What is a data center?
Introducing data centers
A data center is a facility that plays a critical role in storing, processing, and managing digital data. It is the backbone of modern technological infrastructure, supporting a range of online services and applications, including banking systems, cloud computing, software for hardware management, and more.
Data center solutions ensure the seamless operation of many digital services and applications. They are the containers for vast amounts of data that drive businesses and organizations. They can store, process, and distribute data securely and efficiently. As digital connectivity becomes paramount in today’s world, data centers are the foundation on which our modern information-driven.
Explore our products, software, and services
Critical power and cooling
Producing a variety of products to protect IT equipment in data centers for industrial applications, small businesses, and homes.
Critical Power and Cooling
DCIM software
Enabling secure monitoring, measurement, management, and modeling of data centers, covering both IT equipment and supporting infrastructure such as power and cooling systems.
DCIM Software
EcoCare services
Optimizing equipment and systems maintenance strategy while helping business operations significantly reduce downtime and related maintenance costs.
EcoCare Services
What are the main components of data center architecture?
Data center design has six main components: computing, storage, networks, power infrastructure, cooling systems, and security systems. These are the foundation of flawless data center operation and are integral to its design and functionality.
Computing
Computing resources are responsible for processing and executing tasks and applications within data centers. These are usually high-performance servers and other computing assets necessary to meet the data center's processing requirements.
Storage
The storage component encompasses both the hardware and infrastructure, which stores and manages data within the data center. This component consists of storage area networks (SAN), network-attached storage (NAS), and other solutions that serve as high-capacity, reliable, and scalable data storage equipment.
Networks
The network elements focus on the networking capabilities of the data center. Networking consists of switches, routers, firewalls, and all other hardware elements that ensure connectivity, security, and efficient transfer of data within the data center.
Power infrastructure
Power infrastructure consists of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems, backup generators, and power distribution units (PDUs) provide a stable and reliable power supply.
Cooling systems
Cooling systems include Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) units, liquid cooling systems, and hot/cold aisle containment to maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels.
Security systems
Physical and network security measures to protect data and infrastructure from unauthorized access and cyber threats.
What are the business benefits of data centers?
- Centralized data management
Enhanced efficiency that provides better insights into business operations onsite and/or remotely.
- Flexibility
Scalable infrastructure based on need, accommodating growth without starting from scratch.
- Safety and security
High level of protection for sensitive information with multiple layers of physical and cyber-security measures.
- Reliability and uptime
Uninterrupted access to digital services with backup power and advanced cooling to help optimize the performance efficiency, sustainability controls and lifespan of IT equipment.
- Cost savings
By centralizing IT infrastructure, businesses can reduce costs associated with hardware, maintenance, and energy consumption.
- Recovery and backup
Safety of data through robust disaster recovery plans and redundant storage to ensure business continuity in case of failures or disasters.
Watch how our data center solutions can ensure fast deployment, flexibility, and management from any place and at any time. Our innovative set of software, hardware, and services can serve numerous environments for different sites.
What are the types of data centers?
There are four main types of data centers. Their classification varies on the purpose, characteristics, and place of use. In any type of data center, it is key to leverage data center infrastructure management (DCIM) to ensure the highest work efficiency.
Enterprise data centers are typically owned and operated by individual organizations or companies that require substantial computing power to support the company’s IT infrastructure. These data centers are usually on-premises and store, manage, and distribute large amounts of data for the internal needs of the business.
What are the strategies for data center modernization?
Data center modernization is key to ensuring the latest advancements in data center equipment to meet the evolving demands of digital infrastructure. There are multiple methods to transform traditional data centers into the data centers of the future to offer efficient, flexible, and eco-conscious hubs for the digital age.
What is an AI data center?
-
The emergence of new technologies in the form of AI and increasing demand for data management require revolutionary changes. Data centers of the Future are the backbone of these changes. They integrate modern data center design with data center software and services in the form of data center infrastructure management (DCIM) for optimal efficiency and performance. Data centers of the future prioritize security and sustainability using energy-saving technologies. They are compatible with the latest requirements on the market and the ever-changing needs of organizations and companies.
-
An AI data center is specifically designed to harness enormous power, storage, cooling requirements and space efficiency. It is necessary to apply, among other things, high-performance computing infrastructure, specialized hardware in the form of graphics processing units (GPUs) and tensor processing units (TPUs), scalable storage solutions, and advanced networking. Moreover, AI data centers require advanced orchestration and automation tools to better manage and optimize resource allocation for the high-density server requirements.
-
The evolution of data centers is a significant shift in the way organizations manage and utilize their IT infrastructure. As it helps improve data center services by enhancing scalability, accessibility, and cost-efficiency, it is a critical step for many organizations and companies. Evolving data centers with the use of cloud and service solutions require knowledge of the current workloads and a detailed migration plan to ensure accurate and safe transfer to the cloud environment.
-
Data center sustainability minimizes the ecological footprint and maximizes energy efficiency, promoting a shift to renewable power sources. Sustainable data centers reduce power consumption and water usage by applying energy-efficient hardware and data center software that helps operators monitor the equipment parameters. A sustainable approach also focuses on waste management, innovative cooling, and power distribution technologies that result in cost savings on a large scale.
Need help?
Product Selector
Quickly and easily find the right products and accessories for your applications.
Get a Quote
Start your sales inquiry online and an expert will connect with you.
Where to buy?
Easily find the nearest Schneider Electric distributor in your location.
Help Center
Find support resources for all your needs, in one place.