Basefarm is a Norwegian business application and managed services provider that has recently added colocation to the list of services it offers. Basefarm offers standard colocation and managed colocation services and delivers these services via six Scandinavia-based data centres.
All data centres offer at least N+1 redundancy and a 24/7/365 service desk. A large number of high profile clients means that security is a major consideration at all Basefarm data centres. Security measures include CCTV, alarms, man traps, key-card access and individual cabinet and cage security.
In addition, Basefarm offers a dedicated business continuity team that ensures that systems are back up and running instantaneously in the event of a disaster or outage. Fast connectivity is a standard feature via the 10gbit fibre optic network and all data centres are carrier neutral.
Location
Basefarm is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, where it owns two data centres. It owns two further data centres in Stockholm, Sweden and one main office in Amsterdam in The Netherlands. The company does not publish the exact locations of its data centres locations publicly as part of its security measures.
In addition to the four older data centres, Basefarm is in the process of building a new, green tier III/IV data centre in Lørenskog on the outskirts of Oslo. The new data centre, Basefarm Oslo 5, is expected to be the biggest and greenest data centre in the Oslo area.
Energy
Basefarm prides itself on being environmentally conscious and has implemented a number of strategies over the years to reduce energy use in its data centres. Free-air cooling technology is used across all data centres and excess heat is recycled by storing it for heating when required. In Sweden, excess heat is transferred by heating water which an energy company then use to convert into heat for the local community.
The new data centre at Lørenskog has been designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible. It will feature free-air cooling, 100% renewable energy on request and a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) rating of 1.1.
Funding/business model
Basefarm Group AS is now mostly owned by US private equity firm, ABRY Partners LLC. It has a complicated ownership history, with major stakes in the company changing hands on a semi-regular basis since the business began in 2000. Basefarm Group AS fully owns its three subsidiaries Basefarm AS (Norway), Basefarm AB (Sweden) and Basefarm BV (Netherlands). ABRY Partners owns a 72% stake in the parent company, with the rest of the business owned by staff and management.
Basefarm is a successful, growing company with year-on-year growth of 20%. Annual turnover in 2013 was just over £36 million and EBITDA was almost £8 million. Its growth was predominantly organic until around 2009 and the first sale to a private equity firm, when Basefarm purchased Dutch business application specialist, Bluedome, in order to venture into the European market. Basefarm also ventured into the finance IT sector under previous owner Reiten.
Customers and partners
Basefarm counts some of Europes best known financial institutions amongst its customers, thanks to its secure business application hosting services. Those names include Santander, PayEx and Swedens SBAB.
It also delivers mission critical services to the media and energy industry and public sector, as well as retailers and cloud-application providers. Clients in these sectors include CINT, Maingate, Nelly.com and the Norwegian government.
Basefarm partners with 3rd party firms to offer better value or expertise to its clients. A recent agreement between Basefarm and IT security specialists Mnemonic will offer the latest system security with minimal capital outlay. Basefarm has also been awarded Microsoft Gold Hosting Competency.
The gateway to Scandinavia for larger businesses
Basefarm may be small in stature but it boasts a big clientele. Secretive locations, high security and a wealth of experience in hosting mission critical applications make Basefarm a great choice for larger, established companies looking to operate in the Scandinavian region.
Basefarm does not specialise in colocation and has only recently ventured into that market thanks to growing industry expertise from owner ABRY. The new data centre was planned in response to greater demand for data centre space, so a bigger focus on non-managed colocation is possible in the medium to long-term.