Colocation is on the rise and renewable energy investments by data center and cloud providers in combination with modern hybrid cloud frameworks can make enterprise IT sustainability easier. Going Green All the major tech companies have loudly proclaimed their commitment to “going green,” and recently the pledges only grew bigger. Microsoft promised earlier this year that it would achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Amazon made a similar promise last year,… Read More
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Data Center Site Selection
Over the years, the data center industry has continued to evolve and has become a critical part of our world today. Beginning in the 1940s, as large computer rooms were often deployed for military and government purposes, costs were expensive due to the complexity of the computer systems. Roughly 40 years later, entering the era of the microcomputer boom, computers began to be more readily deployed throughout businesses. This led… Read More
The Balance Between Edge and Core
When a human population spreads out, it tends to spread thinner. Will computing capacity follow the same pattern? You have no doubt already read the vendors’ claims. The trend of placing computing capacity nearest to where data it’s supposed to crunch is stored or nearest to the app or content distribution point to end-users will soon transform the topology of data centers and networks that connect them to one… Read More
Silverback’s Specialized Server Crates
Packaging of your critical IT hardware during a data center move is particularly critical to the safety and security of your valuable gear. Silverback’s specialized server crates have heavy latches, half-inch thick plywood, and reinforcement at all critical points, and crates are designed with a shock-mount base to minimize vibration during transport. They’re built to last and safely ship high value. Our Server Packaging Process Our process begins with assessing each item… Read More
How to Plan for Data Center Decommissioning
About the only thing harder than building a data center is dismantling one. The potential for disruption of business is much greater with data center decommissioning than with construction. A case in point, the decommissioning of the Titan supercomputer at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), reveals just how complicated the process can be. More than 40 people were involved with the project, including staff from ORNL, supercomputer manufacturer Cray, and… Read More
Data Center Audit Types
Benefits of Regular Data Center Audits Regular audits are important to showcase what is going well and what needs improvement. They can also assist with preparing training schedules and can help employee issues from getting lost in the shuffle. There is no single standard that can cover all of the audits that you may need to run when working in a data center. However, there are standards to which many… Read More
Data Center Staffing: Pro Tips
There are several different types of data centers and they all have at least one thing in common. Each facility requires effective data center staffing. From hyperscale data centers with massive square footage to small facilities using edge deployment, finding, training, and keeping IT professionals is a key component to managing a data center. Regardless of the type or size of the data center, there are three main sets of… Read More
The Importance of Data Centers During the Pandemic
During the early days of the coronavirus outbreak many wondered if the internet would end up going down due to the dramatic increase in traffic from remote working, distance learning, and people keeping themselves occupied while stuck at home. Research from Cloudflare revealed that internet usage swelled by over 25 percent in most major cities around the world as a result of lockdown measures. Thankfully though, data center providers were… Read More
Data Storage: Server Room or External Facility?
With upwards of 80 percent of enterprises and 63 percent of small and medium sized businesses investing in big data projects over recent years, and budgets of $1.6 million to $7.4 million, the question of data storage is at the forefront of many companies’ minds. One decision facing such companies as they look to store data is the choice between internal server rooms or external data centers. Here are some key components to… Read More
COVID-19 and Minimizing Data Center Risk
As the COVID-19 response moves in and out of various phases, companies are moving from updating their response plans to implementing them. Each organization is different, and responses vary based on site environment, the number of COVID-19 cases in the area and government-mandated restrictions. One thing all companies hold in common, though, is their priorities: the health and safety of their staff, partners and customers; business continuity; and compliance with… Read More