The data centre is the heart of IT infrastructure, whether it be private or public cloud, dedicated servers, bare-metal servers, or any other solution including an off-site element.
As the central point for data storage and processing, data centres are critical for business applications and services. There are therefore a number of components and processes in place to protect the data centre, including physical and digital security measures, cooling systems and power supply, and physical protection against fire, extreme weather conditions, and natural disasters.
What are the components of a data centre?
Servers
There are two main types of servers used within data centres – rack servers and blade servers. Rack servers are flat devices which are stacked in racks or shelves. Blade servers are vertical modular devices, which are housed in a chassis, and take up less space than rack servers.
Storage systems
Storage systems are used to manage and archive data. There are two types of systems used within data centres – block storage and file storage devices. Block storage is a method of storing data within blocks, which can be distributed across multiple systems. Block storage devices can include hard drives, solid state drives (SSDs), and storage area networks (SANs). File storage devices use a hierarchical structure with folders and subfolders, and can include hard drives, cloud-based file storage, and network-attached storage (NAS).
Networking infrastructure
Connectivity is key with rapid transfer of data between data centres, organisations and end users required. This is achieved through a high performing network. Within the data centre itself, the network is supported by cables, routers, and switches connecting all devices, and allowing for data transfer between locations.
Cooling systems
The large amount of servers and hardware in a data centre generates a significant amount of heat. Effective cooling is essential to avoid overheating, which can lead to performance issues and hardware failure. There are several methods used to cool data centres – traditional solutions include using air conditioning and chilled water systems, while emerging solutions use technologies such as liquid immersion cooling. For more information, read our insight ‘How are data centres cooled’.
Power supply
Data centres generally use multiple power sources, with mains power as the primary source, and one or more redundant systems to ensure continuous supply. This can include backup generators and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
Security measures
To protect the data housed within the centre, data centres use physical security measures. This can include perimeter fencing, biometric access, intrusion detection systems, and security feeds. Digital security measures such as firewalls will also be employed for the servers within the centre.
Physical protection measures
Depending on the location of the data centre, the physical protection measures will vary. For areas liable to flooding, measures such as elevated construction and advanced drainage systems can be used. For areas with high winds and seismic activity, buildings will be reinforced. Data centres are generally built to withstand damage from fire, including the usage of fire-resistant materials, and automated fire suppression systems.
What are the types of data centre?
Enterprise data centres
Privately owned by businesses for on-premise infrastructure.
Multi-tenant data centres
Data centres run by providers, with resources rented out for customers’ infrastructure, for cloud hosting, dedicated servers, or colocation services.
Edge data centres
Smaller facilities close to end-users for low latency, often used in combination with internet of things (IOT) technology.
Data centre tiers and what they mean
In the mid 1990s, the Uptime Institute implemented a system of tiers to standardise data centre availability and overall performance. With rankings from 1-4, the tiers evaluate the data centre’s capabilities, based on redundancy levels, uptime guarantee, staff expertise, and maintenance protocols.
At a basic overview, the tiers are:
Tier 1 – Basic capacity: no redundancy
Tier 2 – Redundant capacity components: partial N+1 redundancy
Tier 3 – Concurrently maintainable: full N+1 redundancy of all systems
Tier 4 – Fault tolerant: full 2N+1 redundancy of all systems
Most enterprises will require at least Tier 3 data centres to house their infrastructure, as this allows for maintenance without downtime, and provides sufficient redundancy in case of any faults.
What questions should you ask your hosting provider about their data centres?
As data centres are the core of the majority of IT infrastructure, it is important to find out about your provider’s data centres.
Locations
Global data centre facilities allow you to host your infrastructure in the location, or locations, best suited to your organisation and your end users. Spreading your infrastructure across geographically diverse data centres will support redundancy and disaster recovery. You may also require data centres in specific locations to comply with data sovereignty requirements – for example, EU companies must store and process their data in the EU, or within a jurisdiction with similar levels of protection.
Data centre tiers
To best protect your infrastructure, you should be looking for Tier 3 data centres as a minimum, as this provides full redundancy. If you are looking to host mission-critical sites and applications, you can consider Tier 4 data centres, or backing up your platform across multiple Tier 3 data centres.
Security measures
You will need to confirm the security measures in place at your provider’s data centre to ensure the safety of your data. This should include a combination of the measures described above, with physical measures to protect the building, and digital measures to protect the servers. The level of security required will depend on the sensitivity of your data.
Physical protection measures
Depending on the location of your provider’s data centres, they may be liable to natural disasters and extreme weather. If this is the case, you should find out what measures are in place to protect the building and equipment.
Our data centres
As a global hosting provider, we deliver hosting services in more than 35 locations worldwide. Our strategic partnerships with leading data centre specialists, including Equinix and Telehouse, provides our customers with access to world-class technology, with enterprise-class security, connectivity and performance.
All of our data centres are Tier 3+, with a minimum of N+1 at some locations, through to N+N at others. Power is fed diversely from separate national grids with UPS and on-site generators available to take over where necessary, ensuring no drop in service.
Find out more on our Global Data Centres page.
