Data centers are facing a variety of challenges, such as a shortage of skilled workers, energy efficiency and ESG requirements. In this interview, Marc Fröse, Group Commercial Director at Portus Data Centers, explains how Portus Data Centers supports the digital sovereignty and security of its customers.
Mr Fröse, could you please give us a brief introduction to your company, Portus Data Centers?
Portus Data Centers is a new player in the Central European data center market, which was formed through the acquisition of three existing DCs in Hamburg (IPHH), Luxembourg (EDH) and Munich (formerly SpaceNet), all of which have a great deal of experience and expertise. The main focus is on offering regional data centerss in metropolitan regions, which can then use an offer (outside the FLAP cities and nearby) to set up a hybrid infrastructure. The aim is to create a growing structure of regional DCs in the Central European sector in the long term.
Which digitalisation topics are particularly important to you?
In the versatile and flexible data center market, there are always fluctuations and trends, but always with a clear tendency towards more demand and growth, most recently due to the spread of AI, and not just in the direction of the public cloud. However, it is important for our customers to be able to utilise the best possible combination of a hybrid infrastructure, of which our colocation is a building block. Digital sovereignty and security are the elements that make the Portus offering so important.
What are the particular challenges in your industry at the moment and how are you working on them?
We are paying particular attention to the issues of ESG (especially EnEfG and data sovereignty) as well as the difficulties faced by customers due to the shortage of skilled labour on the one hand and the growing threat of cyber-attacks on the other.
In the first area, we are ideally equipped with state-of-the-art data centers within the EU; in the latter area, we are happy to support our customers by integrating partners who have the relevant expertise and can contribute missing personnel and know-how.
How do you expect your membership of the eco Association to support you in this regard?
Even before Portus and its subsidiaries were founded, we were already able to utilise the services and benefits as members of eco and hope to receive equally good support in terms of branding and information transfer for potential business initiation. In addition, eco’s political and industry-internal commitments are particularly valuable, as they help to increase the importance and appreciation of our industry.
What opportunities does digitalisation offer us in the future?
Even if AI is currently experiencing a great deal of hype, it will certainly help us (especially in the area of automation) with the problem of the shortage of skilled labour. In addition, neighbouring European countries are already showing us the benefits that digitalisation can offer in public authorities, and we are still in the early stages here in Germany.
Mr Fröse, thank you very much for the interview!
With more than 30 years of experience in the areas of IT services, outsourcing and data center services in various multinational organisations, Marc Fröse has gained a very comprehensive overview of the challenges and requirements in these areas. He has therefore been advising customers for several years, both in solution sales and from a helicopter perspective, on how best to implement their individual digital project requirements. In the Portus Data Centers Group organisation, he supports the regional, experienced subdivisions in both sales and marketing in order to create the best service offering for our customers and partners throughout Europe.
