Advanced Computing in the Age of AI | Thursday, March 28, 2024

Uptime Institute Grieves the Passing of Founder Ken Brill 

<p>Uptime Institute, a division of The 451 Group, today announced with great sadness that its founder, <span class="xn-person">Kenneth G. Brill</span>, passed away on Tuesday.</p>

NEW YORKAug. 1 — Uptime Institute, a division of The 451 Group, today announced with great sadness that its founder, Kenneth G. Brill, passed away on Tuesday.

"Ken Brill was a rare and special man," said Martin McCarthy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The 451 Group. "Part visionary thinker, part ruthless pragmatist, he was an iconoclast and innovator, and a man of great integrity and passion. He is legitimately known around the world as 'The Father of the Data Center Industry.' On behalf of our firm, the clients that Ken devoted his life to serving, and the overall global IT industry, we collectively mourn his passing, and express our condolences to his family and intimates. We will all deeply miss this brilliant and bristly individual."

Mr. Brill was the Founder of the Uptime Institute and the Site Uptime Network. Many data center industry innovations over the past 25 years are underpinned by his original concepts, including dual power, the industry's Tier system for evaluating and classifying data center facility performance, and IT/facility energy efficiency and productivity measurement. Mr. Brill's research into the economic meltdown of Moore's Law, data center productivity and energy efficiency, and IT's declining economics form core knowledge to be taken into account by corporate leaders charged with business performance, profitability and sustainability.

"Ken Brill was inspired in his thinking, and resolute in his principles," said Julian Kudritzki, COO of Uptime Institute. "As a personality and an innovator, he left an indelible imprint on the IT and data center industry. His innovations are so fundamental to the progression of the data center industry over time that it is difficult to believe they can be traced back to the energy and passion of a single man. With Ken's passing, the industry mourns a ferocious critic and committed agent of change."

Mr. Brill received Lifetime Achievement Awards from 7x24 Exchange International and Datacenter Dynamics. He held an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Redlandsand an MBA from the Harvard Business School. Mr. Brill also received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Redlands.

About Uptime Institute

Uptime Institute, a division of The 451 Group, provides independent thought leadership, certification, education and professional services for the global data center and emerging Digital Infrastructure industry. Uptime Institute is best known for its creation and global administration of the Tier Standard for Data Center Design, Construction and Operational Sustainability. It serves all industry stakeholders, but concentrates on enterprise and third-party data center owners and operators. IT and facilities equipment manufacturers, service providers, design engineers, and construction firms are also served.

About The 451 Group

Headquartered in New York, with offices in key locations – including BostonSan FranciscoWashington DCLondonSeattleDenverSao PauloDubaiSingapore and Moscow – The 451 Group owns and operates Uptime Institute, an independent provider of thought leadership, certification, education and professional services for the global data center and emerging Digital Infrastructure industry. The 451 Group also owns 451 Research, a leading technology-industry syndicated research and data firm focused on the business of enterprise IT innovation, and Yankee Group, the preeminent research and advisory firm equipping companies to profit in a mobile world.

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Source: Uptime Institute

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