Latest news with #Flexential
Associated Press
20-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Flexential Adds 2 Board Members to Support Enterprise Infrastructure Strategy
Paul Szurek and Andy Stewart offer leadership experience across data center development and scaling operations CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Flexential, a leading provider of secure and flexible data center solutions, has appointed Paul Szurek and Andy Stewart to its Board of Directors in a move to further strengthen and accelerate its leadership amid a growing demand for enterprise-scale digital infrastructure. Szurek and Stewart join the Board as Flexential continues to expand its integrated platform of colocation, cloud, interconnection, and data protection services. Their appointments reflect the company's focus on growing its national footprint of high-density data centers and supporting enterprise customers through low-latency interconnection and scalable data center solutions. 'Paul and Andy bring a strategic mindset shaped by decades spent working in the data center industry,' said Chris Downie, CEO of Flexential. 'They understand what it takes to scale operations, build ecosystems of high-value partners, align technology and enterprise demand, and anticipate the market. Their perspective will be especially valuable as we continue to expand and deliver the scaled-edge colocation and network infrastructure behind next-generation technologies like AI.' Szurek, a private consultant and former President and CEO of CoreSite, has experience in data center operations, capital markets, and corporate governance, as well as leadership of companies undergoing large-scale transformation and infrastructure development. Earlier in his career, he was Chief Financial Officer of Biltmore Farms LLC and the Chief Financial Officer of Security Capital Group. 'Enterprise IT needs are changing fast, and that puts new pressure on data centers to deliver more capacity, more connectivity, and more flexibility,' Szurek said. 'Flexential is in a strong position to meet those heightened demands, particularly as new technologies like AI continue driving infrastructure needs.' Stewart is a Senior Advisor to Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners (MSIP) who manages and evaluates digital infrastructure investments. He has held several executive roles, including CEO of Evoque and Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Financial Officer of TierPoint. He has positioned private equity-backed businesses for long-term growth, with a focus on enterprise and hyperscale deployments. 'Having spent more than a decade engaging with Flexential from across the table, I've had a front-row seat to the evolution of its platform and the strength of its leadership,' Stewart said. 'That insight positions me to help accelerate Flexential's momentum as it continues to expand and lead in enterprise data center solutions.' Flexential's Board of Directors provides oversight and guidance to the company, and, in collaboration with the executive team, helps align key priorities related to market development, investment planning, and operational execution. The promotion of Ryan Mallory to President and Chief Operating Officer earlier this month demonstrates Flexential's continued alignment of leadership and resources in support of its long-term growth strategy. Additionally, late last year Flexential received an investment from MSIP, alongside continuing foundational capital support from GI Partners, to accelerate growth and support Flexential's mission to meet the increasing need for digital infrastructure. About Flexential Flexential empowers the IT journey of the most complex businesses by offering customizable IT solutions designed for today's demanding high-density computing requirements. With colocation, cloud, connectivity, data protection, and professional services, the FlexAnywhere® platform anchors our services in 40+ data centers across 18 highly connected markets on a scalable 100Gbps+ private network backbone. Flexential solutions are strategically engineered to meet the most stringent challenges in security, compliance, and resiliency. Experience the power of IT flexibility and how we enable digital transformation at Media Contact Alison Brooker Corporate Marketing [email protected] Christian Rizzo Gregory FCA for Flexential [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Flexential
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Flexential Adds 2 Board Members to Support Enterprise Infrastructure Strategy
Paul Szurek and Andy Stewart offer leadership experience across data center development and scaling operations CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Flexential, a leading provider of secure and flexible data center solutions, has appointed Paul Szurek and Andy Stewart to its Board of Directors in a move to further strengthen and accelerate its leadership amid a growing demand for enterprise-scale digital infrastructure. Szurek and Stewart join the Board as Flexential continues to expand its integrated platform of colocation, cloud, interconnection, and data protection services. Their appointments reflect the company's focus on growing its national footprint of high-density data centers and supporting enterprise customers through low-latency interconnection and scalable data center solutions. "Paul and Andy bring a strategic mindset shaped by decades spent working in the data center industry," said Chris Downie, CEO of Flexential. "They understand what it takes to scale operations, build ecosystems of high-value partners, align technology and enterprise demand, and anticipate the market. Their perspective will be especially valuable as we continue to expand and deliver the scaled-edge colocation and network infrastructure behind next-generation technologies like AI." Szurek, a private consultant and former President and CEO of CoreSite, has experience in data center operations, capital markets, and corporate governance, as well as leadership of companies undergoing large-scale transformation and infrastructure development. Earlier in his career, he was Chief Financial Officer of Biltmore Farms LLC and the Chief Financial Officer of Security Capital Group. "Enterprise IT needs are changing fast, and that puts new pressure on data centers to deliver more capacity, more connectivity, and more flexibility," Szurek said. "Flexential is in a strong position to meet those heightened demands, particularly as new technologies like AI continue driving infrastructure needs." Stewart is a Senior Advisor to Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners (MSIP) who manages and evaluates digital infrastructure investments. He has held several executive roles, including CEO of Evoque and Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Financial Officer of TierPoint. He has positioned private equity-backed businesses for long-term growth, with a focus on enterprise and hyperscale deployments. "Having spent more than a decade engaging with Flexential from across the table, I've had a front-row seat to the evolution of its platform and the strength of its leadership," Stewart said. "That insight positions me to help accelerate Flexential's momentum as it continues to expand and lead in enterprise data center solutions." Flexential's Board of Directors provides oversight and guidance to the company, and, in collaboration with the executive team, helps align key priorities related to market development, investment planning, and operational execution. The promotion of Ryan Mallory to President and Chief Operating Officer earlier this month demonstrates Flexential's continued alignment of leadership and resources in support of its long-term growth strategy. Additionally, late last year Flexential received an investment from MSIP, alongside continuing foundational capital support from GI Partners, to accelerate growth and support Flexential's mission to meet the increasing need for digital infrastructure. About FlexentialFlexential empowers the IT journey of the most complex businesses by offering customizable IT solutions designed for today's demanding high-density computing requirements. With colocation, cloud, connectivity, data protection, and professional services, the FlexAnywhere® platform anchors our services in 40+ data centers across 18 highly connected markets on a scalable 100Gbps+ private network backbone. Flexential solutions are strategically engineered to meet the most stringent challenges in security, compliance, and resiliency. Experience the power of IT flexibility and how we enable digital transformation at Media ContactAlison BrookerCorporate Marketing Christian RizzoGregory FCA for Flexentialchristian@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Flexential
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
As AI use grows, so do CIO concerns about cybersecurity
This story was originally published on CIO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CIO Dive newsletter. IT leaders say their organization's investment in AI has increased its vulnerability, according to a Flexential survey published this month. The IT infrastructure provider surveyed more than 350 technology leaders. More than half of IT decision-makers said they're storing and processing more sensitive data than before. They also expressed concerns about where sensitive data is being stored, such as closer to the edge of a network. One-quarter of respondents said the increase in employees involved in AI management has led to more vulnerabilities. Other concerns include the complexity of AI applications, which creates a larger attack surface. More than 2 in 5 IT leaders said their cybersecurity team doesn't understand how to protect AI applications, while 47% reported staffing gaps related to AI and cybersecurity. Enterprises are in desperate need of stronger cybersecurity teams and better controls as AI amplifies existing concerns and exposes new vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity pros often top lists of in-demand tech roles. Even with a souring tech labor market, cybersecurity engineers and analysts were in high demand last month, according to a CompTIA analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. For businesses that are already beefing up cybersecurity plans, leaders are paying closer attention to privacy and data security measures with a focus on mitigating misuse and the increased threats tied to AI, according to a Gallagher study published in March. Enterprises still have some time to get ahead of threat actors using AI, but the window is closing. CIOs hope that, despite potential risks, AI adoption will improve their cybersecurity in the long run. 'There's thousands upon thousands of machines and endpoints that we have within our environment,' Sorin Hilgen, chief digital officer and in-country CIO at EG America, told CIO Dive. AI can help the company monitor and alert teams when something requires further attention, Hilgen said.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Flexential Secures Strategic Real Estate Control in Atlanta with Acquisition of Two Facilities
Ownership of Douglasville 2 and Norcross facilities enhances customer stability, scalability, and operational flexibility CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Flexential, a leading provider of secure and flexible data center solutions, has closed its acquisition of two of its Atlanta-area locations, Douglasville 2 and Norcross, solidifying its presence in one of the country's fastest-growing data center hubs. These purchases give Flexential full ownership of its Atlanta data center footprint, which also includes Douglasville 1, acquired in 2023, and Alpharetta. This portfolio-wide transition from leasing to ownership allows the company to make long-term infrastructure investments and deliver consistent service to its customers while offering greater operational agility. "Atlanta data center capacity is in great demand, and owning these facilities strengthens our ability to provide long-term reliability and scalability across the Southeast and beyond," said Ryan Mallory, President and COO of Flexential. "Full control of our infrastructure real estate enables us to continue to invest in enhancements, ensure pricing stability, and reinforce our commitment to secure, high-performance solutions for our customers." Douglasville 2, at 1750 N. River Road, is a 358,000-square-foot facility designed to optimize high-density colocation workloads. It offers 36 MW capacity and chilled water piping technology to deliver low-latency network connectivity. Norcross, located at 2775 Northwoods Parkway, is Flexential's Atlanta hub for cloud and data protection, along with colocation solution capability. A 1.8 MW, 32,740-square-foot facility, it provides premium connectivity through a scalable 100-gigabit network backbone and reliable access to more than 80 carriers to ensure cost-efficient, high-performance connectivity with built-in redundancy. Atlanta, recently recognized by CBRE as the national leader in data center net absorption, has emerged as a prime location for technology enterprises in recent years because of supportive tax incentives, robust fiber infrastructure, affordable power, and a low disaster risk. These conditions make Atlanta a reliable base for digital operations in industries such as finance, health care, telecommunications, and banking. Flexential operates 40 data centers across 18 U.S. markets and has more than 330 MW of built and under-development capacity to support enterprise digital transformation, cloud adoption, and the growing demands of hyperscale and AI workloads. Its FlexAnywhere® platform integrates colocation, cloud, connectivity, and data protection with managed and professional services to give businesses scalable and secure IT infrastructure solutions. The company received an investment from Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners (MSIP) in October and, alongside continuing support from GI Partners, continues to expand its growth strategy and strengthen its national presence. For more information on Flexential's comprehensive suite of tailored infrastructure capabilities and customized IT solutions, visit About FlexentialFlexential empowers the IT journey of the most complex businesses by offering customizable IT solutions designed for today's demanding high-density computing requirements. With colocation, cloud, connectivity, data protection, and professional services, the FlexAnywhere® platform anchors our services in 40 data centers across 18 highly connected markets on a scalable 100Gbps+ private network backbone. Flexential solutions are strategically engineered to meet the most stringent challenges in security, compliance, and resiliency. Experience the power of IT flexibility and how we enable digital transformation at Media ContactAlison BrookerCorporate Christian RizzoGregory FCA for Flexentialchristian@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Flexential Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
26-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Flexential and Lumen Expand Network-as-a-Service Capabilities for Businesses
Flexential, a leading provider of secure and flexible data center solutions, and Lumen Technologies (LUMN), have expanded on-demand networking services to new businesses. Lumen's Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) platform is now integrated with Flexential's FlexAnywhere® platform, allowing Flexential customers to instantly purchase, use, and manage Lumen networking services. 'Lumen and Flexential are bringing Network-as-a-Service capabilities to businesses looking for the flexibility, security, and agility that on-demand connections provide,' said Dave Ward, Lumen Chief Technology and Product Officer. 'Lumen NaaS is transforming the way businesses manage connectivity, offering a quick and easy network buying experience to solve business challenges and manage growing connectivity demands being driven by AI.' Organizations in all Flexential data centers, more than 42 FlexAnywhere® locations, now have access to scalable, on-demand network services, enhanced connectivity for remote and endpoint locations, and customized software-defined bandwidth solutions through a cloud-like buying experience from Lumen. 'Today's enterprise customers are seeking platforms that foster collaboration and innovation with their partners,' said Ryan Mallory, COO at Flexential. 'By partnering with Lumen, we're expanding the FlexAnywhere® platform with additional carrier destinations on our Cloud Fabric. This partnership underscores our commitment to building an open ecosystem that supports customer choice and flexibility. With these expansions, we're delivering a next-generation interconnection solution that is both customer-driven and automated, empowering our customers to scale with ease.' Lumen NaaS nodes will be physically located in Flexential's Hillsboro, OR, Aurora, CO, and Plano, TX data centers, and customers colocated in any Flexential data center will be able to access Lumen NaaS using Flexential's private backbone. The Lumen NaaS portfolio includes Internet On-Demand, DDoS Essentials, Lumen Defender and Ethernet On- Demand. All services are available to customers within the Lumen partner ecosystem. According to Gartner®, 'By 2026, 30% of enterprises will automate more than half of their network activities, an increase from under 10% in mid-2023.' This highlights the growing importance of interconnection-led and software-defined infrastructure, especially as the data industry transitions to fabric-based models. In this approach, a single port can offer multiple services, while API- and portal-based controls enable intuitive customer experiences—all consolidated within a unified platform. Flexential's FlexAnywhere platform enables customers to interconnect to their ecosystems and access their digital infrastructure quickly and easily for improved operational efficiency. This partnership follows Flexential's other recent milestones as part of an ongoing expansion of its interconnectivity offerings such as the launch of Flexential Fabric and the industry's first bilateral peering pathway to Wasabi Technologies. Gartner®, Hype Cycle™ for I&O Automation, 2024, 26 July 2024. GARTNER and Hype Cycle are registered trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. About Flexential Flexential empowers the IT journey of the most complex businesses by offering customizable IT solutions designed for today's demanding high-density computing requirements. With colocation, cloud, connectivity, data protection, and professional services, the FlexAnywhere® platform anchors our services in 42 data centers across 19 highly connected markets on a 100Gbps private network backbone. Flexential solutions are strategically engineered to meet the most stringent challenges in security, compliance, and resiliency. Experience the power of IT flexibility and how we enable digital transformation at About Lumen Technologies Lumen is unleashing the world's digital potential. We ignite business growth by connecting people, data, and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. As the trusted network for AI, Lumen uses the scale of our network to help companies realize AI's full potential. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security, managed service, and digital platform capabilities, we meet our customers' needs today and as they build for tomorrow. For news and insights visit LinkedIn: /lumentechnologies, X: @lumentechco, Facebook: /lumentechnologies, Instagram: @lumentechnologies, and YouTube: /lumentechnologies. Media Contacts Christian Rizzo Gregory FCA for Flexential Courtney Morton
