Efficient, reliable IT infrastructure

Cradle Technologies delivers robust IT infrastructure solutions designed to support mission-critical business applications. Our secure data centres offer state-of-the-art technology facilities backed by quality-controlled management processes, fully redundant infrastructure, around-the-clock monitoring and comprehensive business continuity plans.

Our investment in high-quality equipment such as routers, switches, servers, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, uninterruptible power supplies, video surveillance, biometric authentication and fire and water detection technologies give customers performance, security and peace of mind - without the hassle of managing it all.

Outsourcing your technology needs to Cradle Technologies lets you enjoy the benefits of top-tier technology without the cost and complexity involved in running your own facilities.

Rock-solid network delivers at speed

Cradle Technologies uses high-grade IT equipment from brand-name vendors including AMD, Apple, Cisco, HP, Checkpoint, Intel, NetScreen and Sun Microsystems.. All vital network components are duplicated to eliminate performance bottlenecks and guard against productivity-sapping downtime.

Our Internet connections offer carrier-grade throughput with direct links to four separate Tier 1 backbone operators and five Tier 2 Internet service providers, with full peering. This connectivity ensures Cradle Technologies gives you the bandwidth you need to service customers quickly and efficiently, while multiple network paths prevent Internet-related outages.

Redundant backup units provide hot standby support for critical elements in the Cradle Technologies network, including routers, switches, management servers, firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, load balancing, authentication, authorisation and accounting.

For core business functions, we encourage customers to invest in redundant servers to ensure continuity in applications, databases and Web services. Our technical services include managing hot backup servers to guarantee your critical business services enjoy 24/7 availability. Further, all servers hosted by Cradle by default include the highest redundancy possible, such as multiple hard disks running RAID.

Monitoring and management provide total control

Right from the start of your relationship with Cradle Technologies, our unique approach to IT service management drives the way we meet your business technology needs. Our solution discovery and design processes ensure your requirements are understood and implemented. Quality-controlled management and administration procedures ensure ongoing support of the highest order.

All Cradle Technologies facilities are built to meet or exceed the Australian Standard AS2834, which defines specifications for controlled computer rooms. This confirms our commitment to employ best practice in all aspects of our technical services.

For example, we support your evolving IT needs with clear, easy-to-use change management system that enables you to schedule, execute and control configuration updates. Based on the same processes used internally to guarantee the orderly management of Cradle Technologies' own systems, the system includes detailed configuration documentation, full authorisation control, change reporting and audit capabilities.

Fighting fire, flood and pestilence

Cradle Technologies safeguards your infrastructure with far-sighted business continuity and disaster recovery plans. All core client systems are engineered to remove single points of failure through duplication of critical components and advanced technologies such as clustering and storage area networks.

A critical element in our business continuity processes is fail-safe systems. All aspects of the Cradle Technologies data centre environment - including temperature, humidity, air conditioning, electricity and fire systems - are monitored continuously. Any alarms from these devices are passed to the monitoring system for action by operations staff.

Core continuity technologies include:

• All vital infrastructure is connected to uninterruptible power supply (UPS) hardware to prevent electrical outages.
• Our fire control system includes a Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus (VESDA) system to detect threats coupled with an Inergen full-flooding fire suppression gas system with a backup Dry Pipe Sprinkler System.
• A Tracetek 1000 under-floor monitoring system detects and traces water leaks to expedite response.
• Multiple cooling units are located around the computer room perimeter. This allows us to maintain or repair air-conditioning systems without affecting the data centre environment.

Keeping watch over your data

Constant supervision is a central feature of Cradle Technologies' facilities management services.

All our data centres have trained technical staff on hand around the clock. Clearly defined escalation procedures allow us to call on our own specialist resources and vendor support services to resolve technical issues quickly and without fuss. Flexible service agreements mean your IT team can be involved in trouble-shooting as much or as little as you want.

Access to our data centre is tightly controlled by a security token system. All access points such as roof, loading bays, foyers and computer room doors are monitored and alarmed for forced entry and doors left open. Entry into computer rooms, the network operations centre or operations areas are further protected by "man traps" such that interior doors will not open until exterior doors are closed and secured - for both entry and exit traffic. Building access is controlled and monitored on a 24/7 basis by hosting centre security. Cameras throughout the building allow security staff to watch over all access points in addition to regular roving patrols. Even in the event of an emergency exit such as fire, exit procedures do not allow human error to circumvent physical security of the environment within the data centre.

A robust network at every level

Cradle Technologies operates a multilayered IT environment designed to maximise performance and reliability for customers. Our expert management gives you an efficient enterprise-grade infrastructure that delivers around the clock.