What are the major components of a data center?

A data center is a facility that centralizes shared IT operations and equipment for storing, processing, and disseminating data and applications. Thus, data centers are vital to the stability of the daily operations of the companies that use them.

Since different organizations use data centers, their architectures and requirements can differ significantly. Regardless of classification, data centre safety is the number one priority. An effective data center operation is achieved through a balanced investment in the facility and the equipment it houses. Also, both facility and equipment must be secured against intruders and cyberattacks.

Below, you’ll find a list of components that all data centers share, no matter what their specific purpose is.

Power

Most of the experts consider power as the holy grail of data centers. This is due to the fact that the different types of hosting services and computing systems must have a reliable and constant power source.

Besides the main source of power, all the data centers must have a backup or a redundant power source for high uptime and guaranteed server performance. Without a constant power supply, it would never be able to function at full-efficiency.

This is why data centers focus so much on the power source and make sure that it is never interrupted.

Cooling system

For a data center, the cooling system is almost as important as power.

It should be capable of facilitating the performance of the computing system, colocation servers, and networking gear without overheating them.

If there is a lack of proper ventilation systems, cold or hot aisles, and raised floors, the IT equipment of a data center can quickly heat up. That would not only damage the system but would affect the functioning of the data center as well. All reputable data centers install a proper cooling system that keeps the hardware system cool and the functions seamless.

Security

The final component that is essential for a data center that functions without any issues is security.

All the servers and the hardware system of data centers are a hub of sensitive data. To protect them, well-maintained data centers use round the clock monitoring, CCTV surveillance, biometric identification, and various other security measures.

In addition to virtual security, data center safety has a physical aspect as well. Physical security in data centers involves choosing a place where the risk of natural calamities such as floods, tornados, and earthquakes is very low.

Facility

In most cases, the places that host a data center are specifically built for just that purpose. As such, their ceilings might be higher than those of regular buildings. This is because extra height is needed for racks and overhead systems. Sometimes, a data center can take up just a singče floor of a standard building.

Equipment

Every data center must have equipment and software for IT operations and storage of data and applications. These may include storage systems; servers; network infrastructure, such as switches and routers; and various information security elements, such as firewalls.

Fail-safe measures

As you’ve seen above, reliability and high uptime are the essential qualities a data center must have.

Another significant component of the data center is fail-safe measures for all data stored within that data center. This means all data center hosts need to maintain and operate a backup data center wherein all data is replicated and stored. Datacenter providers must supply consumers with a backup geo-diverse redundant data center facility if the main point of operations has unexpected downtime.

Hardware

All the data of a data center needs to be stored somewhere. This is the job of computing units, data storage devices such as solid-state drives and hard disk drives, and other hardware.

That hardware is then mounted in racks created to maximize the use of space in the facility. Usually, they reach all the way to the ceiling, with just enough room for overhead cable systems, cooling, and airflow.

Connectivity

When it comes to being online, most data centers apply the same tactics as they do with power sources. This means that a single data center is often equipped with multiple fiber connections to several internet service providers.

The end goal is the same as with power — making sure that the operations run smoothly even if one of the internet providers fails. Remember, it’s all about reliability, safety, and scalability of the data center.

Room for growth

Another important feature of data centers is their scalability and the ability to grow along with the demands in the market.

Investing in colocation or dedicated servers is a long term investment. As a long term investment, it needs to be able to grow with your demands as your company expands. All data center providers need to supply clients with the room they need to grow.