Data Center Uptime can Become No. 1 Priority with Growth of IoT

Just as consumers don’t have a high tolerance for glitches that make the lights go out or other utilities to crash, they will fully expect data center uptime to be around the 100 percent rate with the increasing emergence of connected devices at home and at work.

That’s what a speaker told attendees during the recent Dell World conference in Austin, Texas. “For data centers, the idea that you need to be perfect will not be far from the truth,” said practical futurist Michael Rogers. He went on to say that data center managers and IT professionals will need to adapt to an economy that will center on IoT (Internet of Things) as a way of life by the 2020s.

Americans are increasingly relying on their Internet-connected devices, including smartphones and smart tablets, to function on a day-to-day basis. They will be using them to operate everything from their doors and lights to surveillance cameras and refrigerators.

“We will be asking data centers to provide the type of reliability power plants provide, only moreso,” Dell executive Jim Roth said.

Massive growth, new developments

By some current estimates, connected devices number are around 6.5 billion worldwide. That number is projected to grow to 50 billion by 2020, according to The Brookings Institution.

Data centers are evaluated by the Uptime Institute to determine whether they meet industry standards for different levels of uptime, from Tier I through Tier IV, which is used to certify the design. They also can get certifications that include Tier Certification in Design Documents (TCDD) and Tier Certification of Constructed Facility (TCCF).

To keep up with developments in the data center industry, the Uptime Institute has added other certifications and approvals, including guidelines for facility management and operations in 2011. More recently, the Uptime Institute a new evaluation called the Efficient IT Stamp of Approval.

However, in addition to those certifications, some data centers are concerned about electromagnetic pulses, and the unexpected downtime they can cause. Lifeline Data Centers is among data centers that are building protection against electromagnetic pulses, which can be generated by solar storms or high-altitude nuclear blasts.

For a quote or to learn more about how you can maintain uptime, talk to Lifeline Data Centers about our capabilities. We’ll show you around if you’re interested in a tour of our Rated 4-colocation facilities in Indiana.

Other resources:

• Infographic: The 22 Data Center Compliance Acronyms You Need to Know
• White Paper: Why Data Center Compartmentalization is Important
• Lifeline One Sheet: What You Need to Know About Lifeline Data Centers

Rich Banta

Managing Member at Lifeline Data Centers

Rich is responsible for Compliance and Certifications, Data Center Operations, Information Technology, and Client Concierge Services. Rich has an extensive background in server and network management, large scale wide-area networks, storage, business continuity, and monitoring. Rich is a former CTO of a major health care system. Rich is hands-on every day in the data centers. He also holds many certifications, including: CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor CRISC – Certified in Risk & Information Systems Management CDCE – Certified Data Center Expert CDCDP – Certified Data Center Design Professional