Many data center owner/operators base their future IT decisions on the assumption that their current infrastructure can accommodate any changes that the business demands. However, in practice, sole reliance on established systems and institutional best practices often is one of the most common causes of problems for data centers and businesses as they adapt to new needs. Ultimately, most companies don’t systematically assess performance or quantify risk within their data centers. Problems remain hidden until damage is evident, usually causing a significant downtime event.