We often tend to focus on the specific technology and infrastructure that makes up a data centre , paying less attention to the design and build of the data centre itself . Martin Williamson , Head of Commissioning – Middle East , AESG , outlines what a comprehensive data centre commissioning process should look like and why it is important for ensuring the interrelationship of the building services are understood , tested and operationally ready at the time of handover , reducing or preventing failure during facility operation .
he events of the last 18 months have fuelled an
T unprecedented acceleration of digitalisation initiatives in the Middle East . Across the board spectrum of industry , organisations have undertaken technology transformations with the aim of streamlining processes , safeguarding continuity , or in many cases , doing so just to stay relevant .
At the centre of this data-driven digital world is the data centre , where advanced technologies such as IoT and data analytics , coupled with futuristic Machine Learning and AI , are driving the industry towards unparalleled levels of predicted growth – with the Middle East and Africa data centre market expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate ( CAGR ) of 10.38 % by 2026 .
Impact of outages magnified
With everything from communications and collaboration systems to mission critical databases and application servers housed in data centres , downtime can cripple business operations . In its 2020 global survey , the Uptime Institute found that the financial repercussions of data centre outages can be significant , with four in 10 power outages costing between US $ 100,000 and US $ 1 million , with one in six exceeding US $ 1 million . Moreover , the Institute found that over the past 25 years , electrical failures have accounted for 80 % of all IT load issues in data centres , with 37 % of significant outages in 2020 attributed to on-site power failures .
A case for commissioning
As with traditional construction projects , such undesired outcomes can be prevented through the utilisation of effective commissioning services . Commissioning is the process that reviews and tests the data centre ’ s physical infrastructure design as a holistic system to assure the highest levels of reliability . An effective commissioning process includes comprehensive functional performance testing and Integrated Systems Testing ( IST ) to ensure the resiliency and redundancy of a data centre is rigorously tested for both planned and unplanned events .
High-quality commissioning ensures the interrelationship of the building services are understood , tested and operationally ready at the time of handover , reducing or preventing failure during the
COMMISSIONING IS THE PROCESS THAT REVIEWS AND TESTS THE DATA CENTRE ’ S PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN AS A HOLISTIC SYSTEM TO ASSURE THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF RELIABILITY .
Data centre commissioning increasingly important to defeating digital downtime
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