Data Center Operations Efficiency

August 9, 2024

Undoubtedly, many of today’s working data centers are a far cry from the stock images of perfectly clean rows of racks filled with immaculate servers and neatly wound cabling. Since real data centers are constantly under pressure to do more with less, setting cleaning standards and establishing best practices to maintain operational efficiency are too often forgotten in the rush to meet day-to-day challenges.

With organizations depending on quick, reliable access to client and internal data, taking measures to optimize data center efficiency is a priority for smart operators. Business disruptions caused by delays and downtime directly impact your revenue potential. In a 2022 survey, 45% of businesses said data center outages cost them between $100,000 and $1 million, and 25% of respondents said they lost over $1 million.

6 Tips for Improving Data Center Operations

A strategic approach to data center management is key to:

  • Combating operation disruptions and unplanned downtime.
  • Enhancing performance for faster processing and reliability.
  • Supporting customer and worker satisfaction with secure, reliable processing.
  • Saving costs through reduced energy consumption and maintenance requirements.

To help you prioritize which specific steps to take to bolster your data center’s peak efficiency, we’ve put together this list of top tips:

1. Tidy Your Space

If your data center looks more like an electronic dump of old servers waiting for decommissioning, it’s time to clean up your physical space. Start by removing all the equipment that’s not being used or is past its useful life cycle.

Dirt and dust buildup directly impact how your systems function, often causing them to slow or overheat. Cleaning the space, including your equipment, floors and surfaces, is an important way to lower the risk of downtime.

Having experts regularly clean your data center will help you maintain an optimal environment and ensure your space is tidy.

2. Clean Your Data

Beyond cleaning up your space, you also need to establish best practices for your data hygiene. The International Data Sanitization Consortium defines this as the ongoing process of classifying and migrating appropriately all duplicate, incorrect and unused data. Once put in place, good data hygiene can help reduce the total data you need to manage and allow you to better focus your resources.

Remember, if you are destroying, recycling or returning equipment to the manufacturer, thoroughly erase all data beforehand. Working with a data destruction specialist is the best way to ensure you have successfully eliminated all sensitive information.

Experts will also ensure the process complies with relevant destruction standards, such as the guidelines outlined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology or the National Security Agency.

3. Invest in High-Quality Racks and Enclosures

The right enclosure cabinets and equipment racks provide optimal organization and structure within your space. These solutions are essential for improving airflow and physical security. They also make routine maintenance and accessibility easier for your team.

Partner with a provider that delivers customized racking solutions suited specifically for your data center requirements.

4. Ensure Data Center Compliance

For data centers that handle anything from electronic health records that need to be Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant to clients’ financial information that must meet privacy and transparency regulations found in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, meeting compliance standards can significantly improve reliability and efficiency.

Ensuring your data center adheres to high standards and applicable regulations is essential for passing audits and other industry checks.

5. Optimize Data Center Cooling

With so much riding on the reliable operation of your equipment, establishing best practices to optimize data center cooling is crucial. From upgrading your air conditioning systems to containing, funneling and even reusing exhaust heat, robust environmental controls make sense and can greatly reduce energy costs.

High-quality data center cooling solutions, such as chillers, in-row cooling and blanking panels, help your business protect its essential equipment, combat overheating and elongate life spans.

A cool, dry environment is key to supporting optimal data center operations, allowing managers to effectively reduce downtime and foster greater performance.

6. Assess Performance With Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Solutions

With all the other steps in place, the best way to monitor and refine your data center’s efficient operation is to use DCIM software. These solutions are specifically designed to give you insights into the relationship between your IT equipment and the physical space that houses it.

Robust DCIM tools will offer your business an accurate look into power utilization for current and future requirements. They also help you manage device failover risks and energy consumption. A huge advantage of these solutions is having insight into power efficiency delivered in different ratings and metrics.

Working with a trusted DCIM solutions provider will streamline IT and data center decision-making for more effective operations.

Optimize Data Center Operations Efficiency With DataSpan

DataSpan data center services help your business prevent unplanned interruptions and enhance efficiency.

Our experienced professionals help supercharge your data center with the latest technologies and equipment. We can tackle everything from data eradication to asset recycling to fulfill your unique needs. We are also certified by the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) and fully compliant with HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley and a host of other data handling regulations and standards.

Are you interested in learning how DataSpan can assist in establishing the most reliable data center infrastructure for your business? Contact our team to get started today.

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