Looking At The Playground That Is The Data Center….

All the world’s a data, and we are mere player; so it becomes important to know about the power, reach and importance of data centers….

Data, Data, Data….

When we hear the term data center, the first thing that comes to mind is a gigantic space, filled with lines and lines of computer systems, telecommunication equipment and storage devices. Entering into a data center feels like a totally futuristic world, and a common person may be forgiven if he actually thinks that he has time-travelled into an unknown dimension. This place, however, satisfies the greatest (?) need of the tech-savvy mankind - the collection, storage, processing and distribution of large amounts of data. And by large, we mean LARGE. Data centers have been so synonymous with computers that they have been there in one form or another since computers were born.

The Various Facets Of Data Center

With equipment getting smaller and cheaper by the day, not to forget the exponential rise in data processing needs, multiple servers were networked together to increase processing power. Data centers are also known as server farms, on account of the high concentration of servers that are present there. They perform critical functions such as data storage, recovery and backup, data management and networking.

The functioning of these data centers is highly dependent on power distribution units (PDUs), which help to ensure that every computer equipment in the data center has a reliable, efficient source of clean electricity. Rack PDUs are classified broadly into two types - intelligent and non-intelligent. Intelligent rack PDUs are further classified into different types, such as metered input PDUs and metered outlet PDUs. The rack PDUs have various form factors such as rack mount PDU, cabinet PDU and portable PDU.

Power, Security And Cooling….

The presence of reliable power sources is highly necessitated in the data centers, as the global usage of internet and cloud creates huge requirements for storage space and infrastructure. The presence of UPS helps data centers ensure that sensitive components never become susceptible to disturbances and power outages. PDUs and UPS thus are key components in ensuring the power to data centers is clean, efficient and uninterrupted.

An important aspect of data centers is the security, which can become a nuisance if it gets compromised. Data centers contain mounds of data, and this data in the wrong hands, can pretty much sink an organization. Data is the new gold, and the preservation of this ‘gold’ incorporates a set of policies, practices and precautions that can effectively prevent unauthorized resource access by bad actors. The most recent Cost of a Data Breach Report (2019) stated that the average total cost of a data breach stood at USD 3.92 million, with the U.S. being the most expensive country, and healthcare being the most expensive sector (USD 6.45 million). The average size of data breach stood at 25,575 records in 2019.

Here’s an astounding figure: Data centers consume 3% of the total global electricity. With hyper-scale facilities to plant their roots in coming years, power usage is only expected to grow, which makes cooling solutions a very significant aspect of data centers. Companies such as Google are making use of artificial intelligence to improve cooling efficiency. Containment types such as hot aisle, cold aisle, as well as raised floor (without containment), have been popular choices in data centers.

Data Centers And Cloud - A Perfect Match?

A significant feature of data centers involves the use of cloud. Many people are of the opinion that rise in cloud computing is a threat to data centers. However, in fact, the shift to cloud accelerates the construction of high-speed networks & massive data centers. Traditionally, data center strategies were focused on the maintenance of safe & durable applications. Long-term strategies were generally developed in combination with aging ‘data center’ assets & the need for extra floor space to bring in more cooling & power.

These were also introduced to replace an old facility. By focusing on workloads, applications, risks, and short & long-term business requirements; flexible data center strategies can be devised.

Planning It

The necessity to right-size data centers is one of the critical challenges faced by businesses today. However, due to heavy capital expenses, the advantages of extra ‘data center facility’ constructions must be considered cautiously. The duration to be considered for building a whole new ‘data center’ facility is approximately 20 years, meaning that one cannot exactly calculate as to how much space would one need for data centers in 20 years.

Various cloud service providers can assist in understanding current industry trends. They can also help comprehend how technology is changing & how these changes may affect your business in the future. Decisions concerning as to when and how much cloud should be used, also need proper & planned approach.

Get Communal!

Co-location (known as ‘Colos’) is the best option for businesses looking to reduce logistical support for on-premise data centers. Many co-location providers host cloud providers at their sites, which provide exclusive choices to leverage newer services.

Co-location providers rent out space, bandwidth, equipment, etc. to individual organizations. Their amenities comprise power, cooling, physical security, space, client networking equipment, etc. However, this transition needs to be managed carefully.

Avoiding Challenges

Different benefits of cloud, in terms of efficiency & costs, compel many organizations to shift to cloud-based applications. However, one should ensure that such a shift does not expose businesses to disturbances, risks, and unexpected expenditures.

Evolve With The Technology or Get Swept Away!

Aging infrastructures require high maintenance costs, making it hard to capitalize on developmental trends like cloud & mobility. An aged ‘network architecture’ only prevents you from delivering the expected performance & user experience. Although it’s not possible to ‘accurately’ predict the future of data centers, there isn’t a better time to assess multiple alternatives at your disposal and gear up for these benefits.

  Related reports by Grand View Research:

Data Center Security Market

Data Center Cooling Market

Data Center Power Market