With phrases like “digital transformation” and “disruptive technologies” rippling throughout the data sphere, understanding the immediate and forthcoming implications surrounding technological innovation in the datacomms and cloud application space are enough to make most people’s heads spin. Protecting data and preparing for scalability through application development are top of mind for most organizations, but with so much change and growth, navigating the “how” is more difficult than ever. Rather than leaving them to wade through the murky waters of the dynamic and complex world of data management, it’s important that we identify what actually matters and provide real-world solutions. In essence, nothing can compete with a deep industry knowledge when it comes to defining the future of data center design.
Today, enterprises are, for the most part, moving toward distributed cloud architecture, particularly as it relates to application delivery. In fact, Gartner predicts that by 2025, 40% of newly procured premises-based compute and storage will be consumed as a service — up from a mere 10% in 2021. And, it’s no wonder why. With the incredible agility of off-site and cloud architecture, distributed across defined availability zones, on-premises infrastructure as a primary location for data hosting is almost a thing of the past. Remember those disruptive technologies? While the average person may not need to understand the nuances of these burgeoning developments, things like AI, quantum computing, and the formidable computational power of supercomputers are unquestionably changing the way data is consumed and how it’s stored, processed, and delivered. All these developments are going to define the future of data center design. Industries across the board, such as financial services, health care, logistics, and transportation are already experiencing massive disruption with the growth of AI and machine learning. And, while quantum computing is still in its infancy, these complex technologies already require immense computing power.
According to the latest research from TeleGeography, subsea cables account for over 99% of U.S. international data traffic. You read that right — over 99%. International data transmission via satellite is destined only for specialist applications and military communications.
Furthermore, robust terrestrial fiber is necessary to distribute capacity and data to almost every demographic. Understanding this, network developers continue to invest very significantly. At the same time data center operators are choosing locations and architectures that provide proximity to cable landings and access to low-cost power sources in anticipation of forthcoming distributed cloud and application requirements. While many network systems were built with increased capacity needs in mind, the truth is, when considering the aforementioned disruptive technologies, capacity simply doesn’t mean what it used to. Traditional architecture cannot, and will not, scale to meet the computational needs of the future. Change is imperative.
With all this growth, there’s an obligation to build and operate data centers sustainably, and this requires distributed application and cloud services. With the growing availability of Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) solutions, long gone are the days of enterprises spending excessive time, resources, and financial capital on the storage of their data. By moving away from on-premises architecture in favor of cloud or hybrid solutions, this distributed data storage and delivery framework will provide enterprises with a fast, secure, reliable, and scalable solution for applications management and hosting.
With all this in mind, making the right decisions about data center design is a big ask — even for seasoned professionals that have successfully led organizations with high information and communication technology (ICT) requirements for many years. By leaning on the expertise of progressive data center designers and managed services providers, this task doesn’t have to be so daunting, and the goal of building sustainable and effective data center facilities is well within reach.
*This article was provided by Datalec Precision Installations
