employs layers of physical security protections including:

• Fenced campus perimeters with controlled access points.
• Security officers present 24/7 and closed-circuit camera monitoring.
• Cardkey, biometric scans, or dual-factor authentication for access.
• Airport-style mantraps at ingress points to prevent tailgating.
• Cages, cabinets, and private suites with badge access.
• Secure loading docks for equipment delivery.

Additionally, critical infrastructure is housed in locked cages and cabinets with customized access control permissions. QTS can provide customized security options to meet specific customer requirements.

How are QTS Data Centers Designed for High Availability?

QTS utilizes the following strategies to provide high reliability and uptime:

• Redundant utility feeds from multiple substations.
• Backup generators with on-site fuel storage for prolonged outages.
• Concurrently maintainable power and cooling distribution paths.
• Sparing and load-sharing across redundant infrastructure components.
• Real-time monitoring and preventative maintenance of critical systems.
• Regular testing of backup systems and failover processes.

QTS provides a 99.999% uptime SLA, equating to less than 5.3 minutes of downtime per year. Uptime is continually validated through audits.

How Does QTS Provide Multi-Cloud Connectivity?

QTS enables multi-cloud connectivity through its software-defined interconnection platform, Megaport. Key capabilities include:

• Direct access to leading cloud providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, and IBM Cloud.
• Private virtual connections to cloud onramps without touching the public internet.
• Point-and-click provisioning of virtual connections.
• Mix-and-match connectivity to different cloud providers.
• Local cloud access points in key markets for low-latency performance.

Additionally, QTS partners with technology providers like Equinix, Cologix, Coresite, and Telx to expand reach through their facilities. Customers can access over 350 cloud onramps and 20+ cloud providers globally.

Where are QTS Data Centers Located?

QTS has over 7 million square feet of data center space distributed globally:

• North America – Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Ashburn, VA; Hillsboro, OR; Irving, TX; Jersey City, NJ; Miami, FL; Phoenix, AZ; Piscataway, NJ; Richmond, VA; Sacramento, CA; Santa Clara, CA
• EMEA – Amsterdam, Netherlands; Clondalkin, Ireland; Eemshaven, Netherlands; Groningen, Netherlands
• APAC – Sydney, Australia

Strategically located facilities provide options for geographic diversity, proximity to end users, and access to regional cloud gateways. Customers can distribute infrastructure across different risk environments.

Who are QTS’ Major Customers and Partners?

QTS serves over 125 Fortune 500 companies and supports some of the largest deployments in the industry, including:

• 8 of the top 10 cloud service providers
• 5 of the top 6 SaaS companies
• 3 of the top 4 IaaS companies
• 8 of the top 10 technology companies
• 8 of the top 10 financial services companies

Key technology partners include AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud, Dell Technologies, Cisco, and Intel among others. Strategic acquisitions have also added capabilities, including a managed services platform through the 2020 acquisition of TierPoint.

How has QTS Performed Financially?

QTS has demonstrated steady revenue growth and positive net income in recent years. Funds from operations (FFO) per share, a key data center profitability metric, has also increased over time.

How Does QTS Support ESG Initiatives?

QTS has implemented various ESG (environmental, social, governance) initiatives including:

• LEED Certification – 100% of QTS data centers are LEED certified for sustainability.
• Renewable Energy – QTS procures renewable energy and carbon offsets to reduce environmental impact.
• Diversity & Inclusion – QTS aims for diverse representation throughout the company and maintains employee resource groups.
• Training & Development – QTS provides training programs like QTS University to nurture employee growth.
• Philanthropy – QTS supports charitable initiatives like the QTS Cares Foundation which has donated over $1.5 million.

QTS publishes annual ESG reports and continues to enhance its programs to align with global best practices.

Conclusion

QTS operates reliable, secure, and highly connected data centers designed to support mission-critical applications. With an international footprint, robust service portfolio, and strategic partners, QTS aims to provide the core infrastructure and services its customers need to enable digital transformation and next-generation technologies. Maintaining industry-leading certifications, uptime metrics, and customer satisfaction underscores QTS’ focus on operational excellence. As data center demand grows across cloud, AI, 5G, and other disruptive technologies, QTS is positioned to be a key provider of colocation, hybrid IT, and connectivity services for organizations navigating the digital future.