Organizations and businesses rely on data to decide on the best practices and how best to connect to their target audiences. Most players seek a reliable and secure way to store and relay their data on the Spectrum internet. The increasing demand for secure data center solutions has led to the development of businesses that keep data and help manage it.
However, setting up a data center has proven quite challenging since most people have limited information on how to host data. Hosting data comes with several changes, which you may not be prepared to handle. Below are some challenges you can expect when setting up a data center and possible solutions.
Defining a Data Center?
A data center is a central location where data is received, stored, processed, and redistributed. These locations are often secured to prevent breaches and feature multiple power sources and environmental controls to avoid interruptions.
Types of Data Centers?
There are several millions of data centers spread across the globe. These centers are classified into three main variants:
Exclusive Data Centers – these data centers are owned by a single organization or business and are mostly customized to address the specific needs of the user.
Collocation Data Centers – these centers are the most popular option and are collectively used by multiple businesses. A business can rent out space to host its equipment. The best part is that you can rent out as much space as needed depending on how much equipment you have.
Managed Hosting Providers – Here, users rent third-party-owned equipment, including the infrastructure. It’s a convenient option for businesses or organizations that can’t afford the initial capital of purchasing equipment or setting up a data center.
Challenges When Choosing a Data Center
Availability Problem
Availability is one of the main challenges in choosing a data center. When choosing a data center, one should go with a data center with a strong and reliable infrastructure that avails uptime. The service provider should offer a secondary location (backup location), redundancy facilities, and disaster contingency to inspire confidence among prospective clients.
Working on your infrastructure to ensure 24/7 uptime can help retain your customers and attract new prospects. However, businesses should install data risk management strategies to secure and ensure the availability of data.
LEED Certification
Data centers consume large amounts of energy and, in some cases, cause harm to the environment. This led to the creation of the LEED by the United States Green Building Council. The move was geared towards realizing buildings with zero carbon footprint that are environmentally sustainable.
A data center requires a high certification level due to the large amounts of water and electricity consumed. This certification has made it possible for green technology to thrive, reducing operations costs for data centers while promoting sustainability.
The Challenges of Opening a Data Center
Opening a data center goes beyond having enough capital to set up infrastructure; you must consider various aspects, including security and location. Below are common data center changes and possible solutions:
Weather and Geographical Stability
Your chosen location is vital for the business’s success since it can protect or expose it to environmental risks. The danger can stem from seismic activities or unfavorable weather that could interfere with the efficiency and reliability of your data center. You need to balance the cost and potential risks to overcome this challenge.
Power Supply
A power supply is your main challenge since a data center requires an uninterrupted round-the-clock supply. To keep the lights on 24/7, you need powerful backup generators and a private power grid with minimal interference. Remember that keeping the power running throughout is not only challenging but expensive. Work towards solving your power issues before launching the data center.
Climate
Data centers function optimally under given temperatures and are likely to be affected by a location’s climate. Setting up your data center in areas with unpredictable temperatures may require you to invest in installations to regulate temperature. This way, you can ensure the temperature is balanced to the desired range.
Distance to Clients
The distance between your data center and prospective client is vital for the efficiency and quality of your data services. Most people try to build centers close to their customers to ensure effectiveness.
Overcoming Data Center Challenges
Setting up a data center is a high-risk investment. However, researching and addressing potential challenges could ease your data service delivery. Modern data center solutions are designed to lower operations costs and risks for existing and new centers to make them more profitable and secure.