Data center managers are also concerned with sustaining peak performance and should develop a program for continually evaluating and fine-tuning the IT environment. Here are five strategies to include in your data center optimization plan: - Use the right cooling system. Data center densities are increasing as organizations look to pack more IT resources in a smaller space and take advantage of artificial intelligence, big data analytics and other advanced technologies. Higher power density means more heat, and legacy cooling systems are often unable to keep up. In-row cooling technology can maximize efficiency by placing the cooling unit directly in the row of racks and cabinets. The cold air is focused more directly on the equipment so that heat can be dissipated faster.
- Monitor the environment. As the saying goes, “What gets measured gets managed.” Data center infrastructure management (DCIM) solutions collect real-time data on utilization and energy consumption to facilitate decision-making. They also provide analytical tools that enable operational teams to better manage the environment and ensure the performance and availability of IT systems.
- Take advantage of automation. Given the ever-increasing demands on the IT environment, many IT operational teams are struggling to keep up with ongoing maintenance and management tasks. Automation can help relieve the pressure and ensure that best practices are followed. Automated change management tools have become especially valuable for minimizing risk in today’s dynamic environment.
- Maximize flexibility and scalability. Data center managers need to ensure that the environment can easily accommodate growth and changing requirements. The right infrastructure components are critical. “Pod” units that house multiple racks and include built-in aisle containment make it possible to add data center space quickly in virtually any location.
- Align budget with business requirements. In many data centers, up to 80 percent of the budget still goes toward “keeping the lights on,” leaving just 20 percent for innovation. In today’s hyper-competitive business environment, organizations need IT to focus more resources on innovative solutions that increase productivity, enhance customer service and enable new business models. Data center managers should take a hard look at their operational processes and consider outsourcing tasks that are resource-intensive or require specialized skill sets.
Rahi Systems has designed and implemented data center environments for some of the world’s largest enterprises. We specialize in solutions that optimize performance and efficiency while reducing complexity and operational overhead. We also offer a comprehensive suite of professional and managed services that cover every aspect of data center operations.
We invite you to take advantage of our knowledge and hands-on field experience to guide your IT decisions. Let us help you develop a winning strategy that will get your data center environment in tiptop shape.
