Data Center Extension: Key Considerations for Expanding Your Data Center Footprint

Data center extension has been gaining momentum in businesses wanting to leverage the cloud’s elasticity and scalability by integrating their on-premise data centers with cloud infrastructure. The traditional siloed, centralized infrastructure models for their compute, storage and network systems and software is no longer viable and enterprises are shifting to cloud and hybrid services.

The need for robust and scalable data center infrastructure is driven by the demand for growth and the high-speed acceleration of digital transformation. The need is especially critical for larger enterprises with highly specialized infrastructure, hyperscalers, government entities that need to meet strict compliance and security requirements.

There are a number of factors to consider that are crucial and can result reduced footprint, cost savings, ability to scale, employee safety, greater security, and reduced environmental impact.

In this article, we will dive into key considerations for data center extension and how to ensure a successful expansion project.

Critical Factor #1: Planning and Design

Whether it’s a small enterprise or hyperscale, creating and maintaining a highly efficient data center requires good planning and design. Before initiating any expansion project, a detailed plan in place should take into account the current infrastructure, future growth projections, and other essential factors. Proper planning will ensure that expansion is done with minimal disruption. A good plan will account for factors such as power, cooling, and space constraints, as well as any regulatory compliance requirements.

Critical Factor #2: Location

The physical location of your data center can impact speed and latency. A data center needs to be built to withstand the local weather and despite natural disasters, ideally your data center should be able to continue with as little disruption as possible. Data centers strategically chosen have access to power and network connectivity.

Critical Factor #3: Power and Cooling

Power and cooling are crucial components of any data center extension project. It is important to control the temperature in a data center to reduce any build up of heat. Not being able to control heat and airflow in a data center can have disastrous consequences resulting in prohibitive costs. Backup power sources and cooling systems ensure that there is uninterrupted service delivery. Cooling systems can result in high maintenance costs and impact global warming. It is critical that the new infrastructure is designed to minimized energy consumption and reduce power and cooling costs.

Critical Factor #4: Scalability

As organizations grow, their data centers must be able to adapt and accommodate their increasing needs for storage, processing, and network requirements. As technology advances, their data center must be able to accommodate new technologies as they emerge. This includes the ability to add new hardware, software, and networking components, as well as the ability to easily scale resources up or down as needed. Future-proofing their data centers enables organizations to have a competitive edge, continue to grow and thrive. It can also save costs and the time-consuming processes of expanding infrastructure.

Critical Factor #5: Security

Data Center Security is another key consideration in any extension project. The new infrastructure must be designed with security in mind, with appropriate measures in place to protect against potential threats such as cyberattacks and physical breaches. Security must be addressed from both a physical and digital perspective, including access control and monitoring, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other security measures.

Critical Factor #6: Compliance

Compliance is a critical factor in any data center extension project. Data centers and cloud computing providers typically provide greater security and efficiency improvements over in-house solutions. Organizations must ensure that the new infrastructure complies with all relevant regulations and standards, including data privacy laws, security regulations, and environmental regulations. Proactive steps must be taken to protect sensitive data. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in legal and financial consequences, as well as reputational damage.

Critical Factor #7: Budget and ROI

Budgets and ROI are important considerations when planning a data center extension project. Data center extension is expensive, so it is important that an organization looks to generate maximum output from its resources as they consider expanding their data center footprint and consider the potential return on investment (ROI).

A recent trend in data center extension is the green data center revolution. Data centers consume a huge amount of energy. Increasing pressure from governments and regulators are paving the way for more sustainable data centers which will also drive ROIs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, data center extension is a crucial component of modern IT infrastructure. Careful consideration of the key factors is essential for a successful expansion project.

At Rahi Systems, we understand the complexities of data center expansion, and our team of experts can help you design and implement a solution that meets your organization’s specific needs. Whether you’re looking to expand your existing data center, build a new facility, or migrate to a cloud-based solution, we can help you achieve your goals efficiently and cost-effectively. Contact us today to learn more about our data center services and how we can help you achieve your IT objectives.