Why do I need a data center when all my data is in the cloud?
It is estimated that by the end of 2025, the amount of data generated every day could make up a stack of DVDs almost the height of the Tallinn TV Tower (314 m). Many organisations contribute to this, and all of them need somewhere to store their growing volumes of data. Broadly speaking, (IT) managers have a choice between the public and the private cloud. In the first case, the service is often outsourced to a large company (such as Google, Amazon, or Microsoft) and, for the sake of simplicity, they settle for cosmic future costs and less physical control over their data. In the second case, companies store data on their own devices in their office or at a colocation data center, requiring an initial investment in hardware, but resulting in sustainability for years to come with a reasonable cost base.
GDC data center and the substation. Photo: Tõnu Tunnel.
The benefits of the public cloud are rapid deployment and the flexibility to scale up in the short term, as well as price for small volumes. The strengths of the private cloud are higher security, as you control the equipment and its location. If you keep your private cloud in a data center, then choosing wisely adds even more security, high reliability, a wider choice of communication service providers, and, for larger volumes, a better price.
Once you have decided on a private cloud and a data center, how do you choose the best one on the market?
A little cheat sheet
Traditional selection criteria such as a redundant power supply, good Internet connectivity, an efficient cooling system, and a high level of security are often used when choosing a data center. However, as the choice is made for a period of years, it pays off to dive much deeper.
Electricity
Ideally, a data center should have several independent electricity connections to a nationally important substation. This is a safeguard against careless digger drivers.
In addition, the center should have UPSs for smoothing out power fluctuations and covering minor outages. It is a good idea to have UPSs spread across the center – otherwise, all the eggs are in one basket.
There should also be power generators – several of them, of course – for covering longer outages.
A modern data center only uses electricity from renewable sources.
The power usage effectiveness (PUE) is 1.2 or less. If the PUE is less than 1.2, then for every kWh that is directly used for running IT equipment, less than 20% is added for ensuring the cooling, communications, security, and reliability thereof. This is an important component in the ecological footprint of your IT equipment.
To reduce the ecological footprint, waste heat can be transferred to nearby houses to heat them.
Cooling
As with electrical power, cooling systems should be at least duplicated (N+1). Technical failures or maintenance should not affect the operation of your equipment.
The data center will continue to operate even if the daytime temperature in Tallinn rises above 35 degrees.
The cold air for cooling and the hot air for removing residual heat are kept strictly separated and the temperature of the equipment and the environment is constantly monitored.
The cooling system is smart and able to make its own decisions – the cold is directed to where it is needed most. That is pure energy saving. Nowadays, solutions based on artificial intelligence are available.
Security and reliability
The data center is in a secure location away from potentially dangerous traffic or production facilities.
The perimeter and the interior of the data center must be equally well protected.
Access to the data center is restricted to specially authorised visitors and authentication is biometric. This means that a mere physical resemblance to the person on the ID-card is not sufficient.
24/7 manned security is provided in the center. Ideally, security guards are also armed to increase deterrence.
The whole territory is covered by cameras with motion and heat sensors, the images from which are analysed by a computer – even several people could not review this information in real time.
The customer can upgrade the security of their server room or rack as they wish.
The infrastructure of the data center is isolated from the public Internet, meaning that no one can access the system and disable any equipment from the outside.
The premises are monitored by various fire prevention systems (automatic fire alarm system, VESDA, low-oxygen air in server rooms).
The equipment and automation is regularly tested and maintained.
Communication services
The data center is well connected to local communication nodes and to other countries.
Communication cables come into the data center along different independent routes and from different network nodes. Once again, it is a safeguard against careless digger drivers.
The data center is neutral in terms of communication operators, i.e. it offers services from different companies on a level playing field. Multiple partners can be used in parallel if desired.
Operators are free to compete in the data center, as this creates the conditions for better price offers.
Convenience
There is room in the data center to grow and significantly expand your IT footprint if necessary.
The center is logistically well located and easily accessible.
Clients have access to well-furnished workspaces, warehouses, assembly areas, meeting rooms, and resting areas – so they can properly focus on their duties.
The manager of the center can receive and store your IT equipment if needed.
Equipment can also be managed remotely, meaning you will have round-the-clock support from specialists at data center who will carry out your work orders.
The more things you can tick off this list, the better prepared you are for the future. The entire modern economy runs on electronic communications and data, so you can consider IT equipment among your key workers. The better they feel, the better the results they provide.
Greenergy Data Centers, the largest and most secure data center in the Baltics, either already meets these requirements or will soon. According to Urmo Kanger, Sales Director, the bar has been set as high as possible: ‘The aim is not just to be at a high level today, but to meet the high standards five years from now. That is why future-proofing is built into our design from the start, and the platform to keep up with the times is excellent,’ Kanger describes. According to him, a data center is like the city of Tallinn, which is never quite finished, as technological advances and new opportunities are constantly driving development and services are continuously improved in cooperation with customers and partners.