Just as we need backup power for our sump pump systems to ensure our basements do not flood during a power outage, data servers need backup power to ensure they do not lose data during any loss of power.

For those who know me, I have long stated that waste is abundant when it comes to power and provisioning in data centers as the IT load capabilities for failover and self-healing are rarely examined or included in the power supply design.

In my last column I discussed the new space race by Amazon and SpaceX to launch tens of thousands of satellites to provide internet access from anywhere on earth.

With the rise of colocation, enterprise and edge data centers, the requirements for data center racks have changed from being a cabinet that manages equipment to a rack enclosure that can reduce data center operational costs by preserving valuable floor space, optimizing cooling and increasing the efficiency of IT staff.

Like most people I imagine, I am subscribed to a dizzying amount of news feeds that are delivered to my personal email; so many I have lost count and, so many I pay little attention to it, unless it has to do with data centers.

The nominations for the 2019 Mission Critical Magazine Facility Manager of the Year are now open at https://bit.ly/2LSdJGq. The nomination period runs until August 31, 2019.