Compass University is a repository for information on all things data centers. Our library of white papers, videos, webinars and infographics provide you with information on everything from commissioning to IoT security. Let Compass University's resources help you make the most informed data center decisions possible.

White Papers Media Case Studies Webinars Blog

White Papers

White Papers

THE EDGE IN 2020

In case you haven’t noticed, the “edge” is starting to become a pretty big thing. Makes sense since depending on who is doing the estimating there . . . will be somewhere between 20 billion and a trillion connected devices all looking for a compute and storage home.
Learn More icon-arrow-light

White Papers

The Fundamentals of Data Center Site Selection and Design

I once knew a couple who built their “dream house.” Each kid had a bedroom, there was a massive playroom with a kitchen and enough bathrooms that no . . . one would ever have to wait– no matter how long someone took to get ready in the morning. Two years later they got divorced. It seems that the home of their dreams was, in reality, a financial nightmare—they went a teeny bit over budget—and the property they built on because of its affordability resulted in commutes that made the Bataan death march look like a pleasant stroll.
Learn More icon-arrow-light

White Papers

An Edge Data Center Planning Primer

The continued emergence of new technologies and capabilities like IIoT, IoT, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) is providing companies with an . . . abundance of opportunity to improve their internal operations, enhance end user experiences and deliver new products and services to their customer bases. The common thread that defines this evolution is the increased degree of “time sensitivity”, referred to in terms of “latency”, associated with the transmission and processing of information to perform the necessary operations.
Learn More icon-arrow-light

White Papers

The Edge Will Be More Than Faster Netflix Loading

The future of edge computing won’t just be the fast delivery of rich content. Although, no one will get angry with Netflix, and the facilities that . . . support it, for almost instantaneous access to Stranger Things, future applications that will be provided by Edge data centers will be slightly more robust than quicker movie downloads.
Learn More icon-arrow-light

White Papers

Just What Exactly is an Edge Data Center?

The data center industry is good at many things, defining concepts isn’t one of them. The general tendency is to develop a descriptive term that . . . everyone initially thinks works just fine until everyone promotes their product or service under that umbrella it’s a little less precise than we may have hoped. I think we can all remember the schism over whether a data center was a wholesale or a retail offering, and does anyone think that we’ve fully defined the meaning of “Modular”. All kidding aside, the same type of questions are beginning to surround the definition of edge data centers. The purpose of this white paper is to offer a more accurate definition of the term than is currently being used.
Learn More icon-arrow-light

White Papers

Accounting for Your Data Center

As we all know, nothing lasts forever and accounting practices are no different. In the world of data centers, this means a substantial change in the . . . way leases must be accounted for on the books of all companies following GAAP accounting guidelines beginning in 2018. The purpose of this paper is to explain the value that a Compass data center delivers to you from both a balance sheet and EBITDA perspective…
Learn More icon-arrow-light

White Papers

Getting Close to the Customer: The Coming of 5G

The first portable cellular telephone, Motorola’s DynaTac 8000X was released in 1984. It was 13” tall, weighed almost two pounds, had a 30-minute . . . battery life and cost $4000. When first introduced, many skeptics questioned its future viability since you could make a call from any payphone for a dime.
Learn More icon-arrow-light

White Papers

SDDC: Vision and Reality

In high technology industries, there are often large disjoints between vision and reality. In the data center world, this is typically exemplified by . . . volumes of pronouncements and articles that speak glowingly of capabilities and methodologies that provide the impression that “everyone” is, or should be, implementing said functionality.
Learn More icon-arrow-light

Back to top View All White Papers

Media

Media

Datacenter Hawk Interview

Compass CEO Chris Crosby and Dave talk about the future direction of Compass and the data center industry.

Watch Video Watch Video

Data Center Minute

One Data Center Can’t Do It All

The nature of data is changing the demands on today’s data centers and many current structures will not be up to the coming challenges. In this . . . month’s Data Center Minute, Chris discusses how elements like the IoT and increasingly packet rich applications will be changing the way data centers will be planned for and deployed in the months ahead.

Watch Video Watch Video

Data Center Minute

Is Your Data Center Ready for the Internet of Things? Probably Not.

Everyone is talking about the Internet of Things, and if you’re not, you probably should be. Excitement alone, however, doesn’t guarantee effective . . . implementation. The high volumes of data and latency requirements that come with the IoT dictate that many current data centers may be a part of the solution but they won’t be THE solution. In this month’s Data Center Minute, Chris talks about the elements you need to consider in planning to join the IoT.

Watch Video Watch Video

Data Center Minute

The Elephant in the Data Center

Everyone wants to save money on their data center operations, but most operators overlook one of the most cost intensive elements of their facility. . . . In this month’s Data Center Minute, Chris explains how you should re-examine your network to uncover the potential for substantial savings.

Watch Video Watch Video

Data Center Minute

If You Say It, Certify It

If you’ve ever heard the phrase, “it looked good on paper” then you know that there is often a real difference between what is bought and what is . . . delivered. Data centers are no different. In this month’s data center minute Chris explains the difference between the Uptime Institute’s design and constructed facility certifications and how most Tier III facilities really aren’t.

Watch Video Watch Video

Data Center Minute

An Inflection Point

Industries change over time. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes for the worst. The one common element they all share is that at some point in their . . . maturation process they reached an inflection point. In this month’s Data Center Minute Chris discusses how the data center industry has reached its own inflection point and where it needs to go from here.

Watch Video Watch Video

Data Center Minute

The Demise of the Data Center

Predictions are tricky things. Big Data was going to be the “next big thing” and now folks are saying that it’s sinking faster than the Titanic, so . . . obviously in the making of any prediction there is a margin for error. In this month’s Data Center Minute, Chris offers his thoughts on the predicted demise of the data center.

Watch Video Watch Video

Data Center Minute

The Calibrated Data Center

The issue with many new “next big things” is that they tend to skip one or more essential steps. In this brief video, Compass Datacenters’ CEO, Chris . . . Crosby, will explain why calibrating your data center is the essential step required to accurately measure and model data center performance and provides the necessary bridge to new capabilities like the Software Defined Data Center.

Watch Video Watch Video

Back to top View All Media

Case Studies

Case Studies

Case Study: A Rapid Response

An Urgent Need
As a result of power outages experienced at their primary 32-year-old data center, American Electric Power (AEP) management directed . . . their IT team to seek a new facility with an accelerated delivery schedule.
View Case Study icon-arrow-light

Case Studies

Compass MSP-IA Green Building Education

Compass Mission:
Develop an Energy Efficient and Environmentally Sustainable Data Center capable of earning LEED certification for our customers.

View Case Study icon-arrow-light

Case Studies

Compass BOS-IA Green Building Education

Compass Mission:
Develop an Energy Efficient and Environmentally Sustainable Data Center capable of earning LEED certification for our customers.

View Case Study icon-arrow-light

Case Studies

Compass BNA-IA Green Building Education

Compass Mission:
Develop an Energy Efficient and Environmentally Sustainable Data Center capable of earning LEED Gold certification for our customers.

View Case Study icon-arrow-light

Case Studies

Compass RDU-IA Green Building Education

Compass Mission:
Develop an Energy Efficient and Environmentally Sustainable Data Center capable of earning LEED Gold certification for our customers.

View Case Study icon-arrow-light

Back to top

Webinars

Webinars

The Edge is More than a Box

Bill Kleyman and Sharif Fotouh of Compass discuss all of the issues related to implementing edge solutions that no one is talking about.

Learn More icon-arrow-light

Webinars

Unintended Consequences

Watch and listen as Compass CEO Chris Crosby discusses the unintended consequences of some data center improvements.

Learn More icon-arrow-light

Webinars

Are You Getting What You Paid For?

Compass Datacenters and Uptime Institute discuss the advantages of data center facilities that have achieved the Uptime Institute Tier Certification . . . of Constructed Facilities award, which ensures that the facility delivered to customers truly adheres to Uptime Institute standards.
Learn More icon-arrow-light

Webinars

Are You Trading TCO for PUE

Compass CEO, Chris Crosby and Romonet COO, Liam Newcombe, discuss how data center efficiency efforts should be evaluated using ROI and TCO rather than . . . just PUE.
Learn More icon-arrow-light

Webinars

Holistic Data Center Management as the Key to Executing a Vision

Recorded version of our December 10, 2012 webinar with Schneider Electric.

Learn More icon-arrow-light

Webinars

Data Center Commissioning 101

A webinar about the critical elements of data center commissioning.

Learn More icon-arrow-light

Back to top

Blog

Blog

ADDRESSING THE DATA CENTER SKILLS GAP

Whoever said, “It’s hard to find good help these days” must have been a CIO. […]

Learn More Learn More

Blog

Data Center Construction Becomes Agile

Data center construction hasn’t traditionally ranked high on a CIO’s list of priorities. Makes sense, […]

Learn More Learn More

Blog

Free Air or Water-Based Cooling: Something to Think About

One of the major considerations for any prospective data center end user is the cost […]

Learn More Learn More

Blog

For Whom the Shill Tolls

Weekends are a time when I like to catch up on the events and discussions […]

Learn More Learn More

Blog

You Can’t Fight City Hall

I don’t think it’s a huge assumption to say that we’ve all had to ask […]

Learn More Learn More

Blog

North Korea and the DOD Cloud

If you’re a follower of current events, you know that the on-again, off-again summit with […]

Learn More Learn More

Blog

The Slow Decline of the Public Network

It’s always sad when you realize that someone, or something, is starting to lose “it”. […]

Learn More Learn More

Blog

The Perils of Data Center Waste

I’ve long believed that the amount of wasted material is a strong data center construction […]

Learn More Learn More

Back to top View All Blog Posts

We deliver solutions, not just data centers.