London-based Virtus Data Centres has launched an online system to help its colocation clients deal with the challenges of data center infrastructure management (DCIM).

Virtus claims its Intelligent Portal is the industry’s first free solution to an increasingly expensive problem.

The Virtus Intelligent Portal (VIP) is web-based and promises customers a complete overview of their colocated data center usage.

Virtus said its VIP was designed in collaboration with IT automation specialist TDB Fusion and DCIM specialist iTRACS.

The partners pooled resources in order to include expertise and integration on a range of systems including Salesforce, Sage Accounting, Trend Building management and Schneider power monitoring.

Clients can use iTRACS licensing to integrate data from their IT assets.

With 3D visualizations of their set up and an updateable roadmap, customers can control their remotely co-located systems as if they were in their own data center, according to Virtus.

The system promises remote access control, trouble ticketing, invoicing and SLA performance monitoring.

The service was launched because clients need to visualize in order to manage their space, power, cooling and energy more efficiently.

According to Virtus’s product strategy director Matthew Larbey no other colocation provider is offering this ‘transparency’ and control.

“This is the first colo DCIM offering of its kind in the UK,” Larbey said.

“Everyone can collect data, but it’s what you do with it that makes it valuable.”

The portal can transform data into information that’s meaningful and can be acted upon, said TDB Fusion’s CEO Colin Aurelius.

“It’s an ideal offering for colocation customers with multiple data center assets,” Aurelius said.