Data center disaster preparedness: disaster-resistant design and infrastructure – part 1 (video)
For IT organizations evaluating data center space or colocation services, it’s important to consider disaster mitigation and recovery capabilities. In this video, watch Bill Brown, VP, Data Center Operations at Internap, discuss certain factors that should be present to minimize disruptions to your business in the event of a disaster.
Redundancy standards for power and cooling – The data center should be designed to N+1 redundancy standards for both power and cooling. This will certify a level of maintainability as well as resiliency in the event of a loss of power grid utility or other unexpected event.
Independent electrical grid – This should be “hardened” to withstand outside influences, such as earthquakes or terrorist attacks. Actions as simple as positioning bollards at the entrance to deter a threat or placing a cement wall between transformers to guard against a catastrophic ground fault can reduce risks.
Single points of failure should be identified to minimize the risk of disruption and help maintain business continuity.
Before choosing a data center provider, take an in-person tour of the facility to determine if the design and infrastructure will provide the level of redundancy and protection that your business needs.
The physical design of the data center should also have adequate precautions in place to protect against weather-related threats. In certain geographic areas that are prone to earthquakes or other outside influences, preventative measures should be in place to avoid an impact on business operations. Internap’s Houston data center is located in the only downtown building that did not lose power during Hurricane Ike in 2008.
To learn more, download our ebook, Data Center Disaster Preparedness: Six Assurances You Should Look For.
