A well-functioning data center is essential to the success of any business. However, many businesses make common mistakes in data center design and planning that can lead to downtime, decreased efficiency, and even loss of revenue.
This blog post will discuss five of the most common mistakes made in data center management, from not providing sufficient data center UPS to overcomplicating the design.
1. Not Providing Sufficient Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Failing to provide an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for your data center is a common mistake but one that should be avoided at all costs. Many people don’t consider the extensive damage that power outages can have on their servers, networks, and applications.
With a data center UPS system in place, businesses can protect their hardware from sudden power surges or drops by ensuring that the systems are backed up when electricity fails. This can prevent costly repairs or system replacements and minimize downtime that could result in decreased productivity and profit losses while also providing peace of mind.
Not only will having an effective UPS system guard against potential disasters in the data center, but it is also an investment that will pay itself off over time by protecting valuable company assets. Make sure to research best practices and understand the differences between types of data center UPS systems available so you are equipped with the right UPS configuration for your data center.
2. Not Planning for Expansion
A data center can be a lifeline for many businesses, so planning ahead for growth and expansion needs to be taken seriously. Poorly planned data centers can mean an increased risk of outages and other resource shortages as well as costly overprovisioning. When your data center isn’t prepared for the upcoming demand, it can cause serious issues with responsiveness and performance—not to mention the cost of additional maintenance or hardware needed to fill the gap.
It is important to always keep an eye on the trends of your company’s workforce and customer usage in order to properly plan for whatever amount of expansion you may need. By proactively planning for growth and expansion, you’ll be able to stay ahead of the game easily.
3. Incorrectly Estimating Power Requirements
Many businesses underestimate the power requirements of their data center, which can be a costly mistake. When there isn’t enough power to accommodate the electricity needs of all devices and systems, it can lead to inevitable malfunctions and inefficiencies, or worse—unmanageable energy bills.
To avoid these issues, make sure to be as accurate as possible when calculating how much power your data center will need. Take into account the size of your data center, its equipment, and the number of users that will be accessing it in order to determine the necessary power supply needs.
4. Overcomplicating Design
When designing a data center, many businesses make the mistake of looking for the most complex solution available instead of selecting one that is simple and cost-effective. Overcomplicating the design can lead to higher costs, greater complexity, and longer deployment times.
Complex solutions typically require more maintenance and resources than simpler ones, which could mean that any problems will be harder to fix. Instead of going with a complex setup right away, consider beginning with something simple and then building up from there.
5. Not Paying Attention to Cooling Needs
Data centers generate a significant amount of heat, and if they are not properly cooled, they can cause serious damage to equipment leading to costly repairs. To prevent this issue, it is important to pay attention to the cooling needs of your data center—both for the environment and for the equipment.
Proper cooling can help to reduce energy costs, as well as extend the life of your data center’s components. Make sure you have the necessary cooling systems in place to keep your data center from overheating and failing.
