Back in 2006, British mathematician Clive Humby famously said, “Data is the new oil.” Fast forward to the present, and the biggest tech companies, such as Alphabet, will tell you how relevant that statement is today. By 2025, the combined digital data generated globally could exceed 180 zettabytes. No wonder several industries have turned to data centers and cloud data solutions. So, the modern-day data center is witnessing unprecedented growth. 

So what is a data center? It is a place where businesses keep very important data that they need for day-to-day operations. A data center comes with firewalls and servers that allow it to manage large amounts of data securely and efficiently. 

All data centers are made up of physical and virtual servers that are connected both inside and outside the center so that information can be shared, moved, and accessed. They work like computers, with storage and memory availability, but their infrastructure is more powerful and reliable. 

Here are some crucial roles and responsibilities of a data center:

1. Store critical data, and back it up to secondary or cloud services.
2. Handle high-volume data from transactions, such as e-commerce transactions.
3. Facilitate productivity and communication application needs, such as emails.
4. Power online gaming networks and servers.
5. Allow the use of machine learning servers and AI applications. 

Three Core Components of a Data Center

A successful data center infrastructure has a few key parts that work together to make sure everything works well. Here are the three components of a data center:

1. Physical space
   It is the physical space available to hold and operate all the equipment. Since most data centers need 24-hour surveillance, the facilities need to be built with convenient features. They should be environmentally tuned for low-energy consumption, have the right temperature controls, etc.
2. Hardware and equipment
   It refers to all the hardware and equipment required for a data center infrastructure, such as cables, routers, switches, and software components for security, such as firewalls and cloud data services. 
3. Support infrastructure
   It refers to all the equipment needed to sustain other critical components of a data center architecture securely.

Exponential Rise in Data and Data Center Boom

In 2020, there was a significant jump in data center market revenue, which ballooned to $187.35 billion. According to recent reports, the global data center market will cross $517 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.5%. 

As more businesses look for efficient help with data center management, the need for data center services has continued to grow. In finance, medicine, and even the law, data centers and cloud data services are important. Listed below are a few advantages to take into account:

Key benefits of data center services

1. Drastically reduce risks
   For enterprises, using data center services drastically reduces the risks of dealing with data vulnerabilities. Data centers have secure, power-efficient structures and systems that allow heavy storage, backup, and recovery options and can seamlessly handle all data operations.
2. Cut costs
   By coordinating with data service centers, businesses can save on gathering high-tech equipment for data storage and backup needs. They can work with a service proficient in these areas, save capital costs, and use the funds for other essential purposes. 
3. Improve efficiency
   To manage high-volume data systems, there is a need for consistent electricity supply and voltage stability. Without it, companies may face significant interruptions in their management system, leading to data faults. With the help of data centers, it is possible to achieve data storage and security requirements, thus making all stages more efficient for various business operations. 

What is Driving the Rapid Development in Data Centers?

Following disruptions caused by the pandemic, there’s literally been an explosion of AI, consumer demand for streaming, the Internet of Things, and autonomous vehicles, dramatically expanding the worldwide market for data centers and cloud services. 

In the private sector, 5G mobile internet, a cloud-based workforce, increased computing capacity, and the projected growth of big data customers like Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook are pushing a sharp increase in cloud data usage and the demand for data center services. 

According to a CBRE survey, as many as 95% of data center investors sought to increase acquisitions this year.   

The trend in data center operations is seeing a rapid increase in cloud adoption. Enterprises are looking to move their entire workloads to the cloud. At present, though, we have a mix of IT infrastructure on the data center floor along with cloud services. 

Setting up a stable and seamless hybrid cloud deployment that is scalable and flexible is a big problem for many businesses. 

Let’s look at a use case. An autonomous vehicle can produce hundreds of terabytes of data in a test drive. A lot of this data goes to data centers to be processed and analyzed in terms of deep learning, machine learning, image processing, etc. 

Due to the high demand for data center services, it is necessary to ensure that all equipment, servers, and infrastructures are developed properly and kept up to date to meet evolving requirements. It is essential to ensure that high-end technology is put in place and that each system is power-efficient for running smooth data center operations at all stages. 

Understanding Data Interconnection and Colocation

Data interconnection is the process by which connectivity fabric is used to provide direct peering between an organization’s sites. In such instances, a colocation provider is used, enabling organizations and data centers to host their infrastructure instead of using a public internet network. 

Why use interconnection and colocation?

It is highly beneficial to use interconnection and colocation, as it allows enterprises to take a safe and effective route for data center management. It enables:

1. Easier access to information and application from the same software publisher or cloud services provider.
2. Private access between data systems and businesses in fixed geographical spaces.
3. Sharing of information more directly and less need to depend on the internet.

What to Look for When Choosing Data Interconnection and Colocation

Before you choose any external service, you should look at different things that make data interconnection and colocation reliable. To see the requirements that will fit a business in the best way possible, let’s take a look at some pointers before choosing a service:

1. If there is global reach, virtual infrastructure and cloud services support should be available. Businesses are required to connect with their branches and consumer bases, requiring the availability of data management with a broader reach.
2. There should be a clear connection and communication available for partners, employees, and consumers as and when needed for people to take necessary actions based on data availability.
3. In the future, it should be possible to scale infrastructure, cloud services, and systems to meet growing traffic at any moment. 

Data Center: A Catalyst for Growth

We live in a world that is entirely IT-dependent. The business environment demands that data centers provide greater capability and capacity. After the pandemic, it’s clear that data centers will be at the center of all new technologies. 

The services will act as a catalyst for the growth of the global economy. They will be a key part of businesses’ plans to expand their networks, operations, and computing capabilities beyond a single location. 

With an in-depth understanding of data management needs, system infrastructure, connectivity requirements, and the fast-evolving scenario, STL provides reliable data center services to enterprises at a global level. 
STL bridges the gap where enterprises cannot set up data management equipment by themselves. It assists by offering secure, convenient, and accessible data center services to all enterprises. To learn more about how STL can help, connect right now!