IT aside, the vast majority of power usage in a data centre is due to cooling and the need to relocate heat away from the CPU. Traditionally, air cooling is the go-to solution and makes up the vast majority of cooling solutions in the data centre world.
Across the UK and Europe, thousands of data centres are quietly reaching their expiry date.
They may still be running – but behind the scenes, costs are rising, risk is climbing, and performance is slowly degrading. Power inefficiencies. Cooling challenges. Fragile legacy systems. All too familiar, and increasingly unsustainable.
The truth is, patching and hoping isn’t a strategy. It’s a liability.
So why do so many businesses delay the inevitable?
At Garmin’s UK HQ, we replaced legacy cooling infrastructure and increased capacity through modular upgrades – all without disruption to operations. And at Datum’s flagship Farnborough site, we’ve supported a decade-long transformation, culminating in a new £7M data hall expansion delivered without downtime.
We understand. Many of the facilities we assess are mission-critical. That’s why we specialise in zero-downtime modernisation, applying smart design, phasing, and temporary infrastructure strategies to keep your estate running – while we upgrade it behind the scenes.
We’re not just designers or builders. We’re lifecycle specialists.
We’ve helped organisations across sectors unlock the full value of their infrastructure through live, strategic upgrades:
Garmin UK HQ – Replaced 2006-era cooling and increased capacity without business interruption.
Datum, Farnborough – Delivered a multi-phase lifecycle transformation – most recently a £7M expansion with lithium-ion UPS and HVO generators.
In the high-stakes world of data centre operations, few scenarios carry more weight than executing data centre live upgrades. It’s the ultimate test of any technical team, where the line between a seamless project and a catastrophic outage is razor-thin. When failure directly impacts revenue and reputation, you don’t need a partner who promises caution. You need one that delivers certainty.
For Data Centre Directors, Operations Managers, and CIOs, the pressure is relentless. The business demands constant evolution – new hardware, greater density, improved efficiency. Yet, the core mandate remains absolute: the lights must stay on. This is the central conflict of modern data centre management. How do you change the engine while the plane is in flight?
Many will point to their processes and runbooks. And while process is vital, it’s only half the story. A process executed without a fundamental understanding – of the environment is merely a list of instructions. It cannot adapt to unforeseen complexities that weren’t documented in the original design.
In a live environment, anyone can promise caution. We deliver certainty.
This is where Keysource operates on a different level. Our approach to mitigating risk isn’t just about process; it’s about perspective. Because we design, build, and commission critical facilities from the ground up, our operational teams have a fundamental, three-dimensional understanding of every dependency in your data hall. We don’t just manage your risk; we engineer it out of the process from the start.
This design-led methodology is our core differentiator:
Our deep engineering expertise allows us to perform a wide range of critical hardware and infrastructure upgrades while your facility remains fully operational.
This includes:
Q1: What is the biggest risk during a live data centre upgrade?
A: The biggest risk is focusing only on the immediate task while missing the hidden interdependencies in power and cooling. Our design-led approach mitigates this by understanding the entire facility ecosystem, not just the single piece of equipment being upgraded.
Q2: How do you ensure zero downtime during a hardware upgrade?
A: Zero downtime is an engineered outcome. It’s achieved through meticulous planning, a deep understanding of the facility’s original design, and a proven methodology for risk management that has been tested in the most demanding financial and colocation environments.
Q3: Why is a design-and-build partner better for live upgrades?
A: A partner who designed and built the facility has a fundamental understanding of every dependency. Unlike a maintenance-only contractor, we don’t just follow a process; we anticipate challenges based on our intimate knowledge of the infrastructure, engineering risk out from the start.
Book a confidential, no-obligation technical walkthrough of your next critical project and let us show you how our design-led approach can protect your live services.
IT aside, the vast majority of power usage in a data centre is due to cooling and the need to relocate heat away from the CPU. Traditionally, air cooling is the go-to solution and makes up the vast majority of cooling solutions in the data centre world.
IT aside, the vast majority of power usage in a data centre is due to cooling and the need to relocate heat away from the CPU. Traditionally, air cooling is the go-to solution and makes up the vast majority of cooling solutions in the data centre world.
Building and operating a data centre is a long-term investment that requires strategic planning across multiple stages – from design and construction to ongoing management and optimisation. But while these stages are crucial, they also come with their own set of challenges, including ensuring your facility remains efficient, reliable, and scalable over time.
Many organisations face the decision of whether to engage multiple vendors for each phase of the data centre lifecycle or to partner with a single provider who can manage the entire process. Although working with separate contractors for each part of the lifecycle may seem like a way to find the best deal, studies show that it can actually be more expensive and time-consuming in the long run.
Partnering with a single provider for your data centre projects can reduce costs and delivery times. Managing multiple vendors leads to delays and rising material costs, while a single provider streamlines the process. Collaborative project delivery models, have been shown to improve efficiency, with 67% of practitioners reporting shorter schedules, 63% seeing cost savings, and 68% achieving better project quality (Data Center Dynamics).
At Keysource, we pride ourselves on being that single provider. From the very beginning, we’re there to design your data centre, manage the build, provide ongoing support, and help you optimise your operations for sustainability and performance. Partnering with a provider like Keysource for the full data centre lifecycle could be the best decision for your business.
When you work with multiple providers, you risk misalignment between design, construction, and operations, potentially leading to inefficiencies. At Keysource, we handle every phase of the lifecycle, ensuring a smooth transition from one stage to the next, which ultimately drives down costs and speeds up the process for our clients.
Our consulting and design services focus on delivering a data centre that’s not only efficient but tailored to the specific needs of our clients. Whether it’s aiming for scalability, sustainability, or cost-efficiency, our designs incorporate the latest technology and industry best practices to ensure long-term viability.
Once the design is finalised, our delivery services ensure the project is executed on time and within budget. Research shows that integrated project teams significantly improve project outcomes by enhancing communication and collaboration, while fragmented teams often struggle with delays and inefficiencies. At Keysource, we embrace an integrated approach, reducing the risk of delays and cost overruns by aligning all stakeholders from the start. (ResearchGate).
But building a data centre is just the beginning. Once operational, it requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to maintain peak performance. At Keysource, our maintenance and support services go beyond keeping the lights on – we optimise your data centre for efficiency and growth. Research shows that 70% of data centre outages cost more than $100,000, with a quarter exceeding $1 million to remediate. Proactive monitoring and maintenance can prevent costly downtime, which is why we take a proactive approach to ensure your facility runs smoothly and efficiently long after the build is complete. (Uptime Institute Annual Outage Analysis 2023).
Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s essential for future-proofing your data centre operations. The demand for energy-efficient, eco-friendly data centres is rising rapidly, driven by both consumer expectations and regulatory changes. In fact, data centres currently account for around 3% of global electricity consumption, with predictions suggesting this could rise to 10% by 2030 (dbta.com). At Keysource, our sustainability services ensure your data centre stays ahead of these trends, whether through carbon audits, renewable energy integration, or energy-efficient design. Our goal is to help you navigate the evolving sustainability landscape while reducing your long-term environmental impact.
Working with a single provider for your entire data centre lifecycle means fewer vendors to manage, reduced risk, and increased accountability. A 2023 study by IBM found that organisations consolidating support under a single vendor experienced a 25% reduction in maintenance and support spending, a 20% decrease in time spent on hardware support tasks, and a 22% reduction in time spent on vendor relationship management. By partnering with Keysource, you get a team that’s committed to your data centre’s long-term success from start to finish.
A fully integrated approach also helps eliminate gaps in service, ensuring that your data centre meets its design specifications and operates at peak efficiency. With Keysource, we’re here to guide you through every stage of the lifecycle – whether you’re designing a new facility, optimising an existing one, or planning for the future.
If you’re looking to design and build or operate a data centre that’s not only efficient but future-ready, we’re ready to help.
IT aside, the vast majority of power usage in a data centre is due to cooling and the need to relocate heat away from the CPU. Traditionally, air cooling is the go-to solution and makes up the vast majority of cooling solutions in the data centre world.
IT aside, the vast majority of power usage in a data centre is due to cooling and the need to relocate heat away from the CPU. Traditionally, air cooling is the go-to solution and makes up the vast majority of cooling solutions in the data centre world.
As we reflect on Keysource’s State of the Industry Event 2024, the excitement and valuable discussions from the event continue to resonate within the data centre community. Now in its seventh year, this annual gathering has firmly established itself as a pivotal moment for data centre professionals, delivering crucial insights and expert analysis.
This year’s event delved into the rapidly evolving landscape of the data centre sector, highlighting how technology advancements are reshaping the industry. Attendees explored critical issues impacting the sector, including:
The unveiling of our 2024 survey results provided a comprehensive overview of industry trends, reaffirming that balancing speed, substance, and sustainability remains a central theme for data centres moving forward.
Participants had the opportunity to hear from industry leaders who shared their approaches to:
”Keysource's event had great discussions and clear insights that really helped us understand the challenges and opportunities coming up
State of the Industry 2024 Attendee
”The State of the Industry event was a real eye-opener—great discussions with a clear look at the challenges we all face in our industry. Highly recommend it.
State of the Industry 2024 Attendee
Gain comprehensive insights from the State of the Industry 2024 Event by downloading our detailed report. Whether you’re addressing project delivery challenges, sustainability goals, or the ongoing skills shortage, our report offers invaluable perspectives from over 250 industry professionals.
Speak to our team today for tailored advice and guidance on creating and operating a data centre fit for the next generation of computing.
IT aside, the vast majority of power usage in a data centre is due to cooling and the need to relocate heat away from the CPU. Traditionally, air cooling is the go-to solution and makes up the vast majority of cooling solutions in the data centre world.
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