In early October 2024, a team from the SPESSE project’s Environment and Social Standards Nodes conducted an on-site inspection of the Lagos Rack Centre, operated by Infrafocus, to evaluate its suitability as a backup facility for the project’s certification portals. The inspection was part of a larger initiative to ensure that the certification infrastructure could meet the project’s reliability and connectivity requirements.
The SPESSE project, which aims to enhance capacity in managing sustainable procurement, environmental, and social standards, requires robust technological infrastructure to support its certification processes. The visit, which took place on October 4th and 5th, was triggered by the need for a reliable backup for the Environment and Social Standards Nodes’ certification portals.
During Day One, the team, led by Mr. Bola Majekodumi of Infrafocus, toured the data centre facilities. They observed the setup of high-performance computers and the integration of various cybersecurity measures to ensure network security. Infrafocus also provided a comprehensive explanation of the network architecture, including its partnerships with major internet service providers like MTN, Airtel, and Glo to ensure stable connectivity.
Although the data center met many of the SPESSE project’s needs, including storage and server uptime, the team raised concerns about its ability to serve as the primary host for the certification portals. Discussions centered on the necessity of enhancing network reliability and adding another internet access line to improve service. The team also considered implementing a Service Level Agreement (SLA) to ensure optimal internet performance.
Day Two of the visit focused on addressing these concerns, with Infrafocus proposing a solution to mirror the data from Lagos to a secondary data center in Abuja for redundancy. This would ensure continuous service in case of network disruptions.
The final recommendation from the assessment was that while the certification portal would be hosted in the cloud, the Infrafocus facilities could serve as an effective backup. The team agreed on the importance of upgrading the existing infrastructure and adding another internet line to enhance reliability. With these adjustments, the SPESSE project can move forward with confidence, knowing that it has a reliable backup system in place for the critical certification portal infrastructure. The assessment marked a significant step towards ensuring the success of the project’s technological infrastructure and its ongoing delivery.