When To Make A Data Center Relocation

As a business grows and hardware improves and existing data centers prove inadequate, a decision should be taken for Data Center Relocation.

Data Centers face a tough proposition with technological advancements that makes existing devices obsolete is a short period of time. The need for the services of Data Center 24 hours in a day on all the 365 days in a year calls for uninterruptible power supplies. Crowded Servers mounted on racks need power. They generate a lot of heat in the process. With age and growth in data needs, Data Centers become obsolete and overburdened. The demand for  cooling equipment and advanced technologies make it difficult for existing Data Centers to deliver. The obvious answer to this problem is Data Center Relocation.  

The idea of relocation galvanizes all into action. However, Relocation is a major operation requiring the whole unit to collaborate and work with cooperation. The two main departments that would have to come together and execute the relocation are the entities managing the facility and supporting it and the IT Dept. who actually runs the center. Getting these two Departments together for exercise is the first step towards relocation.  

The next part of the exercise is that of planning and executing the relocation. The exercise calls for a project based approach. Relocations can also be carried out by Corporations that are professional and have the necessary expertise and experience.   It is estimated that of the total relocation costs, 15% goes towards the construction of the office building. 70% of the costs go towards meeting the electrical and mechanical systems. Since the majority of the expenditure is towards electrical and mechanical systems, any wrong estimation of requirements would result in failure of the relocation.  With money at stake, it is important to plan for the relocation.

Relocation decisions are driven by three main reasons. Existing power supplies and cooling facilities are inadequate, necessitating the move, problems of functionality in tiers and thirdly, inadequate space. Along with the decision for Data Center Relocation, a fitting data management strategy is to be drawn up depending on the kind of state the business is in. For instance, the business may be growing and fast expanding or is in the process of retiring obsolete equipment. It may be adding more servers and computer labs for which existing space will not be enough. Along with the relocation strategy, the business will also have to chalk out the data management strategy in the relocated set up.  Data Center Relocation takes time and the costs may be high. However, the decision depends on the future growth prospects of the business.