If your organization houses data within network infrastructure that is located internally, there can be challenges to storing massive amounts of data and network infrastructure on-premises.
No organization can afford to have data storage problems and issues with its network infrastructure. These challenges can lead to data being compromised and corrupted or unable to be stored due to maximum storage limits being reached.
Additionally, housing network infrastructure on company premises can create storage issues at other office locations and can be difficult to repair or improve performance if there is a lack of IT resources and expertise in-house.
Coeo understands how important reliable data storage and network infrastructure are and has helped thousands of organizations migrate data and infrastructure to our data centers.
By the end of this article, you will understand what a data center is, its components, and if it is the right fit for your organization.
What is a data center?
A data center is a physical location that organizations use to house their data, critical applications, and network infrastructure.
Computing resources such as servers, data storage systems, and networking equipment are housed in a data center to support an organization’s business applications and network services.
It is important to note that modern data centers are much different than in the past. The main difference is the lack of on-premise physical infrastructure and hardware that has shifted to virtual networks that support applications and workloads in a multi-cloud environment.
Data centers are important to ensure the continuity, reliability, and security of an organization’s network, data, and applications.
The key components of a data center
Now you understand what a data center is. However, it is also important to understand the key components of a data center so you know what they consist of to determine whether these features would benefit your organization.
The key components of a data center include:
Computing hardware
The first component of a data center is the computing hardware. While there is not as much hardware that is used in today’s data centers, some computing hardware is necessary.
Servers are needed to compute the units that process the data and run the applications while storage devices and other systems such as hard drives must also have hardware that is installed at the data center.
Networking equipment
Networking equipment such as routers and switches that manage data traffic and connect it to external networks are important components of a data center, as well.
Additionally, firewalls and other security devices that control the incoming and outgoing data must be key components of the data center to prevent security breaches and avoid cyberattacks and data breaches.
Data storage infrastructure
Storing data is one of the main purposes of a data center. Because of this, data storage infrastructure is an important component of a data center so they can reliably and securely store data.
Storage systems are installed at a data center to hold the data stored by organizations.
Implement network redundancy and reliability
Network redundancy and reliability are important to avoid network downtime and maintain network uptime.
It is important for organizations to maintain operations as much as possible and if network uptime is required for business operations to continue, network redundancy and reliability should be important to prioritize.
Network redundancy and reliability are key components of a data center that incorporate failover mechanisms enabling systems to switch to a backup connection whenever there is a system failover.
Is using a data center a good choice for your organization?
Now you understand what a data center is and its key components. However, it is also important to understand whether a data center is a good choice for your organization to determine if using one will benefit your business operations.
If your organization is looking to store more data than your location can handle and does not have the storage capacity to implement all the necessary equipment, a data center may be a good choice for your organization to help store equipment and data.
Using a data center may be a good solution for your organization if you are having trouble continuing business operations and performance without interruptions.
A data center can help provide network redundancy and reliability to prevent network downtime and ensure business continuity.
Additionally, if your organization is struggling with poor network security, a data center may be a good option to ensure your network is secure, enabling you to remain compliant with industry requirements for data management and security to avoid legal consequences to your business.
Determining whether a data center is a good choice for your organization
Now you understand what a data center is, its key components, and whether using a data center is a good choice for your organization. This will help you determine if your organization should invest in a data center.
No organization wants to have poor network security and performance. Poor network security can lead to cyberattacks that cause many consequences for your business and can cost your organization hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair the network.
Additionally, poor network performance can lead to extended network downtime that can halt business operations resulting in lost customers and revenue.
A data center can help improve network performance and security to avoid these issues while also avoiding cyberattacks and data breaches and the consequences that they bring.
Coeo understands how important reliable network performance and security are and has helped thousands of organizations move their networks to a data center to improve network performance, security, and data storage capabilities.
We want you to understand what a data center is and its key components so you can determine whether it is a good choice for your organization to improve your network and business operations.
If you would like to speak with our team to learn more about data centers or ask any questions you may have you can schedule an appointment.
Now that you understand the key components of a data center and whether they might be beneficial for your organization, read this article to learn about the problems of data center migrations and how to avoid them:
When he's not creating content for Coeo, Jordan loves to watch sports, hang out with friends and family, and anything sneaker-related.
