Back in 2010, Uptime Institute began implementing standards for the operational sustainability of data centers. A decade on, those standards are still the highest gauge by which data centers measure their efficacy. Looking to 2020, it’s impressive that Uptime Institute has completed 1,250 tier certifications, from core to edge.
The Institute’s Tier Standard system has long been influential where enterprise data centers are concerned and continuing to uphold data center standards is certainly helpful. In fact, building upon Uptime Institute’s third-party tier system, BICSI has introduced open-consensus standards in 2019.
When it comes to operational sustainability of data centers, there are three particular areas of most importance. These are management and operations, building characteristics, and site location. In order to receive an Uptime Institute Tier Standard stamp of approval, these areas need to be within the benchmarks.
Management and Operations
Usually the word “sustainability” brings an environmental connotation; however, that’s not the point of the Institute’s operational sustainability requirement. It’s more to do with redundancy and maintaining the ongoing sharpness of a facility’s standards. In those terms, management and operations has to do with excellence in planning and organizing of staff, keeping protocols of procedures and processes in place, and executing the training of staff in the maintenance of the facilities.
Building Characteristics
Second in priority of data center standards are building characteristics. This refers to the facility in which the data center operates. There is a checklist of questions: What is the condition of the facilities? Are they well-maintained or has equipment been left to age? How are the facilities designed—with a haphazard, makeshift style or with a sense of safety and efficiency? Is the equipment functional and operational? To receive a positive rating, data center supervisors needs to take this checklist into serious account.
Site Location
The third main category of data center standards is site location. This is a standard that should be assessed before opening a data center operation because it is the one that is actually the toughest to change. Tier status depends on a data center site’s potential for surviving a natural or manmade disaster. Does the data center have mitigation plans in place that correspond to possible regional acts of God such as earthquakes or tornados? What will happen if the electric grid fails? These are questions that must be answered by the management of each and every data center.
If you need assistance with data center standards or a large-scale data center migration, Silverback Data Center Solutions is happy to assist you. Contact us today!
