In just twelve years, from a simple IT control room to a fully fledged Operations Command with own Security Operations Center. Back in 2013, OEDIV Oetker Daten- und Informationsverarbeitung KG has implemented its first control room together with JST: two workstations, a classic wood design – at that time, a modern and pragmatic solution. Twelve years later, on the company’s 30th anniversary, the situation has completely changed. OEDIV, as a data center service provider, has grown enormously. The demands on IT security and 24/7 monitoring have risen exponentially – and the role of the control center has evolved accordingly.
“Today we monitor around the clock not only the entire building management technology – from alarm systems and cameras to air conditioning – but also all applications of the data center. That means we ensure monitoring of all our clients’ IT systems,” explains Sami Kteiche, Executive Manager Operations Command. “If a fault occurs somewhere, we can see it immediately on the video walls. In more than 85 percent of all cases, our colleagues can resolve the problems independently – something that was unthinkable a decade ago.”
From wooden desks to a high-tech control center
When Kteiche joined OEDIV in 2014, the situation was very different: three to four operators, weekday shifts, printers and punch cards still in use. “My mission was clear: we had to move away from this setup and significantly strengthen IT competence. 24/7 operation, independent troubleshooting, more responsibility.”
Today, the modern control room environment counts 28 employees, including 24 working in shifts – a quantum leap. The team’s growth also brought spatial changes: walls were removed, the control center was expanded, and new workstations were created. The result: two high-tech areas – Control Center and Security Operations Center (SOC) – each with its own video wall, plus a workstation for the team leader and a meeting room.
A true success story and proof of a recruitment concept that is as unusual as it is successful: Years ago, Albert Sylpeja was one of the first career changers who seized the opportunity to develop in-depth IT expertise in the areas of "Managed SOC" and "Data Center Monitoring." Today, he is the team leader in the OEDIV IT control center and thus the "right-hand man" of Executive Manager Sami Kteiche.
Albert Sylpeja
Team leader - Operations Command (OEDIV)
“When I think about all the details that were considered for this project – from patch cables and KVM consoles to the specifications of the operator consoles – and see the result today as a complete picture: It’s impressive and at the same time what makes JST projects so appealing. Our aim is to offer our customers sophisticated end-to-end solutions – tailored precisely to their processes and needs.”
Michael Hallbauer
Project manager (JST)
Strategy: career changers instead of a lack of specialists
Sami Kteiche: “Our goal has always been clear: no silo mentality. That’s why the team rotates regularly between roles. Everyone should be capable of working in both areas. That way we can support each other and compensate for bottlenecks.” But how can that be achieved in an IT labour market that is particularly tight for shift work? OEDIV expert Kteiche found a path that surprises many companies: career changers. “We’re not looking for the one-to-one specialist, but for people with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. The soft skills have to fit. Technical knowledge is built up here.” He likes to tell one particular story: “Our first career changer is now a team leader – my right hand. He seized the opportunity back then, with full commitment and great passion.”
How competence and teamwork are strengthened
The recipe for success behind this HR strategy: internal training, on-the-job learning, and a continuously growing training system with documentation and video materials. “The effect is enormous – our senior staff pass on their knowledge directly. This not only strengthens competence but also team spirit,” summarises Sami Kteiche.
With the growth of the team and the expansion of responsibilities, spatial changes became necessary. After visits to the control room simulator and inspired by reference projects, the choice for the major upgrade once again fell on JST. “We didn’t just need new furniture. We wanted technical innovation. That was the decisive factor in continuing our partnership,” explains project manager Kteiche.
Control room technology that sets new standards
Among the highlights of the new components is the powerful, fully redundant KVM-over-IP solution JST MultiStreaming®. In combination with the Dynamic SplitControl feature, the additional integration of virtual machines, and the alarm software PixelDetection®, the work in both the Control Center and SOC has been significantly optimised. Sami Kteiche: “Today we can flexibly combine sources, arrange them via drag & drop, and operate them directly in real time. That saves routes, time – and above all, nerves.”
Another advantage is the SplitView option, which allows displays on the video wall to be arranged and scaled freely. “The number of tools keeps increasing – no video wall could ever be large enough. With SplitView, we can display different sources as a mix of small status windows and large working views. This finally gives us the flexibility we need.”
A successful combination of technology and team spirit
From two “wooden workstations” to a 28-person crew with broad expertise: together with JST, OEDIV has created a control room that combines monitoring and cybersecurity at the highest level. Whether ergonomic furniture, intuitive user interfaces, or high-performance KVM streaming solutions – for Sami Kteiche, the reasons for choosing JST again are clear: “It’s not only the continuous development of the technology but also the teamwork. The Jungmann team – Sina Hellmich, Michael Hallbauer, and Volker Weimer – really impressed us. Planning, ideas, implementation – everything fit perfectly. The overall package is simply unbeatable.”