Servers and other IT equipment are a vital part of any organization that works with a volume of data – and in today’s economy, that’s every organization! The data center has been the heart of these companies for many years, the location where crucial information is stored and from where it is distributed. In the 21st century, as technology becomes smaller and businesses more decentralized, the need for investment in sprawling data centers has reduced.
As a result, a certain demand for more compact and efficient data centers, to be installed at each office location, has begun to emerge.
Plug-and-play data centers are built on the principle of Data Center Power Compartmentalization. These are especially useful when companies need to create new facilities under tight deadlines, but are also of use when companies scale up, as plug-and-play data centers allow for a ‘building block’ approach to infrastructure investment. This helps save immediate costs. That’s why plug-and-play is the future of the data center.
Since plug-and-play centers require minimal infrastructure, multiple blocks can be added on along the way as and when required. However, the most attractive thing is the fact that Prefabricated Modular (PFM) Data Centers allow for faster deployment of data. PFM is in increasing demand in the IT World and elsewhere.
A prefabricated modular data center, like any other piece of PFM equipment, comprises systems (primarily hardware) that are pre-tested and pre-installed in a factory in order to reduce deployment time. They’re easily and quickly installed on-site and are usually mounted in an enclosure of sorts.
The ‘plug-and-play’ approach has proven to be a brilliant one, helping fire up data centers in just a few days rather than weeks, or even months. The risk of quality issues also drastically reduces. Today, the enclosures are offered in weatherproof and transportable variants as well, reducing risk even further. Thermal management systems help lengthen the lifespan of the data center.
As 451 Research principal analyst Daniel Bizo says, “PFM methodology is becoming the preferred way to expand and build new data center capacity, turnkey or critical subsystems. Underpinned by industrial processes, it has distinct advantages in terms of quality control, installation speed and builds consistency.”
‘Microdata centers’ are also emerging. These are relatively smaller centers that fall between IT closets and big modular data centers. They give organizations the power to deploy IT sources from basically anywhere.
Is plug-and-play right for you?
In a word, Yes! Under almost any circumstance, a plug-and-play data center provides an incredible amount of flexibility and ease of use. They work for companies large and small, in rooms with both hot and cold aisle containment, in portable containers and system-tested security rooms, and essentially anywhere else. These modules have suitable built-in enclosures for servers, cooling systems, power backup and more.
Hardy Racks’ Secure Data Centers even offer in-built security and access control systems.
In the long term, this is the approach that companies and small businesses will prefer. It’s faster, more efficient, modular and cost-effective. What more can you ask for?