Data Center - An Introduction

A term we come across is data or computer center as they are commonly named is a facility that has been used to house computer systems and the related components and how to accommodate them. It generally includes redundant or backup power supplies and environmental controls e.g., air conditioning, fire suppression and security devices.

Traditionally speaking earlier on the computer systems were too complex to be operated upon and handle and thus to maintain them there was requirement of a special environment to be operated upon along with the cables and all related components. Also an important aspect to be taken care of was the security. Hence the control room had to be designed keeping in mind all these things. There is still a lot of development being done in operation practice, and also in environment friendly data center designing. Data centers are typically very expensive to build and maintain.

Data Center

A data center must keep high standards for assuring the integrity and functionality of its hosted computer environment. This is accomplished through the redundancy of both fiber optic cables and power. Data centers can consume 25 to 50 times than the electricity taken by standard office spaces. Hence there are prime targets to be kept in mind for efficient energy design measures to save money and electricity usage. In addition to the energy savings, reduction in staffing costs  from population centers, implementing a lights-out data center reduces the threat of malicious attacks like those of trojan horses etc upon the infrastructure

There is a trend to modernize data centers in order to take advantage of the performance and energy efficiency increases of newer IT equipment and capabilities are being introduced. This process is also known as data center transformation. Organizations are experiencing rapid IT growth but their data centers are aging.

A typical Data center India would also need the transformation initiative to be taken to a larger extent there by including the standardization, virtualization, automation and security. Where in the primary purpose of standardization would mean to reduce the hardware and software tools and processes so as the management is easier. The security involves not just the data to be protected but the physical security, network security as well.