A data center is a facility used to house computer systems or servers and their associated components, such as network communications and storage systems. Data centers also contain redundant power supplies and data communications connections, environmental controls (e.g., air conditioning, fire suppression) and various security devices. Data centers are used by organizations for processing, storing, and distributing large quantities of data.
Data centers are an essential part of modern life. For almost type of business transaction, electronic exchange of data is required. In recent years, data centers have evolved significantly, improving efficiency and increasing scale to adopt technologies such as virtualization, cloud computing, mobile, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
Data centers are commonly referred to as the brain of the company, as they are where all the critical processes of a business are run on computer servers. The critical data from a company is processed, stored, and organized into packets for transmission where routers determine the best path for the data to travel on.
Data centers come in all shapes and sizes. They are typically housed in well-constructed, sturdy buildings to be protected from environmental and physical security threats. It is the job of the data center to provide constant power and cooling to IT equipment and associated applications without any interruptions. Ultimately, the size and equipment depend upon the needs of the company they are supporting, but most data centers contain:
- Servers
- Networking
- Storage
- Software
- Cabling
- Infrastructure
- Cooling
- Backup power
- Environment monitoring
Data centers are an important component of any business and it is crucial that they are ran and monitored properly and efficiently. Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software is designed to support day-to-day operations of a data center, acting as a central repository for data center management and bridging information across organizational domains like Facilities and IT so that a company can maximize the utilization of their data center. The benefits of DCIM software can be found in improved uptime, capacity planning and utilization, energy efficiency, and employee productivity.
Want to see how Sunbird’s world-leading DCIM software makes it easy for you to manage your data center infrastructure? Get your free test drive now!