Digitalisation creates connections among people and offers space for individual freedom and greater prosperity, says synaforce CEO Andreas Braidt in an eco-member interview.
Mr Braidt, could you please give us a brief introduction to your company, synaforce?
Synaforce, founded in 2023, is an association of highly specialised regional providers of high-end data cenrte solutions. Under the motto EVALUATE. ENGAGE. ENABLE. the company offers comprehensive 360-degree IT services that are closely linked to its own data centres and presents these as a core competence.
Synaforce focuses on customised digital strategies and technologies, especially for critical infrastructures (KRITIS) such as the healthcare industry, followed by the financial, insurance and IT sectors, retail and public institutions. The company specialises in innovative solutions in the field of digitalisation and combines strategic consulting with operational measures to support companies in their digital transformation and increase their efficiency.
Which digitalisation topics are particularly important to you?
For synaforce, the focus is on topics such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, AI and, in particular, the digitalisation of business processes. These technologies are essential to help companies remain competitive in the fast-moving digital world and fully utilise their potential.
The focus is particularly on hybrid worlds that make IT operations future-proof, secure, cost-efficient and dynamic, especially in the critical infrastructures (KRITIS) sector. Synaforce works closely with strategic partners to offer a wide range of solutions: from on-prem data centre solutions to local high-end data centre services (Synaforce’s own data centres) and hyperscaler solutions. This enables us to always comprehensively cover the new and relevant requirements in the aforementioned areas.
What are the particular challenges in your industry at the moment and how are you working on them?
Synaforce’s current challenges include adapting quickly to new technologies, protecting against cyberattacks, ensuring data protection and compliance, as well as sustainability and the modern interpretation of sustainable technology. These elements are an integral part of all synaforce’s processes and services and are deeply rooted in its corporate culture. Our more than 100 employees, who work in our own highly efficient data centres and in close cooperation with partners, contribute their extensive expertise and experience every day to actively shape the digital future.
synaforce sees one of the biggest challenges in the market in the hybrid and secure design of data centre solutions, while maintaining energy efficiency. The company focuses on individual outsourcing in a hybrid mix and acts as a kind of “bridge” or “highly individualised solution provider” between colocation/on-prem data centers and hyperscalers, also in cooperation with numerous IT service providers.
How do you expect your membership of the eco Association to support you in this regard?
Synaforce’s membership of the eco Association enables synaforce to gain access to a broad network of experts, the latest industry information and trends and to play an active role in shaping them. For synaforce, the focus is particularly on working groups in the cloud and data centres sector with the aim of raising awareness of its own brand and promoting inorganic growth. A central concern is also to drive forward the topic of digital infrastructure in Europe and emphasise the immense importance of hybrid IT landscapes.
In addition, synaforce intends to play an active role in organising events where decision-makers from critical infrastructures (KRITIS) companies are invited to take a closer look at the local data centre landscape. This not only serves security, but also individual responsiveness and the local feasibility of sustainability – especially taking into account ESG criteria (environmental, social, governance) beyond the pure CO₂ consideration.
What opportunities does digitalisation offer us in the future?
Digitalisation opens up immense opportunities, from the optimisation of business processes and the development of new business models to the improvement of customer experiences and more efficient ways of working. Exploiting and utilising this potential is a fundamental part of synaforce’s DNA. Another aspect of the opportunities presented by digitalisation that synaforce recognises and exploits is the possibility of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) resulting from the combination of strong companies. This concept of “digital synapses” that consolidate and create strong connections is entirely in keeping with the name synaforce. Such connections give rise to new ideas and improved services that offer real added value for people. Ultimately, digitalisation creates connections between people and offers space for individual freedom and greater prosperity.
Mr Braidt, thank you very much for the interview!
Andreas Braidt is Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Co-CEO of synaforce, based at the headquarters in Hofkirchen. Holding this position since July 2022, he is a key part of the management team, alongside Hannes Beierlein (CMO), Tobias Lehner (CTO) and Peter Hartl (CEO). Braidt’s commitment to promoting young talent reflects synaforce’s philosophy as a regionally rooted but globally active company in the field of high-end data centre solutions.
