Case Study: AHEAD scales its enterprise cloud lab and accelerates POCs with Equinix

AHEAD expands its enterprise solutions, forges new cloud and technology partnerships

AHEAD, a Chicago-based leader in enterprise cloud solutions, runs a vendor‑independent AHEAD Lab that helps large organizations test and adopt cloud technologies. As enterprises move to a cloud‑first model, AHEAD needed a scalable, secure facility with direct access to many cloud and technology vendors to run enterprise‑scale proofs of concept, demonstrate public‑cloud value and simplify clients’ IT transformation.

AHEAD moved the lab’s core infrastructure into the Equinix Chicago IBX, leveraging Platform Equinix with Interconnection Oriented Architecture, Equinix Fabric and Performance Hub to connect directly to 75+ partners (including AWS and Azure). Equinix handled data center operations and provided high availability, fast private interconnection and scalable power/cooling, enabling faster POCs, up to 600 client engagements annually, greater vendor‑independent validations and more time for AHEAD to innovate—driving stronger partner relationships and new revenue opportunities.

AHEAD

Brett Foy

VP of Engineering