DataHive is recognized as a leader in creating innovative approaches to secure data storage and network independent security technologies
By David Parker Calgary Herald
Published Oct 21, 2024
Marjorie Zingle, CEO of DataHive, has opened a second data centre on a whole floor of the Nexen tower. Photo by Courtesy, DataHive Postmedia Network
At age 81, Marjorie Zingle received one of the inaugural awards as a Top 7 Over 70 winner, for her work as founder and CEO of DataHive. Seeing age as no barrier, the classy entrepreneur, who is now an energetic and savvy 89, has launched her second data centre.
A child of the Depression, Zingle left home at 16 before finishing school, but says she has not stopped learning ever since. Many young women of the time were told they would never get anywhere in life, but that led her to work hard and prove them wrong, and she has never slowed down.
After selling three successful companies, Zingle was itching to get involved in something new. Fascinated by the tech space, on hearing of a failing data centre she purchased it and a small web hosting business, secured Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and began hosting client websites.
DataHive was launched 21 years ago at 840 – 7th Ave. S.W. It wasn’t easy.
Zingle set about installing new wiring and cabling, a powerful air-conditioning system and a dedicated backup generator, while contacting the company’s few paying clients to assure them of her passion to turn the firm around.
The result is DataHive — now recognized as a leader in creating innovative approaches to secure data storage and network independent security technologies. It provides the most efficient and cost-effective way to unravel and manage IT solutions, and has become the Western Canada hub providing direct access to more than 30 ISPs, resulting in 6,000 points-of-presence. Zingle’s clients receive global connectivity, exceptional speed, performance security and scalability.
This all came about through her first data centre, DH1, and its success meant the need for space to increase the number of data cabinets. So, still armed with her aggressive entrepreneurial spirit, Zingle has opened DH2. She says today’s CEOs are challenged to successfully maintain control over the internet evolution. They must also demonstrate to boards, investors and stakeholders how their strategies address the opportunities and issues inherent with new technology.
DataHive supports the underlying, often unseen infrastructure and technology powering these and other issues. And it has now added premium space across the street from DH1 — not only a place to store data, but a fortress of security, a resource of experts and expertise, and guaranteed long-term stability.
Zingle has leased the whole of the fourth floor of the Nexen Building, at 801 – 7th Ave. S.W., across from the DH1 building. DH2 is using 9,000 square feet of the 20,000 square feet — all with raised flooring — to house its new data centre of all-white cabinets and flooring, and has exciting plans for the rest of the space. Much of it will be an educational component to help clients stay ahead of the curve and adopt a nuanced approach to challenges such as AI, cybersecurity and legal issues through regulatory and insurance demands.
Tomas Florian, solutions architect at DataHive, says it will conduct educational seminars on the need to be proactive in cybersecurity, find leaks in software before hackers do, and report on vulnerability.
Forensic protection is a must. He says AI is still a baby that needs more control, but sending data that includes AI needs a huge amount of power, and DataHive can handle co-location support for any kind of computing. Clients and future clients will be taught how to establish guardrails to shield from the legalities of misuse.
Zingle still finds hers an exciting and ever-changing business where she and her dedicated staff must focus on exceeding expectations, always looking ahead to see what demands will bring.