Top 5 Factors to Consider When Building a Global Data Center

Are you planning to build a global data center? Here are some crucial factors to consider before you decide to do so.

1. Know where to build your data center: Though there are a variety of factors that go into the location of your data center, the final decision must be based on what is best for your business. Andy Broer, data center IT Infrastructure Manager at Cisco says, “Just as there is no perfect geographic location for a data center, there is no one-size-fits-all set of selection criteria.” Once decided upon a geographic area, experienced teams should evaluate its suitability and risk factors with respect to your business.

1. Geopolitical factors: While choosing the site for your data center, make sure that the region is politically stable and and has minimum political risks. Sometimes the type of organization or nationality of the tenant or owner may create local trouble, thus hindering smooth development of the data center.
2. Provision for extended operation during crisis: The daily refuelling of the system may be impossible during a crisis. So the center should have the facility to store extra fuel, spare equipment and resources locally to ensure adequate supply for back-up generators, continuous operation and uninterrupted communication networks.
3. Power and water availability, and their cost: Energy is the foremost factor to consider as it consumes the major portion of a data center’s operational costs. Finding a location for the data center close to natural energy harvesting places or regions having moderate climate would help data centers run with minimum water and cooling requirements.
4. Human resources: The data center site should have sufficient staff with multiple skill sets that include administrative skills, technical skills, and electrical and mechanical expertise. The location should be evaluated for technical knowledge and skill levels of the labor force in the region, and the ease of finding, training, motivating and retaining reliable, experienced and skilled personnel for the data center.

These form the general primary clearance factors for building a global data center. The key is to strive to locate the global data center with open eyes and an open mind.

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.