Your own digital infrastructure - future-proof, efficient and legally compliant? Where you maintain sovereignty over your data? Then building your own data centre is essential. It's the only way to gain strategic advantages - from data control to performance.
The digital transformation requires powerful, scalable and secure IT infrastructures. Data centres are at the heart of value creation: they make it possible to manage sensitive data independently, meet country-specific regulatory requirements and operate business-critical applications with maximum availability.
Building your own data centre is advisable if the following criteria are met:
The initial investment pays off through operational reliability, scalability and the ability to independently adopt technological innovations. ROI is typically achieved within 5 to 7 years.
This guide addresses the key questions and success factors when building a data centre and supports decision-makers and planners in their approach.
Companies that want to build a successful data centre start with a precise and comprehensive planning phase. The early definition of all data centre requirements forms the foundation for a smooth process and minimises subsequent adjustment costs. It is crucial to systematically record technical, regulatory and economic aspects and transfer them into a viable project structure.
The performance of a data centre after its construction is measured by its availability and reliability. Companies should set clear target values for the desired availability class (e.g. Tier I-IV) at the outset and define redundancy concepts for critical systems such as power supply, cooling and network. This is the only way to avoid subsequent bottlenecks and operational risks. Analysing typical load profiles and capacity requirements enables the infrastructure to be dimensioned in line with demand.
A reliable budget framework and a realistic project schedule create transparency and security during the planning of the data centre. In addition to construction and equipment costs, the cost structure also includes expenses for authorisations, certifications, personnel and ongoing operations. Early cost estimates and milestone planning help to optimise the use of resources and manage risks.
The success of a data centre project depends to a large extent on the early involvement of all relevant stakeholders - from IT and facility management to management, authorities and external partners. Structured stakeholder management promotes acceptance, minimises conflicts and enables efficient project management as soon as you plan to build a data centre.
Before you can build a data centre, you must comply with a large number of legal requirements and industry-specific standards relating to the physical protection of the infrastructure as well as IT security and data protection. The most important international standards include
In addition, there are regional and national regulations such as the GDPR (EU), HIPAA (USA), LGPD (Brazil), PIPEDA (Canada), the Australian Privacy Act and Asian regulations such as GB/T 22239 and GB/T 43331-2023 in China, the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) in Singapore, the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) in Japan and Government Regulation 71/2019 in Indonesia.
The choice of location is a strategic asset for the availability, security and efficiency of a data centre. It not only influences operating costs and reliability, but also compliance with regulatory requirements and the future viability of the IT infrastructure. Companies wishing to build a data centre should pay attention to the following factors:
The right location forms the foundation for availability and growth in planning. Only those who think about energy, connections, safety and authorisations at an early stage can plan sustainably. A good environment creates space for development and acceptance in the region - this is how you build a future-proof data centre.
The technical infrastructure is at the heart of building a data centre. It plays a decisive role in operational reliability, efficiency and future viability. The focus here is on three areas: energy supply, cooling and the network backbone.
Uninterrupted operation requires a multi-layered, redundant power supply. The selection and dimensioning of the power supply should be based on the size of the data centre, the hardware requirements and the desired availability classes during the planning phase. Typical components are
Cooling is one of the biggest energy consumers in the data centre, and companies should carefully consider this point before setting it up. Modern systems rely on liquid cooling. PP pipework systems from aquatherm offer decisive advantages here.
The backbone network when setting up a data centre consists of high-performance routers, switches and fibre optic cables that enable high bandwidths and low latency times. Important components are
The security and compliance of a data centre are key requirements for trouble-free, legally compliant operation. Modern security concepts combine physical protection measures with comprehensive IT security and are based on international standards and current legal requirements.
Physical security
An effective security concept includes multi-level access controls with biometric scanners, electronic access cards and comprehensive authentication procedures. Seamless video surveillance documents all access and movements in the data centre and enables a rapid response to irregularities. A secure perimeter with fences, locks and regular patrols reliably protects the site against unauthorised access and possible acts of sabotage.
Fire protection and emergency management
Automatic fire detection and extinguishing systems are used to protect against fire incidents, supplemented by structural separation into fire compartments to prevent extensive damage. Detailed emergency plans are in place for emergencies, which are tested and kept up to date through regular drills.
IT security
Firewalls, intrusion detection systems and targeted network segmentation ensure that critical systems are isolated and unauthorised access is blocked. DDoS protection solutions recognise attacks in real time and prevent service outages. In addition, consistent data encryption protects sensitive information both at rest and in transit.
Operators use recognised standards to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Use these key regulations and their relevance as soon as you want to build a data centre:
| Standards | Region |
Centre of gravity / area of application |
|
EN 50600 |
EU |
Structural, technical and organisational requirements for data centres |
|
ISO 27001 / ISO 27701 |
International |
Information security management / extension to include data protection |
|
ISO 22301 |
International |
Business Continuity Management (BCM) |
|
ISO 50001 |
International |
Energy management in data centres and other organisations |
|
DSGVO |
EU |
General Data Protection Regulation for personal data |
|
BSI-KritisV |
Deutschland |
Protection of critical infrastructures (incl. reporting obligations and security standards) |
|
NIS-2 |
EU |
EU-wide directive to strengthen cyber security in essential and important organisations |
|
DORA |
EU |
Digital resilience in the financial sector |
|
KRITIS umbrella law |
Germany |
Binding from 2025: Minimum standards for resilience, crisis management and reporting structures |
|
EnEfG |
Germany |
Energy Efficiency Act: Obligation to increase efficiency in data centre operations |
|
EED |
EU |
Energy Efficiency Directive: EU framework for energy saving, to be transposed into national law |
|
ANSI/TIA-942 |
USA |
Standard for data centre infrastructure (availability, physical security, telecommunications) |
|
Uptime Tier Standard |
USA |
Certification of availability classes (Tier I-IV) by the Uptime Institute |
|
NIST SP 800-53 |
USA |
Framework for IT and data security in the public and regulated sector |
|
HIPAA |
USA |
Protection of health data (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) |
|
PCI DSS |
International / USA |
Security of payment data (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) |
|
GB/T 22239 / GB/T 43331-2023 |
China |
National standards for information security and data centre requirements |
|
PDPA |
Singapore |
Personal Data Protection Act |
|
APPI |
Japan |
Data protection law for companies with data relating to Japanese citizens |
|
MTCS |
Singapore |
Multi-Tier Cloud Security Standard: Cloud security requirements |
|
Regulation 71/2019 |
Indonesia |
Data localisation requirements for digital services |
|
Privacy Act |
Australia |
Privacy Act: Collection, storage and processing of personal data |
|
ISM |
Australia |
Information Security Manual: Guidelines for cyber security in the government environment |
The regulatory requirements for data centres continue to increase after they have been set up, particularly due to the international harmonisation of standards and the growing threat of cyber attacks. Companies must continuously adapt their security and compliance strategies to avoid legal risks and business interruptions.
Legal requirements, rising energy costs and political pressure to reduce CO₂ emissions - sustainability has long been a key objective when building a data centre. The industry is faced with the challenge of combining maximum performance with minimum resource consumption while fulfilling regulatory requirements.
The Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) value is the most important indicator for the energy efficiency of a data centre. It describes the ratio of total energy consumption to the energy actually used for IT. Modern data centres strive for a PUE of less than 1.5 during construction, while top systems achieve values close to 1.0 - a sign of minimal energy loss outside of the IT load. Optimisation measures:
Cooling accounts for a significant proportion of energy consumption. Before building your data centre, find out about innovative concepts such as heat recovery: the waste heat from the data centre is brought to a usable temperature level via heat pumps and used for heating purposes or industrial processes.
In addition to energy consumption, the CO₂ footprint of the building's construction is becoming a focal point. The use of durable, corrosion-free, recyclable materials such as PP pipework systems from aquatherm is exemplary here. aquatherm's comprehensive EPD environmental product declarations document emissions during production and transport, among other things.
Around the world, funding opportunities and tax benefits for the construction of data centres are usually linked to compliance with efficiency standards such as PUE limits, waste heat utilisation and the use of renewable energies. In many countries - such as the EU, the USA, China and Japan - operators are obliged to monitor energy consumption and efficiency, report regularly and comply with certain target values. In addition, proof of a certified energy or environmental management system (e.g. in accordance with ISO 50001) is often a prerequisite for funding programmes or tax relief.
A high-performance data centre will only remain reliable and efficient if operation and maintenance meet the highest standards. The continuous maintenance of all systems - from the power supply and cooling to the pipework systems - is crucial for long-term high availability and compliance with regulatory requirements. You should pay attention to the following factors after setting up your data centre:
| Standards | Requirements | |
|
Regular maintenance of all systems |
|
|
|
Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) |
|
|
|
Staff qualifications |
|
|
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Emergency management |
|
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Service contracts |
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Reliable operation of the data centre does not end with completion - it is just the beginning. Regular maintenance, smart monitoring and a trained team ensure smooth day-to-day operations. In an emergency, clear processes and strong partners at your side count. This ensures that your data centre remains secure, efficient and operational in the long term once it has been set up.
Companies are faced with the task of making their digital infrastructure future-proof, efficient and compliant. Building their own data centre offers the opportunity to achieve maximum data control, customised performance and resource-saving value creation. At the same time, the requirements for energy efficiency, compliance and operational security are constantly increasing.
The central question is: How can a data centre be planned and built to meet current and future requirements and safeguard investments in the long term?
Our blog shows that forward-looking, structured data centre planning, the selection of reliable technologies, consistent compliance with regulatory requirements and an operating concept that is designed for ease of maintenance and scalability are crucial for success. Companies that address these factors not only secure a competitive advantage, but also create the basis for growth and technological resilience.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact our experts. Together we will develop a solution that fits your IT strategy:
