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Let us know which data center you'd like to visit and how to reach you, and one of team members will be in touch shortly.
Data centers have become core to modern business. It’s therefore very helpful to have an understanding of what they are, how they work, and why, exactly, they matter. With that in mind, here is a straightforward guide to what you need to know about data centers.
Data centers are specialized facilities dedicated to the storage, processing and/or dissemination of data.
Most data centers have the following 10 core features.
Servers: Centralized computing units that process and manage data. They run applications, host websites, and provide computational resources.
Storage systems: Devices or systems used to store data persistently. This includes hard drives, SSDs, and storage arrays that manage and safeguard large volumes of data.
Networking equipment: Includes routers, switches, and firewalls that facilitate data transfer between servers, storage systems, and external networks. They manage data flow and connectivity.
Cooling systems: Mechanisms such as air conditioning units and cooling racks designed to maintain optimal temperature and prevent overheating of equipment.
Power supply systems: Infrastructure that provides continuous electrical power, including backup generators and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) to ensure uninterrupted operation.
Security systems: Measures to protect physical and digital assets, including surveillance cameras, access control systems, and cybersecurity measures.
Environmental controls: Systems for managing humidity and other environmental factors to protect equipment and maintain optimal operating conditions.
Fire suppression systems: Specialized equipment and systems designed to detect and extinguish fires, protecting both the physical infrastructure and the data contained within.
Redundancy: The implementation of duplicate systems and components to ensure availability and reliability. This includes redundant power supplies, network paths, and data storage.
Data center infrastructure management (DCIM) systems: Software and tools used to monitor and manage data center operations, including power usage, environmental conditions, and asset management.
Most data centers have the same 6 basic operations. Here is an overview of them.
Data centers execute computational tasks through servers that handle a variety of workloads. These servers run applications, process transactions, and manage database queries. They ensure efficient processing by balancing loads across multiple servers and using virtualization technologies to maximize resource utilization and isolate workloads, enhancing performance and security.
Data centers provide extensive data storage solutions using a mix of hard drives, SSDs, and storage arrays. Data is managed through storage area networks (SANs) for high-performance access and network-attached storage (NAS) for file-based access. Advanced data management techniques, such as data deduplication, compression, and tiered storage, help optimize space usage and system performance.
Regular backups are crucial for data integrity and availability. Data centers perform incremental and full backups to ensure data consistency and recoverability. Backup solutions include tape libraries, disk-based storage, and cloud backups. Recovery processes involve restoring data from backups in case of system failures, corruption, or disasters, with tested procedures to minimize downtime.
Data centers use network equipment like routers, switches, and firewalls to manage data traffic and ensure connectivity. They configure network protocols to optimize performance and security, implement quality of service (QoS) measures to prioritize traffic, and use network monitoring tools to detect and address issues in real-time. Network management also involves ensuring redundancy and failover mechanisms.
Ensuring continuous power supply is critical for data center operations. Power management includes distributing electricity through UPS systems and backup generators. Data centers monitor power consumption, manage load distribution to prevent overloading, and maintain redundancy to avoid disruptions. They also implement power efficiency measures to reduce energy consumption and minimize operational costs.
Effective cooling is vital to maintain optimal operating temperatures for equipment. Data centers use air conditioning systems, cooling racks, and environmental controls to manage heat generated by servers. Advanced cooling technologies, such as in-row cooling and hot aisle/cold aisle containment, are employed to enhance cooling efficiency and reduce energy consumption.
There are four main types of data centers. Here is an overview of them.
These are private facilities owned and operated by individual organizations for their exclusive use. Enterprise data centers are designed to support an organization’s specific IT requirements, including critical applications, storage, and networking needs.
They are usually located on-premises or in a dedicated facility and provide full control over hardware and software configurations.
This type of data center requires substantial capital investment and ongoing maintenance to ensure optimal performance, security, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Colocation data centers offer space, power, and cooling for multiple clients who house their own servers and IT equipment within the facility. Clients rent physical space such as racks, cages, or rooms and are responsible for managing their own hardware and software.
Colocation facilities provide robust infrastructure, including redundant power, cooling systems, and high-speed connectivity. They hence enable businesses to benefit from a secure and reliable environment without the costs associated with building and operating their own data centers.
Cloud data centers are operated by cloud service providers to deliver cloud computing services such as infrastructure (IaaS), platforms (PaaS), and software (SaaS).
These data centers host virtualized resources and offer scalable, on-demand computing power and storage over the internet. They are designed to handle large-scale virtualization, enabling users to access resources and applications from anywhere.
Cloud data centers utilize advanced virtualization technologies to maximize resource efficiency and provide global redundancy to ensure high availability and disaster recovery.
Edge data centers are smaller facilities located closer to end-users and IoT devices, designed to process and store data closer to the source. This proximity reduces latency and enhances performance for applications requiring real-time processing.
Edge data centers often serve specific geographic areas or industry verticals, such as smart cities or autonomous vehicles, providing localized data processing and network optimization.
They are integral to the growth of edge computing, enabling faster and more efficient data handling at the edge of the network.
Here are the five key functions of data centers.
This includes maintaining data for business operations, archival purposes, and compliance requirements. Data centers employ advanced storage solutions, such as high-capacity storage arrays and redundant backup systems, to ensure data availability, integrity, and security. They also implement data management practices like data deduplication, compression, and tiered storage to optimize space and performance.
Data centers host virtualized resources, such as virtual machines, storage, and network services, which are used to deliver various cloud services like Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Cloud data centers use virtualization and orchestration tools to allocate resources dynamically, supporting flexible and cost-efficient IT environments for businesses and end-users.
High-performance computing involves processing complex and large-scale computations using large volumes of data. Data centers provide the necessary computational power, storage, and networking infrastructure to support these intensive workloads. They often utilize parallel processing and distributed computing techniques to achieve the required performance levels.
Data centers provide facilities for off-site data backups, replication, and failover systems to protect against data loss and system failures. By maintaining redundant infrastructure and implementing recovery protocols, data centers ensure that organizations can quickly recover and resume operations after disruptions, such as hardware failures or natural disasters.
Data centers support content delivery networks (CDNs) by caching and distributing content, such as web pages, videos, and software updates, closer to end-users. This reduces latency and improves access speeds by minimizing the distance data must travel.
CDNs use data centers strategically placed in various geographic locations to ensure efficient and reliable delivery of content across the internet, enhancing user experience and performance for online services and applications.
Here are just five of the main reasons why data centers matter in the modern world.
Data centers are foundational to digital transformation initiatives, enabling businesses to adopt and integrate advanced technologies like cloud computing, big data analytics, and IoT. They provide the necessary infrastructure to handle vast amounts of data, process complex algorithms, and deliver digital services efficiently.
This support is crucial for businesses looking to innovate, improve operations, and maintain competitiveness in a technology-driven market.
Data centers are essential for delivering cloud services, including IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. They host the virtualized resources and applications that businesses and individuals access over the internet.
By providing scalable and flexible computing resources, data centers facilitate the adoption of cloud-based solutions, which offer cost efficiency, on-demand access, and global reach. This underpins modern IT operations and supports various applications, from enterprise software to personal cloud storage.
Data centers are designed to ensure high availability and reliability of IT services. They implement redundancy in power supplies, cooling systems, and network connections to prevent downtime and maintain continuous operations.
By using failover systems and backup solutions, data centers ensure that critical applications and data are consistently accessible, which is vital for business continuity and service reliability.
Data centers provide robust security measures to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access and cyber threats. They use physical security controls, such as surveillance and access controls, as well as advanced cybersecurity technologies like firewalls and encryption.
Additionally, data centers help organizations comply with regulatory requirements by implementing data protection standards and maintaining secure environments for handling personal and financial data.
Many modern applications, such as video streaming, online gaming, and real-time data analytics, require significant computational and storage resources. Data centers are equipped to handle these data-intensive tasks, providing the processing power and bandwidth needed to support high-performance applications.
By hosting and managing the infrastructure required for these services, data centers enable seamless user experiences and support the growing demands of digital content and applications.
The University of Maryland, a world-class research institution with a strong commitment to solving global challenges, faced a critical issue in maintaining 24x7 power and cooling for its on-campus data centers supporting High-Performance Computing (HPC). They found a reliable partner in DataBank.
Strategic, Technical, and Future alignment gives you the best possible data center experience today and tomorrow.
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