Understanding Data Center Management

Data centers are among any company’s most important resources, so it’s crucial this infrastructure runs uninterrupted on the latest technology. That’s why every business should practice effective data center management.

What Is Data Center Management?

Data center management involves overseeing the computing, storage and networking components. Essentially, data center management preserves uptime and increases the utilization and delivery speed of the applications, customer data and IT equipment crucial to a business.

Data center managers may be in charge of:

• Configuring and monitoring data distribution and storage resources
• Overseeing upgrades of hardware and software
• Data security, risk mitigation and recovery planning for emergencies
• Providing technical support for other members of an organization

While this may sound like a staggering number of tasks, today’s data center management processes are simplified with infrastructure automation. Routine but critical processes, like data backup and replication and patch implementation, now require less oversight and fewer costs to manage properly.

Best Practices for Data Center Management

In recent years, data center management has become more proactive instead of reactive. It’s vital that companies plan for the future and continuously identify opportunities to save time, space and money. Some tips for effectively managing a data center include:

• Optimize storage space: If a business deals with countless terabytes or petabytes of information, the data center must have the capacity and speed to contain it all. This can entail upgrading outdated hard drives or incorporating network-attached storage solutions.
• Perform routine maintenance: Regular data backups, failover procedures and monitoring for hardware issues can help you avoid the crippling effects of downtime. Enlisting data center cleaning services also prevents slowdowns or potential fires from dust and debris.
• Prioritize energy efficiency: Data centers need sufficient power, adequate ventilation and cooling for reliable performance. On-site hardware is best housed in a planned, controlled environment.
• Keep infrastructure documentation: IT professionals and technicians should have organized documents to refer to when evaluating facility equipment — otherwise, it’s easy to lose track of assets.

The Importance of Data Center Management Tools

Many companies consider data center infrastructure management (DCIM) software to be their most indispensable tool in visualizing and monitoring their data centers. When choosing a DCIM, organizations should weigh how simple the software is to use, the degree of customization and the available security measures and support.

Common Problems Faced in Managing Data Centers

Data center managers will often encounter:

• Trouble with managing multiple equipment vendors and their contracts, warranties, policies, patches and upgrades
• Difficulty replacing aging or end-of-life hardware with products that integrate with the existing system
• Data centers that are spread across multiple locations or virtualized
• No policies or control processes in place for managing the data structure

In these cases, it often takes an experienced team to provide troubleshooting and data solutions that make the most of available resources while keeping costs down.

Contact DataSpan for Professional Data Center Services

DataSpan provides expert data center consulting services and products to help businesses navigate the data lifecycle. We can partner with your company to deliver a customized data center plan, including automated solutions to manage your operations smoothly.

Call us or complete a contact form to learn how DataSpan will work for your business. You can also find a representative in your area today.