It’s time to step up your game.
I’ve been in the data center game for many years, long before they were even called data centers. Back in those days, I walked into rooms that contained huge machines that were the size of large refrigerators and washing machines. Today, mobile devices are more powerful than any legacy computer equipment. I’ve witnessed this evolution first-hand, and yet I’m still amazed by the journey. I know that my fellow data center veterans are reading this and smiling and nodding in agreement. Despite already having gone through such an extensive evolution, data center technology continues to change at a rapid pace as we continue the shift from monolithic architectures to compact and dynamic software-defined systems.
We all hear about concepts like digital transformation and the modern data center, but many don’t understand what’s really happening behind the scenes. Let me put it this way: Twenty years ago, data center equipment needed to be high-touch, high maintenance, and overly staffed. Today, it’s all about automation and orchestration. System admins can respond to events from miles away in a Starbucks!
Data centers are no longer confined to a location on the company’s premises. They can be in a shared off-site co-location facility, in the cloud, or in a combination of the two. The concept of the “hybrid data center” reflects how you should consider the organization’s data center as a whole. It doesn’t matter where it is, how many locations there are, and how each functions. All locations work together seamlessly through a single management console that can powerfully control multiple physical, virtual, and cloud sites.
Imagine all the functions that a data center serves. It is the heart and soul of the applications and data that your business needs to meet the demands of customers and the market as a whole. Technically, I am talking about a great number of components: compute, network, storage, data protection, security, high availability redundancy, automation, and so on—but they can all now operate holistically, unlike in those early days when devices resembled refrigerators and washing machines.
My point is simple: the data center needs to be the focal point of any business that is interested in remaining modern or undergoing digital transformation—and that should be every business. If you’re struggling to keep up with the rapid pace of technology change, you’re not alone, but you should take steps to ensure that your data center is equipped to help you remain agile and ahead of your competition.
Your data center is more integral to your business’s success than you may think. It can help you with everything from improving business operations to enhancing the customer experience, so your data center should be the cornerstone of your strategic plan. If it’s not, refer back to the beginning of this blog post: It’s time to step up your game!
LEARN HOW TO STEP UP YOUR GAME
WITH A DATA CENTER FOUNDATION WORKSHOP
The ConvergeOne Data Center Foundation Workshop focuses on the resiliency of your data center infrastructure. During this workshop, our expert team will analyze your data center infrastructure and provide you with a consolidated list of recommendations and next steps to improve its resiliency.
Topics: Data Center
