WHAT IS A DATA CENTER?
If you’ve ever found yourself driving through the middle of nowhere toward a more interesting destination, you may have noticed a large facility or two “sprinkled” along the way. These facilities have fast become another stable of our digital age—and one we should all get more and more accustomed to hearing about.
They’re called data centers, and they’re here to stay.
Data centers are extensive, physical facilities that store, process, and cache immense amounts of digital data. Essentially, they serve as super warehouses for servers and networking equipment, and provide scalable storage for a host of things such as websites, applications, and cloud services—pretty much everything that goes into our vast Internet of Things (IoT).
Further, data centers play a pivotal role in supporting our interconnected world and forming the nerve centers of the internet. They process and transmit the vast quantities of digital information that enable devices to interconnect our daily lives.
Dating back to the mid-20th Century and such early computerized systems as the ENIAC, data centers have progressed through a wide array of technical iterations. Their current, 21st Century usage makes it possible for supergiants like Google and Microsoft to operate around the world.
As technology advances and our data demands grow, modern data centers have evolved to become more efficient, secure, and environmentally friendly.
INFRASTRUCTURE & HOW DATA CENTERS WORK
Like a Swiss army watch, opening the lid of a data center would reveal an ecosystem of interworking technologies.
Infrastructure is critical, and data centers typically contain racks of servers that run applications and processes to handle massive data requests and computations.
Cooling is likewise pivotal since these centers require significant cooling efforts to prevent hardware and server chains from overheating. Add to that a necessity to ensure adequate backup power supplies to combat power outages, and you’ll see why data centers are so often located in regions with favorable climates and within close proximity to natural cooling methods.
Networking acts as the running vein of the data center’s body, facilitating the flow of information via high-speed network connections that in turn facilitate efficient data transfer and communication between servers and with the outside world.
Data Storage forms the root. Utilizing large-scale storage systems to store and manage data includes leveraging traditional hard drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), and other storage technologies.
Security implements robust security measures to protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorized access. This includes physical security, firewalls, encryption, and access controls.
Monitoring and Management comprise a tandem of diverse and sophisticated monitoring tools to chart server performance and resource utilization, while also identifying potential issues so they can be proactively resolved.
Overall, data centers form the backbone of our digital world. They enable us to access and utilize various online services and applications that support our expanding IoT-sphere, telecommunication networks, and cloud devices.
Advances in technology will undoubtedly continue to play the most critical role in shaping our interconnected future. But when it comes to data centers themselves, a comment that bears true in this instance is that managing data centers with the same efficiency as they run the world’s digital information and relay becomes imperative.
NETSUITE FOR DATA CENTERS
The global demand for accessible digital services has and continues to drive the need for efficient data centers. Managing complex data center operations can be a complex enterprise unto itself, but innovative solutions like NetSuite have emerged to address the challenge.
NetSuite offers a wide array of benefits to data center management, with modules that can help optimize operations, enhance productivity, and improve overall efficiency.
NetSuite comes with numerous modules and impressive expansion capabilities. But, let’s bring the accolades down to earth a bit. In terms of specific applications for data centers, the potential ROI is clear and includes:
Streamlined Operations and Real-time Data Management:
NetSuite's integrated platform provides a centralized system to manage everything from finances to warehouse inventory, order processing (where necessary), and even human resources. This centralized approach enables data centers to make informed decisions with regard to internal operations—resulting in reduced operational bottlenecks and the ability to pivot in response to changing circumstances.
Enhanced Resource Utilization:
As data centers rely on efficient resource utilization for optimal performance, NetSuite's advanced management capabilities enable data centers to monitor and manage hardware more effectively. This ensures that necessary resources are readily visible so data centers can avoid any one single point of operational failure—thus avoiding costly downtime and customer dissatisfaction.
Enhanced Data Security and Compliance:
Any given data center and its reputation hinges on being entrusted with vast amounts of sensitive information, so security and compliance are top priorities. Luckily, NetSuite offers robust security measures and adherence to industry standards. Features like role-based access controls, data encryption, and audit trails make NetSuite an ideal match for helping data centers maintain system-wide safeguards against data breaches or compliance violations.
Scalability and Flexibility:
Like any other industry involved with digital infrastructure, data centers must adapt to the changing tide. NetSuite's cloud-based architecture is scalable, allowing data centers to scale operations up with relative ease—whether that means expanding physical infrastructure or managing a growing customer base.
To summarize, NetSuite offers innumerable benefits to data centers by leveraging its comprehensive ERP capabilities. Embracing the platform as your business solution is an excellent choice for any data center seeking to sustain and build its operations into the future.
So assuming the choice has been made, the question becomes how?
SCS CLOUD:
While some find peace of mind in consulting directly with Oracle NetSuite, many prefer the advantages that only come with partnering with a solution provider who can tailor your NetSuite instance to your exact data center needs.
Recognized by the NetSuite partner ecosystem as a standout firm, SCS Cloud is such a solution provider. We have helped clients navigate the unique challenges of transitioning their data center processes, databases, and internal operations onto NetSuite as their primary operating platform.
So if you want to learn more about how your data center can benefit from adopting NetSuite, we at SCS Cloud are ready.
Contact SCS Cloud today for a free consultation!