As businesses reshape digitally across the world, four emerging archetypes will impact the way the data centre of the future will look and operate.
Critical infrastructure provider Emerson Network Power claims that traditionally, the data centre has evolved in response to technology innovation - mostly server-based - and the pace and direction has been somewhat predictable.
“Disruptive trends such as cloud computing, sustainability, cybersecurity and the Internet of Things are driving profound IT changes across all industries and creating opportunities and challenges in the process,” says Anand Sanghi, President of Asia, Emerson Network Power.
“As a result, new archetypes are emerging that will change the data centre landscape and improve productivity, drive down costs and increase agility.”
Going forward, Sanghi believes the four emerging archetypes of tomorrow’s data centres are:
The data fortress
According to Sanghi, cyber attacks have disrupted some of the world’s leading companies as our increasingly connected world creates more and more openings for hackers.
“Organisations are beginning to take a security-first approach to data centre design, deploying out-of-network data pods for highly sensitive information - in some cases with separate, dedicated power and thermal management equipment,” Sanghi adds.
The cloud of many drops
Despite virtualisation-driven improvements, Sanghi believes too many servers remain under-utilised - some studies indicate servers use just 5-15 percent of their computing capacity and that 30 percent of all servers are “comatose.”
“We see a future where organisations explore shared service models, selling some of that excess capacity and in effect becoming part of the cloud,” Sanghi adds.
Fog computing
Distributed architectures are becoming commonplace as computing at the edge of the network becomes more critical.
Introduced by Cisco, fog computing connects multiple small networks into a single large network, with application services distributed across smart devices and edge computing systems to improve efficiency and concentrate data processing closer to devices and networks.
“It’s a logical response to the massive amount of data being generated by the Internet of Things (IoT),” Sanghi adds.
The corporate social responsibility compliant data centre
“Energy efficiency continues to be important for an industry with seemingly limitless consumption needs, but other drivers - most notably an increased focus on reducing carbon footprint among some organisations - are pushing the focus toward sustainability and corporate responsibility,” Sanghi adds.
The industry is responding with increased use of alternative energy in an effort to move toward carbon neutrality.
“We are in the midst of a profound digital transformation that is reshaping how businesses and consumers behave, connect and transact,” Sanghi adds.
“Consequently, data centres are also evolving in response to this transformation.
“With this, we remain committed to ensuring that our consumers are well-equipped to embrace emerging technologies, giving them the agility and capability to grow their business in a safe, secure, scalable and sustainable way.”
