Turning a data centre relocation into a transformation opportunity

Turning a Challenge into an Opportunity:

LSHTM operates several data centres across London, with resilience built into the design of its data processing and data storage capabilities. When one data centre, near Kings Cross, needed to be relocated, it was considered the ideal opportunity to address longstanding priorities: improving energy efficiency, enhancing remote monitoring, and strengthening security systems to optimise IT equipment performance and uptime. 

The IT team sought a solution that would deliver both immediate benefits and long-term flexibility, including advanced heat monitoring, secure access control, and a modular design to support future growth.

Discovering the Right Solution

At the Data Centre World exhibition in London, LSHTM’s team encountered Rittal’s VX IT cabinets. The robust build quality, extensive accessory range - including LED lighting and CMC heat monitoring - and the promise of rapid delivery stood out. The intelligent monitoring system, with its real-time alerts and visual indicators, offered the proactive monitoring LSHTM needed to keep their servers running optimally and securely.

Data centres at educational and research institutions require enhanced, robust security features to protect the highly sensitive data they process and store. With Rittal VX IT cabinets, LSHTM identified that they’d be in a position to provide seamless access control for key staff via smart door handle locks which could be configured to work with their existing security clearance cards.

In early June 2024, LSHTM placed an order for VX IT cabinets, complete with smart handle locks, CMC monitoring sensors, and LED lighting. To ensure a swift and tailored deployment, Rittal’s engineers part-assembled and customised the cabinets at their South Yorkshire modification facility - a dedicated centre equipped to deliver bespoke IT infrastructure solutions. The facility, team of engineers and service technicians, specialise in modifications (drills, cut outs), configuration, integration of monitoring technologies, and pre-installation testing, enabling faster project delivery and reduced on-site installation time. Just three weeks later, the cabinets arrived on site, where installation partner Up North configured the monitoring system. Rittal’s team conducted final checks, ensuring everything was ready for commissioning.

Immediate Impact and Lasting Benefits

The results were immediate. LSHTM’s Systems Infrastructure Manager shared:

“We’re delighted with our new Rittal cabinets and the monitoring system which makes remote monitoring so quick and easy.  We can now be confident that the servers are working to their optimum efficiency 24/7, which helps minimise the energy consumption of our cooling systems and maximises the lifespan of our equipment. It also helps lower our electricity bills and reduces our operational carbon footprint.”

The Rittal system is designed to provide flexibility and scalability for data centre operators through its modular design. This means that any future expansion of the data centre can be easily accommodated.

Working Together for the Future

Ryan Mogg, Rittal’s IT Corporate Account Manager, commented:

“We’re proud to support LSHTM’s mission with solutions that combine security, efficiency, and scalability. Our modular VX IT cabinets are designed to grow with our customers, ensuring they’re ready for whatever the future holds.”

With their upgraded data centre, LSHTM is now better equipped to support world-class research, confident that their IT infrastructure is as resilient and forward-thinking as their academic ambitions. The partnership with Rittal not only addresses today’s operational needs but also lays a strong foundation for future innovation and growth. As LSHTM continues to advance global health research, they can rely on a data centre solution that evolves alongside their mission - delivering security, efficiency, and scalability for years to come.