Summit (company)
{{Short description|US-based IT services company}}
{{use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Summit (formerly Deft)
| logo = Summit.svg
| former_name = ServerCentral, Deft, Summit Hosting
| type =
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| defunct =
| key_people = {{plainlist|
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| industry = IT services
| products =
| production =
| services = Colocation, Managed Services, Cloud IaaS, Network Services, Cloud Hosting
| revenue =
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| owner =
| num_employees = 250
| parent =
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| location_city = Alpharetta, Georgia
| location_country = United States
| locations = 16
| homepage = {{URL|www.summithq.com}}
}}{{Promotional tone|date=May 2022}}
Summit (formerly Deft) is an IT infrastructure provider of colocation, cloud infrastructure, IaaS, DRaaS, network connectivity, managed storage, and managed services in data centers across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Some of the company's customers include CDW, Outbrain, New Relic, Ars Technica, Cars.com, and Shopify.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.inc.com/inc5000/profile/servercentral | title=ServerCentral - Chicago, IL - The Inc. 5000 | magazine=Inc. Magazine | accessdate=September 27, 2012}}{{cite web | url=http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2011/10/28/servercentral-expands-as-growth-continues/ | title=ServerCentral Expands as Growth Continues | publisher=Data Center Knowledge | date=October 28, 2011 | accessdate=September 27, 2012 | author=Miller, Rich}}{{cite web | url=https://www.deft.com | title=ServerCentral: Colocation and Managed Data Center Solutions | publisher=Server Central | accessdate=September 27, 2012}} In 2018, Summit (formerly Deft) was named one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States by Inc. Magazine for the eighth consecutive year.
History
Jordan Lowe and Daniel Brosk began hosting services for friends and local businesses on virtual private servers, growing to over 10,000 accounts under the company name ServerCentral. Growth spiked when Lowe and Brosk began advertising free domain names in exchange for prepaid hosting accounts on a daily deal website.{{cite web | url=http://www.illinoistech.org/story.aspx/305353 | title=ITA Spotlight: ServerCentral | publisher=Illinois Technology Association | date=December 7, 2011 | accessdate=September 27, 2012 | author=Thomas, S. | archive-date=May 21, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521202903/http://www.illinoistech.org/story.aspx/305353 | url-status=dead }} The team switched from manual billing and account creation processes to a lifecycle hosting automation solution from SWsoft, which automated the full customer lifecycle.{{cite news | title=SWsoft brings order to hosting providers — Helps automate operations of growing firms. | publisher=Computer Reseller News | date=August 26, 2002 | author=Torode, Christina}}{{cite web | url=http://www.parallels.com/news/id%2C7004 | title=Study Predicts Internet Hosting Companies Targeting SMBs, Web Services to Brighten, Grow Weak U.S. Economy | publisher=Parallels | date=August 13, 2002 | accessdate=September 27, 2012}}
In 2002, ServerCentral's headquarters and server operations moved to Chicago, IL.
In 2003, ServerCentral opened data centers in Ashburn, Virginia and San Jose, California. ServerCentral's private 10-Gigabit IP network connected the data centers. That same year, ServerCentral sponsored services for PHP.net, an open-source community for the development of PHP scripting.{{cite web | url=http://www.wingsix.com/news_article001.htm | title=Server Central Sponsors PHP.net Open Source Site | publisher=WingSix | date=August 28, 2003 | accessdate=September 27, 2012 | archive-date=October 22, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022223807/http://www.wingsix.com/news_article001.htm | url-status=dead }}
In 2004, ServerCentral expanded to Tokyo.
In 2005, ServerCentral rebranded its web hosting division to WingSix, and in 2008, sold it to UK2 Group in order to concentrate on managed data center infrastructure.{{cite web | url=http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/04/06/servercentral-expands-in-chicago-market/ | title=ServerCentral Expands in Chicago Market | publisher=Data Center Knowledge | date=April 6, 2009 | accessdate=September 27, 2012 | author=Miller, Rich}}{{cite web | url=http://www.hostreview.com/news/310708servercentral.html | title=ServerCentral Completes Sale of WingSix Brand to UK-2 Group | publisher=Host Review | date=July 31, 2008 | accessdate=September 27, 2012}} ServerCentral expanded into Amsterdam and began its collaboration with CacheFly, a high-speed content delivery network (CDN).
In 2006, ServerCentral was one of the first large-scale networks to deploy native IPv6 traffic.
In 2009, ServerCentral expanded its data center footprint into Elk Grove Village, Illinois by signing a long-term leasing agreement with DuPont Fabros Technology (DFT).{{cite web | url=http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/servercentral-opens-chicago-data-center | title=ServerCentral Opens Chicago Data Center | publisher=Web Host Industry Review | date=April 3, 2009 | accessdate=September 27, 2012}} DFT has an environmentally conscious design, which includes battery-free UPS systems, advanced mechanical automation, and high voltage throughout the power distribution system.
In May 2009, server operations opened in a new Elk Grove Village, IL facility and ServerCentral successfully completed the SAS 70 Type II audit. SingleHop signed a $2.7 million agreement for colocation space and support at ServerCentral's Elk Grove data center.{{cite web | url=http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/05/21/singlehop-expands-with-servercentral/ | title=SingleHop Expands with ServerCentral | publisher=Data Center Knowledge | date=May 21, 2009 | accessdate=September 27, 2012 | author=Miller, Rich}} SingleHop signed a 5-year, $7-million contract with ServerCentral again in April 2011 for approximately 80 cabinets.{{cite web | url=http://www.servercentral.net/files/451-Research-Daily-T1R-ServerCentral-21-May-2009.pdf | title=ServerCentral closes $2.5m, three-year colocation deal with hoster SingleHop | publisher=ServerCentral | date=May 21, 2009 | accessdate=September 27, 2012 | author=Golding, Dan }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
ServerCentral expanded three times within DFT between 2009 and 2012, bringing its total Elk Grove footprint to approximately 40,000 square feet and 5.5 megawatts of critical load.{{cite web | url=http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/colocation-firm-server-central-details-plans-to-expand-chicago-data-center | title=Colocation Firm Server Central Details Plans to Expand Chicago Data Center | publisher=Web Host Industry Review | date=August 23, 2011 | accessdate=September 27, 2012}}{{cite web | url=http://www.channelpartnersonline.com/news/2011/08/servercentral-beefs-up-chicago-data-center.aspx | title=ServerCentral beefs up Chicago Data Center | publisher=Channel Partners | date=August 23, 2011 | accessdate=September 27, 2012}}{{cite web | url=http://it.tmcnet.com/channels/data-center-network/articles/215345-servercentral-expanding-chicago-high-density-data-center-space.htm | title=ServerCentral Expanding Chicago High-Density Data Center Space | publisher=Infotech Spotlight | date=September 6, 2011 | accessdate=September 27, 2012 | author=Lahtinen, John}}
In 2010, ServerCentral introduced Dedicated Private Cloud (DPC), a single-tenant infrastructure tuned for an enterprise setup.{{cite web | url=http://www.mspmentor.net/2010/11/12/servercentral-launches-private-cloud-services/ | title=ServerCentral Launches Private Cloud Services | publisher=MSPmentor | date=November 12, 2010 | accessdate=September 27, 2012 | author=Courbanou, Dave | archive-date=June 6, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606125552/http://www.mspmentor.net/2010/11/12/servercentral-launches-private-cloud-services/ | url-status=usurped }} ServerCentral expanded within its Elk Grove Village, IL facility and made Inc. Magazine's list of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America.
In 2011, ServerCentral had 58 employees, $21.2 million in revenue, and 13% annual growth. In June 2012, ServerCentral launched ServerCentral Enterprise Cloud,{{cite web | url=http://www.hpcinthecloud.com/hpccloud/2012-06-11/servercentral_debuts_high_performance_cloud.html | title=ServerCentral Debuts High Performance Cloud | publisher=HPC in the Cloud | date=June 11, 2012 | accessdate=September 27, 2012 | archive-date=June 23, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623160656/http://www.hpcinthecloud.com/hpccloud/2012-06-11/servercentral_debuts_high_performance_cloud.html | url-status=dead }} a public IaaS.{{cite web | url=http://www.datacenterdynamics.com/focus/archive/2012/06/servercentral-launches-public-infrastructure-cloud | title=ServerCentral launches public infrastructure cloud | publisher=DatacenterDynamics | date=June 11, 2012 | accessdate=September 27, 2012 | author=Sverdlik, Yevgeniy}}{{cite news | url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/servercentral-unveil-enterprise-cloud-expo-140000741.html | title=ServerCentral to Unveil Enterprise Cloud at Expo | work=Yahoo! Finance | date=May 22, 2012 | accessdate=September 27, 2012}} ServerCentral completed the Type 2 SSAE 16 SOC 1 audit and climbed Inc. Magazine's list of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America.
In 2012, ServerCentral expanded to 40,000 square feet and 5.5 megawatts of critical load in Elk Grove Village, IL.{{cite web|url=http://www.servercentral.com/about/|website=ServerCentral.com |title=About ServerCentral Turing Group {{!}} SCTG |accessdate=April 5, 2020}}
In 2014, ServerCentral announced DDoS Mitigation with Radware.{{cite web|url=http://www.radware.com/newsevents/mediacoverage/2014/servercentral-announces-ddos-mitigation-solutions-using-radware/|website=Radware.com |title=ServerCentral Announces Updated DDoS Mitigation Solutions Using Radware Technology |accessdate=April 5, 2020}} ServerCentral also made the Inc. Magazine Honor Roll for being named to the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America for the fifth consecutive year.
In 2015, ServerCentral expanded its cloud portfolio with multi-tenant, managed VMware.{{cite web|url=http://www.servercentral.com/servercentral-expands-cloud-portfolio-multi-tenant-managed-vmware-solution/|website=ServerCentral.com |url-status=dead |title=ServerCentral Expands Cloud Portfolio with Multi-Tenant, Managed VMware Solution |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924100552/http://www.servercentral.com/servercentral-expands-cloud-portfolio-multi-tenant-managed-vmware-solution/ |archivedate=24 September 2015 |accessdate=April 5, 2020}}
In 2018, ServerCentral acquired Turing Group and became known as ServerCentral Turing Group (SCTG).{{cite web |title=Shift to the cloud drives merger activity |url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/john-pletz-technology/shift-cloud-drives-merger-activity|website=chicagobusiness.com |date=December 12, 2018 |accessdate=April 5, 2020}}
Moving into 2021, ServerCentral Turing Group rebranded as Deft. {{cite web |title=Chicago's ServerCentral Turing Group Rebrands As Deft |url=https://www.crn.com/news/cloud/chicago-s-servercentral-turing-group-rebrands-as-deft|website=crn.com |date=June 3, 2021 |accessdate=August 28, 2021}}
In 2024, Deft was acquired by Summit (formerly known as Summit Hosting). {{cite press release|title=Summit Acquires Managed Data Center Provider Deft|url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/02/29/2838033/0/en/Summit-Acquires-Managed-Data-Center-Provider-Deft.html|website=globenewswire.com |date=Feb 29, 2024|accessdate=April 4, 2025}} The company operated under the name Deft, a Summit company until fully rebranding under the Summit name in early 2025.
Services
=Data Center Services=
Summit operates sixteen data centers in which equipment, space, bandwidth, and add-on support are rented to retail customers. Summit is a SOC 2 Type II audited company and PCI-DSS compliant.{{cite web|url=https://www.deft.com/compliance|website=Deft.com |title=Compliance {{!}} SCTG |accessdate=April 5, 2020}}.
=Managed Services=
Managed services include dedicated servers, data center migrations, switch and router maintenance, VMware, storage, high-availability load balancers, backup and recovery, remote hands, firewalls, and application, service, and infrastructure monitoring.
=Disaster Recovery Services=
=Cloud Services=
Summit cloud computing services are private, shared, and hybrid IaaS platforms. Colocation customers can directly connect to third-party public cloud providers.