Why Data Center Monitoring is Essential

Once an enterprise has set up and started operating a data center, the attention they pay to the data center is really just beginning. The biggest area that any size enterprise may have to focus on post-implementation is Data Center Monitoring (DCM). DCM is important because data centers house mission critical business systems. Data center can mean lost credibility, lost revenue, and lost clietns Quick responses to faults are necessary to ensure services relying on them are restored at the earliest. For such a monitoring service, it is vital to ensure that you have a clear plan for periodically checking on the efficiency of operation.

Monitoring can be implemented at many levels. Here are three of the most common:

Surrounding Monitoring

A passerby should not simply walk into your data center space. Whether you maintain your own data center facility or outsource it, make sure that there are adequate measures taken to prevent unauthorized entry into the premises of your data center. CCTV, surveillance guards, security card based access to internal facilities, and alarms are means to monitor your data center surroundings.

Internal Environment Control

The hardware infrastructure for your data center should be set up with adequate sensors for identifying room temperature, humidity, and other environmentals. Physical condition of cooling units should be monitored at all times. Internal surveillance cameras are also useful to keep track of what happens inside your space and your cabinets.

Monitoring the Hardware

This is often the most critical aspect. You need to constantly collect data such as energy consumption figures, bandwidth and speed of network, storage hardware performance, backup and disaster recovery hardware maintenance, etc. These aspects can never be ignored and must be periodically monitored to ensure that they are working smoothly.

Data center monitoring is a critical part of maintaining your data center and hence should be part of your overall data cemter strategy.

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.