Digital Realty, the world’s largest provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data center and interconnection solutions, has launched the Digital Realty Innovation Lab (DRIL), a dedicated facility designed to help enterprises test and optimize infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI) and hybrid cloud strategies before full-scale rollout.
Located at Digital Realty’s Northern Virginia campus, the DRIL provides a live colocation data center environment where customers can validate workloads, optimize performance, and integrate seamlessly with cloud and network providers via ServiceFabric®, the company’s global interconnection and orchestration platform. Both existing and new customers can simulate production environments, reducing risk while accelerating time-to-market.
“Innovation isn’t optional – it’s a competitive requirement in a world where data volumes and AI adoption are accelerating,” said Chris Sharp, Chief Technology Officer at Digital Realty. “Yet, many enterprises still deploy complex infrastructure without the ability to test, validate, or optimize in real-world conditions. The DRIL changes that. It provides a live, high-density environment where customers gain real-time, data-driven insights to fine-tune their deployments before scaling. As hybrid IT, AI, and colocation strategies converge, the innovation lab is purpose-built to help enterprises stay agile, reduce risk, and move faster—from proof of concept to production.”
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The lab features high-density AI and HPC testing, supporting workloads up to 150kW per cabinet, and offers an AI optimization environment through the ePlus AI Experience Center to evaluate GPU, cooling, and power requirements. Customers can also validate hybrid cloud strategies with direct connectivity, orchestrate AI workloads across the Private AI Exchange (AIPx), and conduct latency testing across multiple geographies.
By eliminating guesswork and enabling data-driven validation, the DRIL positions itself as a critical tool for enterprises seeking to accelerate innovation in an era of rapid AI adoption and hybrid cloud expansion.