Nordic data centre and colocation provider DigiPlex has launched a guide designed to help businesses solidify their data centre strategies – and avoid making long-term mistakes.
The guide was put together to address gaps in knowledge which DigiPlex argues could significantly impact data centre decision making, with ramifications for the wider business.
Naturally, one of the key topic areas is around alternatives to running on-premises data centres and the skills and experience required, whether it is through cloud or colocation. The report affirms cloud as an inexorable trend.
"IDC predicts significant buildout of data centres in the Nordics beyond 2020 as data centres need to be located close to users to avoid latency in data traffic as cloud transformation and IoT expand," the paper notes. "If your in-house data centre is not ideally located, it is worth evaluating an additional data centre to achieve the digital proximity needed and avoid unfortunate digital congestion."
Sustainability is another important area the report focuses on. High energy efficiency, use of renewable electricity and effective heat recovery are all initiatives the report recommends. This is not an idle promise either; this time last year CloudTech reported on a DigiPlex initiative where waste heat from its facilities was being reused in residential apartments across Oslo.
By moving from a PUE (power usage effectiveness) rating of 1.67 to 1.2, the report asserts that organisations can save as much as a quarter on power consumption, which positively impacts the bottom line with it. This makes for an interesting comparison with other figures; when this reporter visited Rackspace's newest UK data centre in 2015, the claimed PUE was 1.15. The Rackspace build also featured sloped roofs for harvesting rainwater, and cooling using natural air. The Nordics' cooler temperatures mean many of the world's largest companies – Facebook being a prime example – are setting up shop there.
Gisle M. Eckhoff, CEO of DigiPlex, cited further IDC research which argued two in three European CEOs were under 'considerable pressure' to deliver successful digital transformation strategies. "The data centre sits at the core of this challenge as a critical strategic concern and opportunity for competitive advantage and sustainability," said Eckhoff. "Data centres can be owned and operated in many ways, and there has never been a more important time to review and evaulate which options are best for you.
"Regardless of your industry, your current level of digitalisation or how you currently house and manage the data necessary to operate your business, taking an honest look at your data centre requirements and options regularly is critical to long-term success," added Eckhoff.
The full list of 10 requirements the report covers are high reliability, ability to release investment budget for innovation, predictable operating costs, levels of certified renewable electricity used, energy efficiency, heat recovery, high level of physical secrity, proximity to end users, proper connectivity, and a relevant data centre ecosystem.
You can read the full report here (email required).
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