6 Ways the IoT Could Impact Data Centers

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a term that refers to the interconnection between physical objects that is also known as a physical or IP address. This Gartner Report states that, by 2020, the IoT is expected to build to 26 billion units. This means that all data centers must be prepared for the increase of data, not just in terms of storage but for other aspects as well.

Here are 6 challenges that data centers should prepare for as a result of the IoT:

1. Volumes of data storage: The data of the IoT could come from personal consumers, devices and large enterprises. The combination of these sources could lead to an astronomical growth in the quantity of data that must be stored by a data center. While some amount of scalability is always planned for, in order to be proactive, a data center must plan specifically for the IoT.

2. Data security and privacy: With an increase in the amount of data, the security measures in the data center also need to be strengthened accordingly. The multiple devices used to access data add to the concerns about breach of privacy. These devices may vary from the smallest phone or tablet to a smart kitchen appliance or automobile.

3. Network requirements: Most data centers are equipped for medium-level bandwidth requirements for access to the data. With the IoT, the number of connections and the speed of access would both have to undergo significant improvements to satisfy the growing requirements.

4. Scaling of storage architecture: The increase in the storage requirement could also lead to a challenge in the way the storage and servers are configured. It is recommended that a distributed structure is adopted to make the storage and access most efficient.

5. Multiple locations: Providing a solution for storage of IoT data that comes from multiple locations could be a challenge for a data center at a single location. The trend might need to move towards a collection of connected centers that are administered from a central location.

6. Cost effectiveness: The type of detailed back up data that is possible in the current landscape may no longer be affordable both in terms of storage and in terms of required network bandwidth. This might encourage a need for selective backup with a well-thought out frequency of performing the operation.

At Lifeline Data Centers, we believe that identifying future challenges is the first step towards finding solutions. Contact us to learn more.

Alex Carroll

Managing Member at Lifeline Data Centers

Alex, co-owner, is responsible for all real estate, construction and mission critical facilities: hardened buildings, power systems, cooling systems, fire suppression, and environmentals. Alex also manages relationships with the telecommunications providers and has an extensive background in IT infrastructure support, database administration and software design and development. Alex architected Lifeline’s proprietary GRCA system and is hands-on every day in the data center.