The Top 10 Data Center Stories for October 2020

Microsoft, Edge and Ashburn. Those were the hot topics last month for readers of Data Center Frontier. Three stories about innovation and growth at Microsoft were among our 10 most popular stories in October, while two articles focused on the latest trends and players in edge computing. New developments in Northern Virginia’s “Data Center Alley” are always of interest to DCF readers, as was the case with the most popular story of the month.

Here are the 10 most popular stories on Data Center Frontier in October 2020, in order of article views:

• $360 Million Project Planned at Prime Site in Ashburn’s Data Center Alley: Plans are underway for a $360 million data center project in the heart of Data Center Alley in Ashburn, Virginia, situated at the most connected point on the Internet.
• Microsoft: Your Cloud Data May Soon Be Stored in DNA and Holograms: Microsoft is working on new storage technologies to house massive amounts of data in DNA and holograms. These storage technologies could disrupt how data centers are designed and operate.
• Goldman Sachs Launches $500 Million Data Center Development Platform: Wall Street continues to pour money into the data center sector. Goldman Sachs is investing $500 million to create Global Compute Infrastructure LP, a new data center development platform led by former executives of Digital Realty.
• The Emerging Players in Edge Computing: At Data Center Frontier, we’re tracking the players in the emerging edge infrastructure sector. Here’s a look at our recent profiles of some of the companies that are focused on deploying edge data centers.
• 5 Keys to Success in Data Center Site Selection: A data center is a long-term investment, and choosing a location requires being sensitive both the needs of the business and the surrounding community. A new special report series, courtesy of Stack Infrastructure,, looks at 5 keys to success in data center site selection.
• Azure Space Connects Microsoft Edge to Satellites (Including SpaceX): Microsoft Azure Space will feature satellite broadband from SpaceX Starlink and SES, which will support the Azure Modular Data Center (MDC) to create satellite-connected edge data centers.
• Microsoft Plans Azure Cloud Expansions in Iowa, Virginia and Phoenix: Microsoft continues to expand its global data center infrastructure, buying land to add massive amounts of server capacity in key North American cloud hubs in Iowa, Northern Virginia and Phoenix.
• AI Hardware is Disrupting the Data Center: Here’s Who to Watch: As powerful new chips target AI workloads, here’s a look at the players to watch, including specialized hardware from startups, incumbents and hyperscaler operators.
• Data Center Demand: Hyperscale Action is Robust, But Enterprise Buying Slows: More than 6 months into COVID-19 pandemic, data center demand is bifurcated, with robust buying by hyperscale operators and cloud platforms, and a slowdown in spending by many enterprise users.
• The Business Edge Emerges: Deals Highlight Growing Investment in Edge Computing: The Business Edge is drawing closer, as seen in a flurry of announcements that showcase the many ways stakeholders in distributed computing are stepping up their investment and deploying real-world edge infrastructure.

In October, Data Center Frontier’s guest column series, Voices of the Industry, featured insight from leaders at Park Place Technologies,  wtec, Sabey Data Centers, Anord Mardix, Chatsworth Products and Intel. Here are the Voices columns that were most popular with DCF readers last month:

• Next-Gen Data Management, Powered by Analytics and the Cloud (Schneider Electric): Wendi Runyon, VP of Strategy and Innovation at Schneider Electric, takes a look at data center management through the lens of analytics and the power of the cloud.
• Data Center Sustainability: The Future is Renewable, Efficient and Innovative (Echelon Data Centres): Damien Gaynor, Chief Marketing Officer at  Echelon Data Centres Limited, explores the future of data center sustainability and what it will take to reach efficiency goals.
• Building A Smarter, Brighter and More Secure Data Center (WTEC): There is no better time to focus on data center solutions, connectivity, and ensuring our organizations stay secure than today. Timothy Miscovich, Chief Commercial Officer at WTEC, shares strategies and solutions to keep your data center safe.

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