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Franek Sodzawiczny, development director & partner, Sentrum looks at the most model for data centre delivery For those of us working in the world of the data centre it seems we must, more than ever, be ready to react to a world intent on changing around us. Now is as good a time as any to consider the relative merits of the current models for data centre solutions as we head into what threatens to be yet another turbulent year.
One concept that is driving a lot of the discussions in the industry right now is that of the ‘data centre in a box’. The repeatable, modular data centre design is not only a great idea it is also a proven method implemented across multiple industries including oil and pharmaceuticals. What we have seen in recent months is the realisation that spend on delivery has become paramount for many businesses, so a set standard that is repeatable across most global geographies has a very real and compelling value.
As an industry though, we are still finding our feet, especially in terms of regulating both the design and the ongoing life of the data centre. This encompasses the issues of ability, efficiency, servicing and reporting - the shorthand of which is essentially the provision of power and resilience. Despite the potential threats from the varied environments that a sited ‘data centre in a box’ may find itself in, modular data centres do go some way towards providing known and agreed standards for consideration. However, here in Europe, it will be interesting to see how they stack up against the EU’s proposed code of conduct for data centres. I don’t necessarily believe that this will help clarify the situation entirely, but certainly in Western Europe this would have considerable impact on the acceptability - and therefore potential successes - of modular approaches.
The opposite extreme to the modular data centre is the bespoke offering, which will be the prime option for those nations where governmental and financial organisations are the engines of national economies. The demands in those countries are very different, for these data centre facilities it is all about delivering credibility as a centre of excellence.
Not every company, or every division of a company, requires a tier 4 solution though, so what we need to do is be smarter about understanding what is driving the decision-making process when it comes to commissioning the data centre. If we can understand that better, we should have a more realistic model for where to take the industry during the next few years.
If you speak with representatives of HM Government right now, all you will hear on their lips is the word ‘excellence’. Equally for those government contractors security remains high on the agenda. With public money and the spending of it becoming increasingly important it will be vital to demonstrate savings, which ultimately means reducing power demands.
For the corporate customer being demonstrably green is not a key driver, however - and this is regardless of the financial downturn - it is still vitally important to reduce the running costs of the data centre. Because of this, the provision of ongoing reporting has become very important with regards to meeting the challenge of delivering efficient data centre facilities 24x7, 365 days a year. The upside of this is that better reporting also generates better understanding.
So what does this mean right now? Specifications differ and varying models will be required for a multinational compared to local government organisations or a reseller of data centre space. Each business or industry has its own specific needs, aims and peculiarities. The best model right now then should recognise the need for flexibility, yet still deliver a high level of specification whilst offering compatibility as standard across the real estate. Anything less than a data centre that can be adapted to suit your business is not acceptable. So what we are seeing working best is part, or all, of the data centre created within an outsourced infrastructure.
Outsourcing means ensuring that data centre operators own these parameters, providing security and reporting mechanisms alongside a very high level of engineering. What Sentrum believes, and therefore works to, is that the demand is not necessarily for data centre space, but rather for the flexibility that it can offer to a business. Companies want to be better managed, for their data to be housed in the most efficient, secure and economic environment. They want to see an established skill base overseeing the operation, with experienced management that can offer the best data centre resource through financially structured deals that are not just affordable, but offer true value.
The winning data centre model therefore is neither the modular nor the bespoke, it is both and it is outsourced. With either option, as an industry, we must recognise and effectively manage the relative costs of the data centre solutions that we offer, in terms of the value delivered to the customer’s business, because if we do not, no model will truly succeed.
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