Data center facility management (DCFM) is one of the most critical elements of a thriving business. But when it comes to DCFM, companies often need to pay more attention to the most basic needs or choose to handle them ineffectually. That's why it's helpful to understand the basics of DCFM and what positive changes you can make to your own business.
This blog discusses tips that could help you improve your data center facilities.
Data Center Facility Management Tips
Facility management is a complex and multifaceted job. It requires a data center manager to think about every aspect of a facility, from the physical building to the many people spending time in it. This role is often misunderstood as one that only deals with the aesthetics of a facility, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Facility managers significantly impact the data center's bottom line by keeping it running smoothly and safely.
Therefore, ensuring that your facility is well-prepared for any situation is the best way to ensure your job security.
The following are some facility management tips for data center owners and IT pros:
Here are some tips for how to keep your facility in good condition:
Use the right amount of cooling.
If you run too much, it can cause damage to your equipment and make the room uncomfortable, but if you don't run enough, your equipment may overheat.
Don't leave sensitive electronics unattended.
Even if you have a security system for the facility, a long-term outage or (God forbid) a fire could put sensitive information at risk.
Keep electricity in good condition.
Keep all cables in good shape and avoid putting them in areas where they could be damaged.
Regularly inspect the data center.
Check that your fire safety equipment is in proper working order and ensure that there are no holes or cracks that would allow air to escape or invaders to get in.
Be prepared for disruptions.
It would be best if you had backup plans for things like power outages or other disasters that can happen at any time.
Potential Cost Savings
Facility managers oversee some tasks—from monitoring energy performance and controlling lighting and temperature to handling repairs and conducting preventive maintenance on the mechanical equipment that keeps a data center up and running.
In the short term, facility management can help keep costs down by providing the appropriate environment for IT equipment to run smoothly and efficiently. Some potential cost savings in the long term include:
Decreased IT failure rates
Regarding data center facility management, the goal is increasingly to keep all processes as streamlined and straightforward as possible. Many factors can contribute to an increase in failure rates among data center equipment, but most can be traced back to one core issue: human error.
Another primary reason for increased failure rates is introducing new technology without a corresponding update in the facilities in which it will be used. Often a company will adopt new hardware that requires more power or different temperature controls than previously used items. Still, they will need to adjust their power distribution or cooling systems accordingly. This leads to overheating, which can cause costly damage even if the equipment is not permanently damaged.
Reduced power consumption
The key to reducing costs is ensuring you use your equipment efficiently. One way to do this is by running your equipment at peak performance levels. It would help if you used your power as efficiently as possible to get your equipment running at peak performance levels.
The easiest way to ensure you are using your power as efficiently as possible is by utilizing Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). PUE is calculated by dividing total facility power by IT equipment power. The industry standard for PUE is 2.0 or lower; any PUE over 2.0 indicates inefficiencies within the facility's power usage.
Fewer network problems
A properly run data center facility can save you much money in your day-to-day operation. I will highlight four areas that can be improved if you leave it to the pros: environmental controls, cooling, fire prevention, and power systems.
Transparency is key here; many people need to know the costs of running their data centers. It's often difficult to analyze these costs because they need to figure out what to look for and what can be optimized.
In addition, from an efficiency standpoint, the cost savings are clear: you'll have fewer network problems, less downtime, and a more consistent user experience.
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Conclusion
When a business invests in data center facility management, they're investing in their company's future—and with the proper maintenance plan, that future could last for years.
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