Intelligent Data Centres Issue 08 | Page 26

PROJECT FOCUS EUROPE Backblaze, a global leader in computer backup and cloud storage, has announced it has opened its first European data centre in Amsterdam. It is the company’s fourth data centre and the first outside of the western United States. Backblaze is also announcing the concept of regions as part of the launch. When creating a Backblaze account, customers can choose whether that account’s data will be stored in the EU Central or US West region. The choice made at account creation time will dictate where all of that account’s data is stored, regardless of product choice (Computer Backup or B2 Cloud Storage). MIDDLE EAST The University of Bahrain (UOB) has announced that it will launch a new cloud computing degree program to prepare the next generation of cloud professionals. UOB will introduce a one- year cloud computing certificate and a full cloud computing bachelor’s degree, a first in the Middle East, in collaboration with AWS Educate Cloud Degree initiative. AWS Educate is AWS’s global initiative to provide students and educators with the resources needed to accelerate cloud-related learning. The AWS Educate Cloud Degree initiative is a collaborative effort between AWS Educate and leading educational institutions to develop degrees and certificates in cloud computing. The new one-year cloud computing 101 certificate will launch in the beginning of 2020 and will initially commence for UOB’s students in the engineering, ICT and business colleges, to then be offered across all degree courses by 2021. 26 Issue 08 0 www.intelligentdatacentres.com