For people working in the IT industry change is a normal thing for them. There are always something new introduced, new updates to software and even newer hardware technology introduced. The same applies to data centres, whereby issues and problems arise on a daily basis and need to be dealt with there and then. Data centres are an extremely important asset to all large corporate businesses, because they act as a backup plan for unpredictable situations that may cause the companies to lose vital information.



During the September 11th attack on the Twin towers in New York City, major banking corps saw it fit to invest in data centres to keep all of the information safe and secure. This enabled the banks to boost their security system further and prepare for situations beyond their own control. Keeping these centres maintained requires a lot of time and management where people can monitor the servers and keep track of the environment they are placed in.

There are simple and effective methods of making sure that the centres are running on top form twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Heating is an important factor in all data centres, as the temperature will need to be regulated on a daily basis. Excess heat in a server room can cause damage to the machines, which will mean more money will be spent on repair, maintenance and replacement of equipment.

Around twenty percent of server failures are as a result of poor temperature regulation, excess fluid build up and build up of foreign matter such as dust and dirt. This needs to be managed on a daily basis, making sure that the environment within the data centre is clean, spacious and kept cool. Some centres have air conditioning; however this can take up a lot of power and can circulate dust, therefore newer methods are adopted to keep the general costs low and the use of energy levels low.

There are automated ways of monitoring the temperature of the server, which will allow you to deal with any issues that occur immediately. Constant monitoring of the data centre environment allows you to locate where the temperature may have spiked or dropped, then using automated coolers to regulate the temperature again. In terms of keeping moisture levels at bay, dehumidifiers are a useful tool from preventing any excess mould growth. There should also be enough space between each server rack, allowing room for an even distribution of cool air and avoiding too much clutter.

Lighting in the building should also be controlled, as this can create unwanted heat and take up much of the costs for running the centre. Furthermore security is also an issue for data centres, which means that any visitors entering into the building for any maintenance work need to go through a security checking point. This may mean they will not only need proof of identification, they will also need to be searched and accompanied by existing security personnel of the company.

The building itself is specifically designed with security in mind both from external attacks and any natural occurrences. The walls are thick and made with strong materials that provide long term stability. They are also situated at least three miles away from main town areas in a large land space, so as not to be affected by external movements such as vehicles etc.