Data Foundry Blog - Data Centers

While there may be some benefit to housing your enterprise data in-house, the cons will typically outweigh the benefits. The problem is that it costs a lot of money to get your data needs met -- and it’s not just the money you’ll spend now. It can be hard to predict the ways not only how your organization’s data needs will change, but to predict on a large scale how your scalability needs will shift. Data needs like large-scale file sharing, streaming, remote worker collaborations, e-commerce, and most importantly top-tier security.

Colocation data centers have fast become the go-to route for any company or organization that has colocation, data storage, or cloud computing needs. A data center represents an alternative to the expense of building your own IT hub. That said, for most businesses data center security will be a huge factor in deciding on a possible candidate.

Despite the importance of building robust, high-quality and highly effective data centers, one important phase of deployment often remains an enigma, even to those familiar with the industry: commissioning. Commissioning has been a part of the construction industry for decades, but the standards and processes involved are continuing to evolve as digital demands do the same. Misunderstandings and missed opportunities here can lead to lackluster results and less than ideal performance. These are two things that simply can’t be a part of the data center environment.

Edge computing has never been more popular. With virtually all types of business utilizing cloud technologies these days, an edge data center is often a crucial step in making sure that your data is there when you need it. That’s not hyperbole, edge computing can be the kick that allows for better processing large amounts of data, which in turn can lead to better ecommerce, more reliable networks, and any number of other applications for business.

Data center jargon can make searching for the right colocation facility challenging for businesses, and when it comes to terms like “purpose-built,” enterprises might be left wondering exactly what that means, why they should pay attention to it or if they even need that at all. Luckily, in the case of this data center term, it’s relatively self-explanatory but that doesn’t mean a closer look at its meaning and the benefits it offers isn’t necessary to guide businesses as they choose their ideal data home. So, if you’ve ever wondered about what the advantages of a purpose-built data center (PBDC) are and why they’re important in today’s digital business, look no further.

With the majority of today’s enterprises pivoting into the digital world, there’s no question about the importance of the data center and its role in empowering next-generation customer experiences and business operation. While the question of colocation versus in-house data center is still much discussed, when the two options are weighed against an increasingly complex business environment, colocation provides several key benefits.

If you’re hip to IT, you know that the new trend on everyone’s list is edge computing. Edge computing is supposed to bring us greater speed, privacy, and more security than traditional cloud methods. That means building an edge data center has become a priority for just about everyone—but do you really know what that means? Don’t worry, it’s actually pretty easy to understand. In a nutshell, edge computing is an alternative to cloud computing where your data processing power is at the “edge” of your network.

Cloud computing is a mainstay of digital business, and with the public cloud market generating a forecasted worldwide revenue of more than $500 billion by 2025, it’s clear that enterprises across all verticals are utilizing cloud-based capabilities for added agility, scalability and efficiency. The path to the cloud and the way in which businesses integrate it into their IT frameworks, however, can look different depending on the individual use case and the goals they’re trying to meet.

To put it simply, a data center is a physical location that houses critical IT equipment. Typically, that means routers, storage systems, servers, and application delivery controllers, and other key components. A data center allows an organization to centralize its IT operations, equipment, and various ways of storing and processing data. If you’re an IT person, you know that this is integral to how your organization functions—it’s essentially the neural network of your entire company. That’s a big deal.

The Data Center Dilemma: Understanding In-House Solutions Versus Colocation

In the contemporary enterprise landscape, data centers are key drivers and enablers for all things digital business. Whether it’s adopting new applications, incorporating new added-value services for end users, or creating more seamless IT frameworks for better collaboration and productivity, the data flows created and used by the enterprise are more robust than ever. To support these flows of information, data centers provide vital networking, redundant power and cooling infrastructure, business continuity, and information security benefits that are absolutely crucial for enterprise success. While the importance of the data center is clear, the question of whether to maintain an in-house data center strategy or an outsourced colocation approach still remains.