Colocation Data Centre Operations and Maintenance Best Practices

 

 

Colocation Data centres are indispensable components of the modern digital landscape, serving as the fundamental infrastructure supporting our interconnected world. The effective management and maintenance of these colocation data centres are of utmost importance, as they are pivotal in ensuring uninterrupted operations and optimal performance. Efficiency, reliability, and security are paramount considerations when operating a colocation data centre. Given the critical nature of these services for businesses, it is imperative to establish robust Colocation Data Centre Operations and Maintenance (CDCOM) best practices.

 

STT GDC India a Credible Colocation Data centre Provider

 

STT GDC India has been recognised as a leading colocation service provider, having received the Frost & Sullivan colocation service provider of the year award five times consecutively and being certified as a Great Place to Work three times.

 

With state-of-the-art data centres strategically located across the country, equipped with cutting-edge technology and robust security measures, we ensure 100% uptime and availability for our clients. Our team of highly skilled professionals is dedicated in providing world-class services, including design, implementation, maintenance, and support for all aspects of data centre operations.

 

In today’s digital economy, we have the strongest foundation you can rely on!

 

• 27 Data Centres
• 9 Cities
• ~300+ MW IT Load
• 33% Renewable Energy Penetration
• 100% Uptime
• 10% PUE
• 19% WUE

 

Strengthening the Colocation Data Centre Operations and Maintenance

 

In the modern world, Colocation data centres are the backbone of businesses and organisations. They are responsible for supporting and enabling processing, storing, and distribution of the massive amounts of data that power our daily lives. Therefore, it is crucial that colocation data centre operations and maintenance follow best practices to ensure the uptime, security, and efficiency of these vital facilities. Here are STT GDC India’s colocation data centre infrastructure management practices / data centre managed services for businesses that want to ensure the smooth operation and maintenance of their critical IT infrastructure.

 

1. Sustainability

 

Efficient use of Natural Resources

 

In an era where environmental sustainability is a global priority, data centres must focus on energy efficiency. By embracing energy-efficient practices, data centres can reduce operating costs while being responsible stewards of the environment.

 

STT GDC India's approach exceeds its extensive expertise and best-in-class capabilities, with customer value as a strategic imperative. Through the years, the company has earned a sterling reputation supporting customers' path towards eco-responsible, sustainable digital transformation. Committed to its goal to become net carbon-neutral by 2030, STT GDC India designs, manages, and maintains its data centres to meet energy, water, raw materials, waste, and atmospheric emissions standards. It tracks its progress using metrics such as carbon intensity, power usage effectiveness (PUE), and water usage effectiveness (WUE).

 

Approximately 36% of STT GDC India's power consumption comes from renewable energy sources. We reported a 10% PUE improvement during the past year. In addition to our current wind/solar and hydropower procurement, we signed additional power purchase agreements valued at 149 million kilowatt-hours to increase our future renewable energy penetration. A 19% WUE improvement demonstrates our responsible water use across all operations while implementing a better waste data water management system.

 

STT GDC India works to build an infrastructure supporting the growing digital economy while considering the health, safety, well-being, and dignity of all its stakeholders, employees, and the extended workforce.

 

Maintain controlled temperatures and humidity levels

 

To ensure the proper functioning and protection of a compute's data storage and software, it is often necessary to maintain controlled temperatures and humidity levels for computers, servers, and other equipment. Temperature and humidity sensors should be installed to ensure that the environment stays within the recommended range. Precision Air conditioning units, Precision Air Handling Unit,, ventilation, and humidity controls should be designed to manage airflow and avoid hot spots that can damage equipment. (need to add how we ensure this)

 

Link it to sustainability angle as we use less power and water to maintain indoor climate. Also, using the principle of hot air goes up

 

 

2. Technology

 

Ensure Uptime by Creating Redundancies

 

Creating redundancies is key to ensuring maximum uptime in data centres. The Uptime Institute [1], a global data centre authority has defined four tiers of data centre redundancy.

 

• Tier 1 has no redundancies and offers the lowest guarantee of uptime at 99.671%, with an expected yearly downtime of 28.8 hours.
• Tier 2 includes partial redundancy for powering and cooling critical systems and offers 99.749% uptime with an expected yearly downtime of 22 hours.
• Tier 3 allows for concurrent maintenance, with an expected yearly downtime of 1.6 hours and 99.982% uptime.
• Tier 4 provides the highest guarantee of uptime at 99.995%, with only 26.3 minutes of expected yearly downtime, offering full redundancy with compartment and automatic fault tolerance, as well as twelve hours of continuous cooling.

 

Choosing the appropriate tier of redundancy can ensure maximum uptime and reduce the risk of downtime in data centres.

 

Create Stronger Testing Protocols

 

Testing is an essential component of data centre operations and maintenance best practices. It is crucial to test software updates and new technology prior to deployment to ensure that they function as intended and do not create vulnerabilities. Data centre operators should create comprehensive testing protocols that cover all aspects of their facilities and systems. Testing should be done regularly to identify issues before they can cause problems.

 

In pursuit of excellence, STT GDC India distinguishes itself through the provision of state-of-the-art testing facilities. With two cutting-edge testing labs situated in Pune and Bangalore, STT GDC India assures its customers of the highest quality standards in deployment. These advanced testing facilities enable meticulous examination and verification of software updates and new technologies, ensuring their seamless integration into the data centre ecosystem. By prioritizing comprehensive testing procedures, STT GDC India upholds its commitment to delivering reliable and robust solutions to its valued clientele.

 

Implement Proactive and Predictive Maintenance

 

Predictive maintenance is a proactive approach to data centre operations and maintenance. The process entails utilising data analytics and machine learning techniques to predict potential equipment malfunctions in advance. This allows maintenance teams to take preventive measures to address the issue, such as replacing a component before it fails. STTGDC India emphasizes the importance of proactive maintenance, which ensures optimal performance, minimizes downtime, and extends the lifespan of critical infrastructure. STT GDC India have planned and executed consistent maintenances throughout the year to ensure all the customer business run 24*7 without any disruption.

 

 

Automation and Monitoring:

 

Automation and intelligent monitoring tools have revolutionized data centre operations. Automation reduces human error, enhances operational efficiency, and allows personnel to focus on more strategic tasks.

 

STT GDC India leverages cutting-edge technologies to automate routine tasks, monitor infrastructure performance in real-time, and proactively address potential issues. All our Data centre are equipped with SCADA and BMS system to ensure the 100% Uptime. By implementing comprehensive monitoring systems, they can identify anomalies, optimize resource allocation, and prevent service disruptions.

 

3. Safety and security

 

Security and Compliance

 

Data security is a paramount concern for any data centre and hence the STT GDC India has established robust security protocols to safeguard sensitive information and comply with industry regulations. Physical security measures, such as surveillance systems and access controls, are combined with advanced cybersecurity solutions, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and data encryption. By prioritizing security and compliance, STT GDC India ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical data.

 

 

Moreover, for the comprehensive management of all components within a data centre facility, STT GDC India ensures reliability and efficiency with the standard industry certification, ISO/IEC, TIA 942 (IDCs), SSAE 16 & ISAE 3402, ITIL, and green IT initiatives, catering to the unmet data management needs of business.

 

 

Keep It Clean - Maintaining high hygiene standards

 

STT GDC India places a strong emphasis on the hygiene of their data centres, ensuring optimal cleanliness and maintenance standards. By prioritizing hygiene, they provide a safe and secure environment for client data, minimizing the risk of contamination or disruptions, and ensuring the integrity and reliability of their services.

 

 

Maintain Emergency Preparedness

 

Data centres face a variety of risks, including natural disasters, cyber-attacks, and power outages even with the best infrastructure, most capable staff, and well-defined SOPs. This calls for well-defined processes in place to ensure the DC facility is prepared to handle any kind of emergency. STT GDC India with its well-defined SOPs and processes in place was able to ensure 100% uptime during the Covid-19 Pandemic despite the tough situation.

 

4. People

 

Staff Training and Development

 

With rapidly changing technology environments and threats, investing in the training and development of data centre staff is vital to stay abreast of evolving technologies and industry best practices. STT GDC India recognizes the importance of continuous education and provides its personnel with comprehensive training programs. By nurturing a skilled and knowledgeable workforce, they ensure their staff can effectively manage the complexities of data centre operations, emerging technologies, and changing customer requirements. STT GDC India invested in providing training to all our employees to get them updated to the latest technologies in the world.

 

Conclusion:

 

STT GDC India sets a benchmark for data centre operations and maintenance best practices. By adopting a proactive maintenance approach, prioritizing energy efficiency, ensuring robust security measures, leveraging automation, and monitoring tools, and investing in staff training and development, they demonstrate a commitment to excellence. These insights from STT GDC India provide valuable guidance to the industry, empowering data centre operators to enhance their operations, minimize downtime, and deliver reliable services to their clients.

 

Data centres are at the core of our digital world, and it is through continuous knowledge sharing and collaboration that we can drive industry advancements. STT GDC India serves as an inspiring example of excellence, and by implementing these best practices, we can all contribute to a more efficient, secure, and sustainable data centre ecosystem.

 

Sources:

Source 1: https://uptimeinstitute.com/tiers