Data centers are not just a place for businesses to store their servers. They are ecosystems in their own right, where everything needs to be planned for balance and productive interactions. As a data center, or UPS facility manager, you need to not only be aware of these interactions, you need to have the presence and the procedures to handle issues as they arise and create harmony and success for your data center management.
In this blog, we point to a few of the most important management strategies you can bring with you to your data center, as well as the key ideology behind each. When all is said and done, you will have everything you need to get started managing a more effective and efficient data center.
Ready to begin?
1. Create Clear Objectives & Organization for the Data Center Strategy
Think of data centers like a machine or a living thing. They depend on fantastic organization to remain efficient and operate at full capacity. While your specific organizational needs will depend on your style of data center, there are some best practices to consider.
Practice Good Data Hygiene
While we are a long way from floppy disks, optimal data storage is still hugely important. A study done by Veritas Global found that 33% of data stored and processed by organizations around the world is considered redundant, obsolete, or trivial. Imagine what your facility could do if it were able to remove a third of the costly, unnecessary data stored there.
By freeing up valuable resources, you reduce the burden on your equipment, resulting in lower power and cooling demands with increased effectiveness.
Optimize Data Floor Space
Power distribution and rack density are incredibly important to the industry. The layout you choose can either help your data center run smoothly or hinder its abilities. Make sure you are constantly seeking the most optimal layouts. By getting creative, you can often design your data center to help itself stay cool and operating at maximum efficiency.
This includes cables. Do not allow your data center to become tangled up in unnecessary and even dangerous clutter.
Cycle Your Equipment
Computer technology continues to be one of the fastest developing technologies in the world. While many servers can last for several years, the ever-changing aspect of the industry may mean your equipment is obsolete far before the end of its life.
Be sure to replace your infrastructure regularly and with the best practices in mind.
2. Understand the Latest Technology and How it Continues to Evolve
It is easy to fall into the habit of continuing to work with the old technology you know and trust, even after it has become all but obsolete. However, doing so may result in missing out on the benefits and opportunities newer technology can afford your data center.
Adopting new technologies can improve the performance of your data center, saving costs and simplifying the work you do. If your team continues to ignore advancement and progress in favor of the comfort of habit, it will not be long before you find you simply cannot compete with the competition.
3. Appraise Your Current Facilities
If you are a manager for a corporate data center, you may be working at a disadvantage. Many corporate data centers are very old in relation to the rest of the industry and need improvements. It may also be the case that you have data in multiple locations.
Understanding how these facilities affiliate with the others allows you to make more informed managerial decisions and strategies. Think about where it is important to invest and what is just weighing you down.
4. Choose the Best Strategy, not the Most Cost-Effective Strategy
You should always be looking for ways to improve the current power of your data center. But this does not mean you should try to make improvements without consideration. Have a well thought out plan before making a judgement call.
Does your data center have room to grow? How much energy are you using? How much energy will you be using in 5 years? By choosing the best strategy at the very beginning, you will be able to solve any future issues rapidly, because you will have already done much of the initial work.
While a full-blown data center redesign may seem like an amazing opportunity, be aware of your limitations and capabilities. If a data center reconstruction is what you need, and you have the ability to do so, go right ahead. If not, there are still plenty of options and gradual changes we can make to get you operating efficiently without breaking the bank or causing excessive downtime for your customers.
5. Above All, Use Common Sense, and Remember That Improvements Take Time
You did not become a data center manager on accident. You are highly skilled and knowledgeable about the needs of your data center. Make sure you rely on those senses you have developed over your career to make the best decisions.
By trusting your instincts and making levelheaded decisions, you will quickly and easily help facilitate repairs, upgrades, and management. When in doubt, ask yourself the following questions about your next project:
Will it solve both long-term and short-term issues to create a better user experience, and is it safe?
By following those two rules, you can be confident that each decision you make is the correct one.
Data Center Management with FGC Builds
At FGC Builds, we want to help you create the best data center possible, no matter where you are starting. From regular monitoring and evaluation to full blown construction, our team is here to give you a comprehensive picture so you can handle the obstacles and requirements of your data center with ease.
Contact us today to discuss your data center needs with our team of experts. From the moment you begin working with us, you will always feel like you made the right choice.
