TWO data centre specialists have forged a partnership which they say will improve the ability of companies to access cloud services across Scotland.

The partnership has been billed as bridging a digital divide between two of Scotland’s biggest economic areas. It brings together Data Vita, which operates the massive Fortis data centre in Lanarkshire, and brightsolid, whose data centres are based in Dundee and Aberdeen.

And it is said it will allow faster collaboration and data sharing across the country, as well as quicker access to data and greater diversity in communications at lower cost.

Both companies say they allow customers to mix traditional IT infrastructure with on-demand native services. Until now brightsolid’s clouds have never been placed outside its own data centres.

Chief executive Richard Higgs, who noted that the company is “passionate about the quality and security of our cloud”, stated: “It gives us an opportunity to further our cloud expansion across Scotland.”

He added: “We’re on an expansion trail. The one [data centre] in Aberdeen opened in November last year and it has been a huge success for us, even with the challenges of the energy sector which are not set to get any better based on the prices we are seeing at the moment. The centre is doing very well and [is] profitable.

“We’re delivering quality, security and fine value, and it’s those three things which people are looking for in times of change.”

Mr Higgs signalled that the company, which is wholly owned by publisher DC Thomson, sees big potential to expand south of the Border. He said it is “big backers of regional cloud”, stating: “You have to hold data and close to the customer in our view. So having three facilities now in Scotland in effect does Scotland for us, so no guesses where we are going next. It is about winning customers south of the Border then looking at where we should be placing our data centres in the future.”

He added: “Things like the internet could fail. One has got to be prepared for ensuring things like hospital services will absolutely 100 per cent operate regardless of what happens to the internet.

“That is something that we absolutely guarantee in the way we operate both our data centres and our communications – it’s really important.”

Yet while he pointed to the possibility of opening data centres outside Scotland, Mr Higgs said cities such as Dundee and Aberdeen are attractive for data companies to set up because of costs compared with parts of London.

Asked whether brightsolid, which employs 60 staff in its data centres, and Data Vita had contemplated a more formal merger, Mr Higgs said a partnership was favoured partly because some customers prefer to have their data distributed across two companies. This is to help mitigate the risk should their data be compromised.

Gareth Lush, commercial director at Data Vita, said: “Being selected by brightsolid as their data centre partner in central Scotland is a real endorsement for Data Vita. Quality and security are our priority at every level and partnering with brightsolid means our service offering is now completely unique.”