In
Part 1, we talked about all the things a good data center needs. Now we'll talk about what data centers are used for, why you might need one and what to look for if you're considering using one. In short, we'll answer the question, "I care about this because?"
So what are data centers used for? In part 1, we described a data center as an optimal place to house operational computers and equipment.
In the old days, any company with a computer needed a data center because the computers were all big hunks of metal that required specialized power and cooling - some of them were even cooled by water believe it or not. But today's computers are much smaller, run on ordinary power and don't generate a lot of heat. Most companies feel they cannot justify the expense of building a data center, which can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars, if not more. So they get by with less -- less power, less cooling and less security, all of which translates into less reliability.
This is a workable situation for some organizations, but not if they need to run their systems 24/7. With the advent of the Internet, this is clearly becoming more of a requirement.
What can you do? According to Fred Rodi from the local office of Equinix, a global provider of data center services, "Many companies have found that by outsourcing their data center operations, they can drastically enhance the reliability and performance of their Internet and network operations while reducing the costs of doing it on their own."
Fred really nails this one. Businesses can purchase services from data center providers like Equinix that can be more cost effective than doing it themselves.
What kinds of services can you get from a data center provider? Clearly, a prime benefit is placing your systems in a facility that has ample and reliable power, cooling, safety and security.
One feature we didn't talk about in part 1 is Internet connectivity. Virtually all data centers tout multiple, high-speed connections from their facility to the Internet. Such connections usually are provided by multiple vendors to ensure a diverse path to the Internet; and diversity is important. If you have eight Internet connections that all take the same path back to an ISP and that path is disrupted for any reason - say, a backhoe accidentally digs it up - you're out of luck. The type of high-speed redundant Internet connectivity available at data centers is cost-prohibitive for most organizations.
Placing your systems in a data center is referred to as co-location, often abbreviated as "colo." Colo is pretty straightforward. You're basically renting space and Internet connectivity.
Colo by itself is usually a bare-bones service. You must still manage your system to ensure it's running properly and perform all the usual routine tasks such as backups, updates, re-configurations and monitoring. Most of these tasks can be done remotely, but occasionally, you will need to visit the data center in person.
For many people, some or all of these tasks are just too much to handle. The question to ask here is "how much do you really want to worry about your systems?" Many data centers also provide a variety of services to help you manage and monitor them. They can perform all of the day-to-day tasks necessary to keep your systems running properly, including monitoring them to make sure they are operable and tending to them in case of problems. Providers mix and match these services differently, but, in general, you can usually find a plan that will fit your needs.
How do you choose a data center provider? According to Yuka Nagashima, president of local data center provider (and ISP) LavaNet, "There are three main components to an ideal data center partner; 1) technical qualifications, 2) availability of qualified professional expertise, and 3) a fair, reasonable price."
Of course, for many organizations, the bottom line is, well, the bottom line. But remember, as with just about everything else in this world, you get what you pay for.
