The Grand Opening of DC North
On November 24th 2023, we ceremoniously opened our data center, DC North, in Varaždin. DC North is the largest carrier-neutral data center in Croatia, spanning 2000 square meters of IT space with six IT rooms, each equipped with 104 racks (800x1200).
It is the only data center in Croatia certified with both the Uptime Tier III DESIGN and Uptime Tier III FACILITY certifications, confirming that the facility has been built to the highest standards for critical infrastructure.
Strategically located at the intersection of three redundant optical crossroads (Slovenia, Hungary, and Austria), DC North is the second most important data exchange point in Croatia. It is also the only certified data center in Croatia located outside of Zagreb and is situated in a more stable seismic zone (VII. MCS zone). The facility is built to withstand earthquakes of up to magnitude 9 on the Richter scale.
The data center has been constructed according to security certificates ISO27001 and ISO20000. It offers the highest level of data security, with a Zero-trust security approach, multi-level authorization, radar systems, over 120 external and internal cameras, 24/7 on-site security personnel, and SOC and NOC monitoring.
At full capacity, the data center has a 4MW power connection linked to an energy ring. In the event of a power outage on both energy branches, four diesel generators with a total capacity of 26000 liters of fuel will take over, providing up to 48 hours of operation. During the Uptime certification process, 11000 liters of fuel were consumed over four days.
The data center's doors were opened for high-ranking officials at 11:30 am, followed by a central ceremony with speeches held at the Hotel Turist in Varaždin. The event commenced with brief speeches and a presentation of the project, valued at 17 million euros. Matija Grabar, the President of the CRATIS and DC North Management Board, and Darko Pintarić, the Director of DC North, opened the ceremony.
Matija Grabar, the President of the CRATIS and DC North Management Board, and Darko Pintarić, the Director of DC North
Subsequently, high-ranking officials who recognized the project's significance for the Republic of Croatia addressed the guests. They included Zoran Milanović, the President of the Republic of Croatia, Davor Filipović, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia, Anđelko Stričak, the Prefect of Varaždin County, and Neven Bosilj, the Mayor of the City of Varaždin.
Zoran Milanović, President of the Republic of Croatia
"In today's world, we cannot live without this type of service. This is a matter of national security, control of processes, finances, personal property, and bank accounts, without which we cannot function normally. Congratulations on this great success, and I am honored to be a part of the opening. It's a significant achievement for you, the initiators, personally, and for this part of Croatia." said Zoran Milanović, President of the Republic of Croatia.
Davor Filipović, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia and the representative of the Prime Minister
"The investment in the DC North data center is directly linked to the digitization and the overall transformation of our society. I see the opportunities provided by modern technologies as a chance for the Republic of Croatia to become even more competitive, relying on products and services that create higher added value.", stated Davor Filipović, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia and the representative of the Prime Minister.
Anđelko Stričak, the County Prefect of Varaždin County and the representative of the President of the Croatian Parliament
"This investment, as well as all those taking place in the county, confirm that as a county and as a city, we are safe and stable.", said Anđelko Stričak, the County Prefect of Varaždin County and the representative of the President of the Croatian Parliament, adding, "This data center follows all global trends, and because of it, we are more secure in this digital age in which we live."
Neven Bosilj, the Mayor of the City of Varaždin
"Varaždin recently received an award as the best city for the economy according to 14 criteria, and it's precisely because of projects like this that we are recognized as a supportive environment for investments." concluded Neven Bosilj, the Mayor of the City of Varaždin.
