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Importance of SLAs in Colocation: Enhancing Operational Continuity

Posted on by yotta

Colocation data centers are a cornerstone in the contemporary IT infrastructure landscape. Positioned at the intersection of technological evolution and business strategy, the decision to colocate becomes instrumental in achieving a harmonious balance. It involves maintaining control over critical IT assets while seamlessly tapping into the specialised expertise of external service providers. One element that is instrumental in shaping the partnership’s structure is the Service Level Agreement (SLA).

Understanding Service Level Agreements

A Service Level Agreement is a contractual agreement that outlines the specific services, performance metrics, and expectations between a service provider and a customer. In the context of colocation data centers, SLAs serve as a roadmap for the quality of services provided, operational parameters, and the responsibilities of both parties.

Importance of SLAs in Colocation

1. Enhanced Operational Continuity: SLAs detail performance metrics like uptime, latency, and bandwidth. Guaranteeing high uptime assures uninterrupted operations, minimizing downtime risks and potential revenue losses.

2. Redundancy: Colocation data center providers make substantial investments in redundant systems and infrastructure to uphold continuous operations. SLAs act as blueprints, specifying the level of redundancy and delineating measures in place to mitigate the impact of unforeseen events.

3. Security Protocols: SLAs play a role in assuring businesses of the protective measures in place. These encompass access controls, surveillance, and adherence to industry standards. A thorough comprehension of these security provisions is imperative, ensuring data remains shielded from unauthorized access and potential breaches.

4. Scalability and Flexibility: As businesses evolve, so do their data storage and processing needs. SLAs should comprehensively address scalability options, including additional space, power, and bandwidth. Understanding these provisions ensures that businesses can adapt their infrastructure to accommodate future growth.

5. Responsibilities: SLAs serve as a clear articulation of the responsibilities held by both the colocation provider and the customer. This encompasses routine maintenance, troubleshooting, and support. Clarity on support mechanisms, response times, and escalation procedures is indispensable for navigating potential issues efficiently.

Key Components of Colocation SLAs: An In-Depth Look

1. Uptime Guarantees: Uptime guarantees are a cornerstone of colocation SLAs. For example, an SLA might specify a commitment to 99.9% uptime, allowing for a limited amount of downtime per year. Understanding these guarantees is crucial, as downtime can have severe consequences for businesses in terms of lost revenue and damaged reputation.

2. Security and Compliance: Security provisions within SLAs cover physical security, data encryption, and compliance with industry regulations. Businesses must carefully review these sections to ensure that the data center aligns with their security requirements and complies with relevant standards.

3. Scalability and Resource Allocation: SLAs should outline the process and costs associated with scaling resources. Whether it’s adding additional server space, power, or bandwidth, businesses need a clear understanding of how the colocation provider accommodates growth and adjusts resources accordingly.

4. Support and Incident Response: Timely and effective support is crucial for minimising downtime and addressing issues promptly. SLAs define the support mechanisms, response times, and escalation procedures. Businesses should be aware of the support levels provided and evaluate whether they meet their operational needs.

The importance of Service Level Agreements in colocation hosting cannot be overstated, as they serve as a cornerstone for managing expectations and delineating responsibilities between data center providers and clients. These agreements bring transparency to the forefront, offering businesses a comprehensive insight into the exact scope and limitations of the colocation services.

SLAs contribute to effective risk management, enabling businesses to assess and monitor their provider’s performance. Leading organisations trust Yotta data centers as their premier choice for hosting critical IT infrastructure in India. Yotta offers world-class colocation services with leading reliability, a 100% uptime guarantee, high performance, and unmatched efficiency. With multi-layer security, redundant internet networks, and direct cloud connectivity, Yotta empowers businesses to elevate their hybrid IT journey to the next level, ensuring uninterrupted 24×7 operations without worries.

Enhancing Data Center Performance: Optimising Network Connectivity

Posted on by yotta

The demand for data centers has surged as businesses across sectors increasingly rely on cloud-based services and experience massive growth in digital data. Recognising the essence of data centers in ensuring efficiency, security, and scalability, enterprises worldwide are prioritising their role in operations.

The Core of High-Performing Data Centers

A high-performing data center requires cutting-edge network infrastructure. This includes high-capacity routers and switches that can efficiently manage data traffic within the center and ensure low-latency communication with external networks. Employing technologies like Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) and Ethernet Virtual Private Networks (EVPN) enhances the efficiency of data transmission and network management.

Connectivity Services Tailored for Performance and Reliability

Data center operators deploy a range of advanced connectivity services to meet the demands of modern businesses. Beyond standard internet connections, MPLS and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are used to create dedicated and secure communication channels. Additionally, Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routing is implemented for dynamic and efficient routing of data between the data center and external networks. These services ensure optimal performance and reliability, aligning with the diverse connectivity needs of a dynamic business environment.

Bridging The Gap with Data Center Interconnect Solutions

Data Center Interconnect (DCI) solutions serve as the bridge between geographically dispersed data centers, allowing them to operate as a cohesive unit. Especially crucial for businesses operating across multiple locations, DCI ensures data consistency, redundancy, and disaster recovery.

DCI solutions use advanced technologies such as fiber optics and low-latency routing to minimise delays in data transmission between centers. This is particularly vital for real-time applications and services, ensuring optimal performance for businesses in diverse locations.

Optimising Data Center Connectivity: Best Practices

When selecting data center connectivity services, businesses must prioritise partnerships with reliable providers. The provider should have a robust network infrastructure, high-quality service-level agreements (SLAs), and a proven track record of delivering consistent connectivity.

Redundancy is a key consideration for ensuring continuous operations. Businesses should assess the redundancy measures implemented by data center connectivity services, including diverse network paths, backup power systems, and disaster recovery capabilities.

Embracing Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) offers a dynamic and agile approach to managing network connections. SD-WAN optimises the use of multiple network paths and prioritises traffic based on application requirements, thereby enhancing overall connectivity efficiency. Regular monitoring of data center connectivity performance through comprehensive network monitoring tools is crucial. This approach enables quick identification and resolution of potential issues, ensuring uninterrupted data flow.

Strategic Advantage of Colocation

Colocation emerges as a strategic imperative in the pursuit of finely tuned data center performance. Beyond the conventional benefits, colocation facilities act as dynamic network hubs, providing enhanced connectivity and facilitating low-latency data exchange among a diverse range of businesses. Yotta’s commitment to redundancy and reliability is evident in its heavy investment in redundant systems, ensuring businesses benefit from robust backup solutions, power systems, and network connectivity.

The emphasis on security within colocation facilities is paramount, showcasing rigorous measures encompassing physical security, access controls, and advanced surveillance systems. This robust framework ensures that sensitive data remains impervious to unauthorised access, instilling confidence in businesses entrusting their critical IT infrastructure.

Opting for colocation services not only mitigates the need for substantial investments in maintaining a dedicated data center infrastructure but also empowers enterprises to strategically redirect resources toward their core competencies. Yotta’s data centers in India, marked by stringent security protocols and a judiciously cost-efficient approach, empower enterprises to concentrate on their core strengths, forging a strategic alliance that optimises data center performance.

N+N Redundancy: An Imperative Shield for Data Centers

Posted on by yotta

In the dynamic realm of technology, where downtime is intolerable, data centers serve as the linchpin for myriad operations. Among the myriad strategies employed to ensure seamless services, N+N redundancy emerges as a pivotal approach. This principle revolves around maintaining “two of everything” within a data center, presenting a transformative impact on operations.

The High Stakes of Downtime

In the digital landscape, downtime surpasses inconvenience; it equates to financial losses, tarnished reputations, and compromised operations. Tier-4 rated data centers, designed for an impressive 99.995% uptime, face challenges such as power failures, generator malfunctions, UPS system glitches, and cooling breakdowns. The Uptime Institute’s Annual Outages Analysis for 2023 underscores that 44% of incidents were power-related, emphasising the urgent need for robust redundancy measures.

At its essence, N+N redundancy acts as a bulwark against the unforeseen. With duplicate systems poised to seamlessly take over in the face of failure, this redundancy strategy becomes indispensable, safeguarding against generator hiccups, power feed disruptions, or cooling system glitches, ensuring uninterrupted client power.

The Financial Toll of Downtime

The ITIC’s 11th Annual Hourly Cost of Downtime survey underscores the financial repercussions of downtime. Remarkably, 40% of enterprises report that an hour of downtime can cost between $1 million to over $5 million. This positions the investment in N+N redundancy not merely as a technological choice but a critical financial decision for businesses reliant on data center operations.

While power redundancy is the cornerstone of N+N redundancy, cooling redundancy plays an equally vital role. Effective cooling backup systems become imperative, preventing rapid overheating of computer equipment. Furthermore, multiple telecommunications paths guard against line cuts and failures, with robust security systems acting as a shield against data loss.

The benefits of N+N data center redundancy are multifaceted:

• Unparalleled Uptime: N+N redundancy provides the highest level of uptime, ensuring continuous data center operations even in the face of multiple component failures. This is particularly crucial for businesses reliant on constant data availability, such as financial institutions and e-commerce platforms.

• Enhanced Reliability: By eliminating single points of failure, N+N redundancy significantly enhances data center reliability, reducing the risk of downtime, data loss, and service disruptions, with severe financial and reputational consequences.

• Proactive Maintenance: With two of each critical component, data centers can conduct proactive maintenance without disrupting operations. This allows for regular system checks, cleaning, and upgrades, further elevating overall colocation data center reliability.

• Improved Disaster Recovery: N+N redundancy facilitates faster and more effective disaster recovery. In the event of a major outage or natural disaster, data centers can swiftly switch to redundant components, restoring services promptly, and minimising downtime and associated costs.

The significance of the “two of everything” approach extends beyond failure recovery. Preventative maintenance is essential for power and cooling systems, and N+N redundancy enables these systems to undergo maintenance without causing any downtime. This proactive strategy ensures that the data center remains operational and optimised for peak performance.

In the relentless pursuit of uninterrupted operations, N+N redundancy emerges as a beacon of reliability for data centers. As technology advances and the digital landscape becomes more intricate, the “two of everything” approach stands as a testament to the commitment to reliability, resilience, and the assurance that, even in the face of adversity, the data the seamless operation of data centers, making it a valuable asset in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

How Colocation Is Transforming Healthcare IT

Posted on by yotta

Modern medical practice relies heavily on data, with electronic health records (EHRs), medical imaging, genomics, and telemedicine generating vast data streams daily. Meeting the complex challenge of managing, storing, and safeguarding this invaluable healthcare data is where colocation data centers step in. These facilities provide a secure, cost-effective, and scalable infrastructure, and this article explores their pivotal role in the healthcare sector.

Adaptability Infrastructure

Colocation data centers enable healthcare organisations with the adaptability to scale IT infrastructure according to the dynamic demands of the industry. The healthcare sector experiences fluctuations in data volume, especially during peak patient hours or the adoption of new diagnostic technologies. Traditional in-house data centers often struggle to keep pace with these shifts, but colocation facilities can effortlessly accommodate increased storage and processing requirements.

Resilience and Assurance

The healthcare sector has a near-zero tolerance for data loss or downtime, as patient care, medical records, and life-saving procedures depend on the continuous availability of data. Colocation data centers provide redundancy and reliability through backup power systems, redundant network connections, and disaster recovery capabilities. This guarantees that critical healthcare data remains accessible, even in the face of events like power outages, hardware failures, or natural disasters.

Security and Regulatory Compliance

Securing sensitive patient information is of paramount importance in the healthcare sector. Colocation data centers offer enhanced security measures and compliance options specifically tailored to the unique needs of healthcare organisations. These facilities implement rigorous physical security protocols, including biometric access control, surveillance, and intrusion detection systems.

Economical Edge

Operating an on-premises data center is expensive, labour intensive, and time-consuming. Colocation data centers offer a shared infrastructure model that uses resources and facilities more efficiently. Additionally, colocation facilities provide a predictable cost structure. This makes budgeting and financial planning more manageable for healthcare organisations.

Enhanced Connectivity

In healthcare, the rapid and secure exchange of data among various entities is vital. Colocation data centers foster interconnectivity by offering direct access to a broad array of network service providers. This enables healthcare organisations to establish secure connections with hospitals, research institutions, and other partners, thereby improving the flow of patient information and facilitating collaborative research and patient care.

Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity

The healthcare industry cannot tolerate service interruptions, especially during emergencies. Colocation data centers play a pivotal role in disaster recovery and business continuity planning. They provide off-site backup and recovery solutions, allowing healthcare organsations to swiftly restore operations in case of system failures or disasters.

Performance Optimisation

Colocation data centers use advanced technology to optimise the performance of healthcare IT systems. They have high-speed, low-latency network connections and state-of-the-art hardware in place, which are essential for the efficient operation of applications like telemedicine, remote monitoring, and real-time diagnostics. Healthcare providers, in utilising these capabilities, can forge a pathway towards delivering swifter and more dependable services to their patients.

Remote Monitoring and Management

The rise of telehealth and remote patient monitoring, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to a growing need for remote management tools. Data centers in India provide healthcare organisations with the tools needed to support these services effectively. Remote monitoring and management capabilities enable healthcare IT teams to ensure the security and performance of critical systems from anywhere, facilitating the expansion of remote healthcare services. Colocation data centers have become an indispensable asset in the healthcare sector.

Their scalability, reliability, security, and cost-efficiency make them ideal partners for healthcare organisations aiming to meet the ever-growing demands for data storage, processing, and management. Yotta NM1 data center in Mumbai is a paragon of excellence, offering industry-best uptime, multi-layer security, and direct cloud connectivity. It is the trusted choice for prominent enterprises across sectors, offering a secure, dependable, and scalable infrastructure to support critical IT operations. The strategically located Yotta D1 data center in Delhi ensures uninterrupted operations, promising the highest levels of connectivity and fault tolerance. Yotta’s commitment to superior performance and adherence to global standards makes it a go-to choice for businesses seeking state-of-the-art IT solutions.

Physical And Digital Layers Of Security In Data Centers

Posted on by yotta

From sensitive customer information to proprietary business strategies, data is an invaluable asset that requires steadfast protection. Data centers, the nerve centers of modern businesses, play a pivotal role in safeguarding this critical information. To create an impenetrable fortress for data, a dual approach of physical and digital security layers is imperative.

Physical Security

1. Access Controls: Colocation data centers employ a multifaceted approach to access controls. This includes biometric authentication like fingerprint scans and retina recognition, key card systems, and PIN-based entries. Only authorised personnel are granted entry, ensuring that only those with legitimate reasons can access the premises.

2. Perimeter Security: Fencing, barriers, and surveillance cameras encircle the colocation data center, forming a protective barrier against external threats. Security personnel conduct regular patrols to maintain constant vigilance.

3. Mantraps and Biometric Verification: Access points are often fortified with mantraps – enclosed spaces with two sets of interlocking doors. This ensures that only one individual can enter or exit at a time, preventing tailgating. Moreover, biometric verification methods like fingerprint scanning or retina recognition add an extra layer of identity validation, reducing the risk of unauthorised access.

4. Security Monitoring: Data centers are equipped with advanced surveillance systems, including motion sensors, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, and infrared technology. These monitoring systems ensure continuous surveillance of the premises.

Digital Security

1. Firewalls and Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems: Firewalls act as gatekeepers, filtering incoming and outgoing network traffic to block unauthorised access. IDS/IPS systems monitor network traffic for signs of suspicious activity and can automatically take actions to thwart potential threats.

2. Network Segmentation: Implementing intelligent network segmentation significantly reduces the attack surface of data center networks by isolating infrastructure components, hindering attacker lateral movement and minimising breach impact potential.

3. Security Patching and Updates: Regular updates and patches to operating systems and software are essential to close vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers.

The Synergy Of Physical And Digital Layers

The strength of data center security lies in the seamless integration between the physical and digital layers. These two layers are not isolated silos; they interact and reinforce each other to create an impenetrable fortress. A data center’s biometric authentication system not only grants physical access but also integrates with the digital security system. This means that only personnel with valid biometric credentials can log in to the digital systems.

In case of a breach, physical security measures can complement digital efforts. For instance, a triggered motion sensor could lock down the affected area while the digital security system quarantines the compromised data. In the event of a security incident, physical security personnel can collaborate with their digital counterparts to quickly isolate affected servers or systems. This containment strategy prevents the spread of the breach and allows for targeted remediation efforts.

Companies should prioritise hyperscale data centers with robust security measures as they provide an unparalleled shield against various risks. Yotta NM1 Data Center employs a comprehensive array of security measures, including an automated mantrap for server hall entry, biometric authentication for access, robust explosive and narcotics detection, meticulous server key access management, and various other safeguards. Similarly, at Yotta D1 Data Center, an array of security measures is in place, encompassing campus entrance checks, bio-metric access control at server halls, and resilient security protocols for accessing server halls, among others. 

In conclusion, a colocation data center’s security is fortified by a harmonious interplay between physical and digital security layers. These layers work cohesively to ensure the protection of data and the uninterrupted operation of critical systems.

Reading The Signs: When Colocation Data Centers Become Imperative For Your Business

Posted on by yotta

In today’s digital era, businesses heavily rely on data and uninterrupted IT infrastructure. As companies grow, their data center needs evolve. Colocation data center provide the necessary computing, storage, and networking resources for modern enterprises. According to the Economic Times, the Indian data center market witnessed a remarkable 48% growth over the past three years, increasing from 540 MW of installed capacity in 2019 to surpassing 800 MW in 2022.

Instead of building and operating their own data centers, businesses can opt to rent or lease capacity from remote colocation providers, accessing them over a wide area network (WAN) like the internet. This allows businesses to avoid the complexity and expense of traditional data centers while still benefiting from their services.

But how can businesses determine when it’s the right time to make the move? Let’s look at some of the key business indicators that signify the need to transition to colocation data centers. By understanding these signs, businesses can make informed decisions that align with their growth strategies and operational requirements.

Expanding IT Infrastructure:

One of the first indicators that a business should consider colocation is the rapid expansion of its IT infrastructure. As companies scale, their data storage, processing power, and network requirements grow exponentially. Managing this increased demand in-house can strain resources and hinder operational efficiency. Colocation data centers provide scalable solutions that can accommodate evolving infrastructure needs, ensuring seamless performance and reliability.

Reliability and Uptime Concerns:

Downtime can have severe consequences for businesses, leading to revenue loss, damaged reputation, and customer dissatisfaction. If a company’s existing data center struggles to maintain reliable operations or experiences frequent outages, it’s a clear sign that a transition to a colocation facility is worth considering. Colocation providers offer robust infrastructure, redundant power systems, advanced cooling mechanisms, and 24/7 monitoring, significantly reducing the risk of downtime.

Cost Efficiency and Scalability:

A full-featured data center is expensive. Cost efficiency and scalability are important factors in data centers. Building and maintaining a full-featured data center is expensive, with high construction and operational costs. Colocation data centers offer cost efficiency through shared infrastructure, economies of scale, and predictable pricing models. They also provide scalability, allowing businesses to adjust IT resources as needed, optimising costs and resource utilisation.

Enhanced Security and Compliance:

Businesses prioritise data security due to the escalating cyber threats. Colocation data centers offer advanced security measures such as multi-factor authentication, video surveillance, fire detection, and robust access controls. The data center must also implement several layers of network security to protect against cyber-attacks like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and DDoS protection systems. Additionally, businesses must comply with increasing government regulations impacting application usage, data management, and security.

Meeting data residence requirements of various nations or geopolitical areas can be challenging for a single data center. Colocation services help satisfy regulatory demands without the need for costly construction. Colocation facilities are designed to meet industry compliance standards, ensuring data privacy and regulatory adherence, especially vital for regulated sectors.

Geographic Reach and Disaster Recovery:

For organisations seeking geographic redundancy or expanding their operations to new locations, colocation data centers offer a viable solution. By leveraging a network of interconnected facilities, businesses can establish a presence in multiple regions without the need for building and managing individual data centers. Additionally, colocation providers often offer comprehensive disaster recovery services, enabling swift data restoration and minimising downtime in the event of a natural disaster or other unforeseen circumstances.

Performance:

In the current landscape, businesses demand a global presence, which entails providing worldwide access to applications and data. However, relying on a single data center proves challenging in meeting the extensive demands of global users. Even when a business makes the investment in costly network bandwidth, physical realities of network latency, congestion and connectivity can lower workload availability and performance for remote users potentially affecting user satisfaction and workload use. Colocation empowers businesses to position workloads and data in proximity to users across various geographical regions, ensuring optimal workload performance without necessitating the construction of additional facilities.

Transitioning to colocation data centers becomes apparent as businesses grapple with growing IT infrastructure, reliability concerns, cost management, data security, and geographic expansion. Embracing colocation offers scalable, reliable, cost-effective, and secure infrastructure, allowing organisations to focus on core competencies and drive success in the digital landscape.

Yotta, a leading provider of colocation services, equipped with advanced security measures, redundant power systems and robust cooling mechanisms, offers a comprehensive range of solutions to meet evolving business needs.

The Yotta NM1 data center in Mumbai offers a host of advanced features, ensuring an optimal environment for business infrastructure. With an impressive 7200 rack capacity, 30.4MW power capacity, and 4 dedicated fibre paths, the data center boasts a remarkable design PUE of 1.4. Notably, it holds the distinction of being the first and only facility in India to receive validation with a Tier IV Gold Certificate for Operational Sustainability (TCOS) from Uptime Institute.  The Yotta D1 data center in Greater Noida sprawls across 300,000 sq. ft and strategically situates itself near major innovation clusters. This location facilitates industry-leading uptime, connectivity, and fault tolerance. The facility stands equipped with 5000 rack capacity, 28.8MW power, and an impressive design PUE of 1.4. 

Zero Downtime: The New Norm for Data Centers In 2023?

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Zero downtime has been a common buzzword among data centers, with many data center operators striving to achieve it. Having a reliable data center with little to no downtime in this fast-paced digital world has become crucial, but achieving it is easier said than done.

The consequences of failures or outages at data centers can be significant for a business. Damage to reputation, lost revenue, added costs, and loss of employee productivity are some of the ways a business can be hit as a result of a data center downtime. Uptime Institute’s 2022 Data Center Resiliency Survey found that over the past three years, 80% of data center managers and operators witnessed some kind of outage.

Uptime, within the context of a data center, is the assured annual availability of the IT infrastructure, expressed in increasing degrees of 99%. The difference between 99.671% and 99.999% may not seem significant. However, the former translates to downtime of up to 28.8 hours a year, while the latter means being down for up to 5.3 minutes annually. This holds great significance for businesses and end-consumer experience.

Downtime can be expensive and hinder the bottom line. Enter 2023, maintaining a solid digital infrastructure is more critical than ever, and 100% uptime is the top priority for IT leaders. Round-the-clock access to data and unwillingness to tolerate downtime is their new priority and a need.

What to look in a data center operator for Zero Downtime
It’s critical that enterprises ask the right questions to data center operators while evaluating them. Best practices and simple processes can significantly impact your business continuity.

Automation & Predictive Analytics: According to data shared by Uptime Institute, human error is responsible for about 70% of all data center failures. Automating administrative tasks can bring down errors and reduce downtime. Adding more AI to automation will provide administrators with predictive insights that can help mitigate downtimes. According to Gartner, half of cloud data centers shall use advanced robots with AI and machine learning capabilities by 2025, which can lead to 30% higher operating efficiency.

Over the past few years, predictive analytics has made tremendous progress. This has been made possible due to the increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence in data center operations. It offers real-time data analytics and actionable intelligence, enabling the data center operations team to identify and predict failure points and immediately respond to them. For instance, the AI-infused Building Management System (BMS) at Yotta data centers monitors various systems in the facility to detect and respond to any point of failure in real-time, thus ensuring optimal operating conditions for uninterrupted operations. Similarly, predictive maintenance warns operators if a system or component is likely to fail. Real-time thermal monitoring through predictive analytics can prevent incidents like overheating of equipment, which can cause a failure at a data center, leading to downtime.

Also Read: How will Artificial Intelligence Drive the Growth of Future Data Centers?

Action Plan for Outages: In order to make their customers’ businesses resilient, data center operators must make their facilities resilient to any unforeseen incident. They must have a disaster recovery plan in place that details the steps to be taken in the event of a power outage. The plan must be tested regularly to verify that it is functional. This would include powering down systems, ensuring that generators are operational, checking the redundant systems, and monitoring temperatures. Upon spotting failure points, if any, necessary actions must be undertaken to fix them. It is crucial for data centers to maintain a comprehensive backup infrastructure to guard against data loss and ensure continuity of operations in the event of an outage.

Data Center Connectivity: The lifeblood of enterprises, data center connectivity plays a vital role in ensuring zero downtime. A redundant network and connectivity infrastructure is integral to ensure that businesses are assured of reliable global connectivity. Additionally, best practices like load balancing and failover mechanism can help data center operators prevent downtime as traffic gets redirected in case of an outage. Implementing several network solutions provides backup in the event of a network failure. Carrier-neutral data center connectivity helps improve security by offering protection against the risk of DDoS and other cybersecurity threats.

Also Read: The IX Factor in Data Centers – How do Enterprises Benefit?

Fire Prevention & Responsiveness: One of the most dreaded incidents, fire can wreak havoc in any data center facility. Not just it poses threat to workforce, but can also bring down a data center’s operations, while resulting huge damage to infrastructure which could take month to restore. Thus, a highly effective fire detection, prevention and mitigation system becomes an uncompromisable element of a data center. As a regulatory mandate, data center – like all commercial buildings – must have fire safety mechanisms in place. However, the bare minimum doesn’t suffice when Zero Downtime is the goal. Enterprises must look for data centers that are equipped with state-of-the-art modern fire detection and response systems which can assure that the heat of any incident doesn’t affect their business. Intelligent systems like Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus (VESDA) help proactively thwart fire and ensure resilient operations. Similarly, Novec 1230 fluid-based fire suppression system removes heat and prevents fire before it starts. Its sensors automatically detect fire and initiate response within seconds.

Certified Capabilities: Uptime Institute has created globally-recognised Tier Standards for data center uptime and overall performance. The Tier Standards comprise four grades: Tier I (basic capacity level), Tier II (redundant capacity components), Tier III (concurrently maintainable with redundant components), and Tier IV (fault tolerant). Each tier builds upon the earlier tier. Yotta NM1 holds a Gold Tier IV Certification of Operational Sustainability (TCOS), which is the highest certification from Uptime Institute. Data center operators at Yotta hold Accredited Tier Designer (ATD) certification. They provide expert guidance in meeting the Tier Standards and ensure the data center is designed to be reliable and efficient, with the latest technologies.

High Uptime: Tier III Data Center Vs Tier IV Data Center

Tier III Data CenterTier IV Data Center
99.982% uptime annually99.995% uptime annually
<1.6 hours downtime annually<26.3 minutes downtime annually
Concurrently Maintainable, N+1Fault Tolerant, 2N or 2N+1
1+Shift Staffing24*7*365 Staffing
No continuous coolingThere is continuous cooling
No compartmentalizationThere is compartmentalization

Also Read: How To Spot Expired Data Center Certificates

Zero Downtime – The New Norm
As digital economy booms at a rapid pace, there will be an increased dependency on reliable data centers in India. The digital shift and adoption of digital tools during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the wide usage of internet services. A near-zero uptime or an uptime of at least 99.995% annually should be the objective to ensure minimal to no impact on business. As the cost of downtime is increasing, it is critical for data centers in India to ensure minimal to zero downtime.

Realising this, our data centers prioritise the highest levels of uptime that can be possibly achieved. In the event of a power failure, the facility can operate for 48 hours straight on backup. This, coupled with our state-of-the-art systems and operational expertise, help us deliver Zero Downtime to organisations hosted with us.

The IX Factor in Data Centers – How do Enterprises Benefit?

Posted on by yotta

Today, as the world is becoming increasingly data-driven, it has become essential for businesses to have the right strategies in place, particularly in terms of connectivity. To compete in a dynamic marketplace and provide customers with quality services across regions, they must make the best use of available technologies. And to make the most of the hyperconnected world, it is necessary to take a closer look at the connectivity infrastructure and redefine it with today’s needs.

Data Centers – Gateway to the Digital World
Serving as storage and compute site for massive volumes of data, data centers have become a critical part of the modern data-driven economy. One can measure the value of data centers in terms of their ability to provide storage space, processing power and networking infrastructure. But the hyperconnected world is a new reality and it’s time data centers are harnessed as connectivity hubs, helping businesses reach global markets.

Data centers are often called the ‘gateway to the digital world’ because they provide connectivity to virtually everything, helping enterprises connect with customers and partners across the globe. But not all data centers do that!

What equips specific data centers to serve as one-stop connectivity hubs?

The answer lies in the ‘IX’ Factor.

An Internet Exchange, also referred to as ‘IX’, serves as a single point of connectivity to the global digital ecosystem, including Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Cloud Service Providers (CSPs). Amidst the need to deliver services to global masses, Internet Exchange points help enterprises take their services across regions without the need to set up dedicated infrastructure or establish cluttered connectivity that’s difficult to manage.

Major Internet Exchange companies are increasingly tapping data centers for setting up their points of presence due to data centers’ proximity to enterprises’ data infrastructure, which helps them reduce the transit path and offer low-latency connectivity solutions. As a result, a data center that houses Internet Exchanges is placed in a unique position to not just deliver reliable extended connectivity to worldwide networks but most notably in a streamlined, cost-effective manner.

Connectivity Simplified
Internet Exchange points are present in most metropolitan areas with a high population. These exchanges are maintained either by an association of members or a commercial enterprise. One of the major advantages of an Internet Exchange is that it reduces the requirement for a third-party network, which further leads to a lesser possibility of traffic bottleneck that could protract the response time. Thus, being in close proximity to an Internet Exchange has numerous advantages, including streamlined connectivity, lower costs, low latency, high bandwidth and simplicity.

And speaking of proximity, the presence of Internet Exchange points in the data center facility offers the best possible scenario. Here’s what enterprises gain with it.

Multi-cloud Connectivity: Organisations are increasingly adopting the hybrid multi-cloud approach as their businesses demand agility for diverse workloads. However, the key to reaping full benefits of multi-cloud is defined by connectivity between the core data center infrastructure and cloud platforms. Internet Exchange points at data centers address this need with access to a host of cloud platforms through single-hop, hassle-free connectivity.

Service Delivery to the Last Mile: When expansion becomes a priority, ensuring seamless service delivery across regions becomes crucial. Further, connectivity to Edge networks defines an enterprise’s ability to meet the growing demands from distributed geographies. Internet Exchanges help connect your core infrastructure to distributed Edge sites, allowing your business to reach a wider consumer base.

Streamlined Management: Consider a scenario without an Internet Exchange, where enterprise IT teams are required to set up and manage multiple individual connections with their cloud and digital setups – eventually leading to complex management and lack of visibility. By providing a single point of connectivity to the entire cloud, CDN and ISP ecosystem, Internet Exchanges eliminate hassles and allow your teams to focus on business-critical tasks.

Accelerated Performance: Connectivity is only as good as its performance. Inconsistent connectivity is one of the major qualms of enterprises, especially when multiple connections are at play. With a single high-bandwidth, dedicated path to a gamut of networks, enterprises get uniform performance across their digital footprint.

Cost Optimisation: Phasing out multiple individual connections leads to shedding of redundant expenditure. By providing seamless access to a range of cloud platforms and networks through a single channel, Internet Exchange points in data centers offer significant cost-efficiency along with simplicity.

Today, enterprises need unified connectivity, particularly those with operations across the globe and those on the expansion path. Moreover, they must deliver services over an interconnected ecosystem. Checking all of the above criteria, Yotta combines the quality assurance of its world-class data center offerings with robust connectivity solutions by leading Internet Exchanges having their point of presence at Yotta. Enterprises, whether residing at Yotta or in their captive data centers, gain immensely from simplified global connectivity solutions, including internet peering, CDN, Global Cloud Konnect, Edge Connectivity and more.

How To Spot Expired Data Center Certificates

Posted on by yotta

The availability and security of your applications and data boil down to the performance of your data center. And performance is achieved when the data center meets a range of different parameters – power redundancy, network infrastructure, cooling…the list is long, and can be exhaustive for your IT teams to evaluate.

Simplifying the process of evaluating a data center and to gauge its performance, certifications help enterprises understand the reliability of a data center for their business operations and its ability to withstand the impact of any unforeseen situation, without your business having to break a sweat for continuity and resilience.

Tier Certifications to the Rescue

Uptime Institute, USA is the leading, coveted and trusted authorised body that analyses a data center facility’s performance and issues them certifications. If you have been part of evaluating data center operators for your business, you have likely read or heard about Uptime Institute Tier certified data centers.

What Tier certifications mean?

Do you recall the last time you booked a hotel for your much-needed holiday? You probably found yourself choosing between 3-star, 4-star or 5-star hotels based on the services offered. Data centers are certified on similar metrics that determine the operational efficiency and uptime SLAs delivered to customers. The Tier certification system of Uptime Institute grades data centers on a spectrum of I to IV, with the latter denoting the highest level of performance, fault-tolerance and availability.

Design Certification – Only on Paper
When a data center operator prepares its facility’s design and submits the same to Uptime Institute, it undergoes extensive examination by Uptime Institute’s teams and upon its successful adherence to Uptime standards, the data center receives Tier Certification for Design Documents (TCDD). This validates that the data center’s design document meets Uptime Institute’s defined guidelines.

The Proof is in the Constructed Facility

But TCDD certificates come with a validity of only two years and is mentioned in the certificate foil, as shown above. Within the 2 years, the data center operators have to construct the data center facility, invite the Uptime Institute to validate the constructed facility and then secure the award for Tier Certification for Constructed Facility (TCCF) – which is valid for lifetime and is the final proof that the datacenter is indeed built as per the design.

Beware of Expired Design Certificates
Owing to discrepancies between design and the actual constructed facility, operational inefficiencies, exhaustive process and high costs involved in construction, many data center operators fail or choose not to apply for TCCF certification and try to pass off the design certification as their ultimate certificate. Do not take their word for it and insist on the Constructed Facility certificate. A design certificate is invalid post its expiry, and that leaves the data center practically with no Uptime Institute certification, and their customers’ infrastructure at risk.

When customers entrust a data center with their critical infrastructure basis TCDD, it becomes paramount for data center operators to deliver what was committed. Any compromise in the design and operational efficiencies can have adverse impact on customers’ businesses.

How to Verify Expired Tier Certificates?

Before selecting the right data center for your business, remember to validate their Uptime Institute certifications on: https://uptimeinstitute.com/uptime-institute-awards/list

Browse the list and search for your desired data center service provider to validate their Tier certification.

Data Center Build vs Buy: Benefits of Partnering with Data Center Operators

Posted on by yotta

Digital transformation is accelerating and churning out data at never before pace. Organisations have been restructuring their infrastructure footprint to meet the evolving digital needs – of businesses, operations and customers. Regardless of scale, technology and nature of digitalisation, data centers form the core focus of any business. Third-party colocation services are, unarguably, becoming a preferred choice for a large proportion of enterprises – we have witnessed this trend during and post-pandemic continuing. This is evident through the growth of data centers and future forecast. According to Arizton Advisory & Intelligence, real estate demand for data centers is set to rise by 15–18 million sq.ft. by 2025 and by 2027, the Indian data center industry will pose $10.09 billion worth of opportunities.

Need for custom data centers
The surge in cloud uptake has made hyperscalers bullish on the Indian market and expand their operations. Data centers form their primary requirement for expansion – and they need massive capacities, which is often a hindrance in a market like India, where data center infrastructure is still in the growth phase. This leads them to leverage the existing data center infrastructure to set up availability zones to cater to the booming demand or build their infrastructure.

But it’s not just the hyperscalers. As the business grows, large enterprises with dependencies on captive infrastructure need scalable and reliable data centers to meet their current and future needs. Further, as they phase out legacy infrastructure and modernise their data centers, a holistic refresh becomes paramount, leading them to move out of on-premises data center setups and build a dedicated data center facility at a preferred location.

Meanwhile, hyperscalers must maintain committed SLAs and operational efficiencies that demand custom data center designs and specifications. Building a data center facility from scratch would be the best approach to accommodate these needs, but it also means increased time-to-market. It includes complex procedures – from land acquisition, regulatory approvals, design and construction, hardware procurement, and meeting the desired Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) ratio.

Factoring the top challenges

Cost: Building a data center doesn’t come cheap. Even for large enterprises, the upfront CapEx can mean a substantial investment.

Land procurement and approvals: Enterprises possess expertise in their core business. Procuring land and treading through approvals involves cumbersome processes, particularly in markets like India.

Design and construction: Contracting data center design and engineering experts further adds to the upfront capital requirements.

Supply chain: Procuring specialised equipment and hardware involves dealing with many vendors globally, adding to the complexities.

The direct impact of the above constraints includes delayed project completion and significantly greater time-to-market, which can affect your business in a big way.

Build or Buy: Let the experts do it
Whether buying or leasing a data center or building one, getting it done through a local data center player like Yotta offers significant advantages. Yotta possesses the resources, design and construction expertise, connectivity infrastructure, bulk hardware procurement capabilities, and operational skillsets that businesses can leverage and bank upon. Let’s look at some major ways hyperscalers and enterprises gain with outsourced build and buy models.

Cost advantage
Building a data center is expensive, and a lot of elements go into it – from power and UPS infrastructure, diesel generators, cooling systems, storage and networking hardware, and more. Hyperscalers and enterprises can ensure significant cost savings with the outsourced Build-to-Suit (BTS) model. The data center operator can leverage its economies of scale and eventually pass the cost advantage.

Faster Time-to-Market (TAM)
While buying a pre-constructed data center definitely enables your business to go-live within the shortest possible timeline, the custom-build approach extends it owing to the time incurred in land parcel identification and acquisition, government approvals, design and construction, equipment procurement and more. If a custom-build data center is your business need, you can still bring down the time with the Build-to-Suit approach. Domestic data center players also better understand regional topography, which is an essential factor in the design, construction and overall efficiency of a data center.

Efficiency
Data centers are known as power guzzlers, and there is a visible shift towards increased efficiencies and sustainability at various levels – business, industry and customer. Power usage effectiveness (PUE) is a critical factor in ensuring energy optimisation, and it holds greater importance, particularly for global hyperscalers for meeting their sustainability goals. While buying a data center may provide pre-defined PUE ratios, a BTS data center offers greater scope for meeting the desired levels. However, it must be noted that regional climatic conditions largely affect PUE ratios. For example, in a tropical country like India, PUE of 1.5 is considered the lowest achievable level. This is mainly because the Indian climate requires HVAC systems to remain operational 24×7, unlike European regions where natural conditions complement the cooling process.

Network and connectivity
Network and connectivity is the lifeblood of a data center, which eventually determinines performance and business outcomes. The cost of connectivity, however, can account for a significant portion of the overall CapEx. Additionally, with current restrictions on laying own fiber further act as hurdle. Data center operators are better placed to get bulk fiber connectivity, which eliminates time and effort intensive process of negotiating with connectivity providers, while bringing greater cost advantages. Data center operators’ extended connectivity with Internet Exchanges, content delivery networks, cloud service providers further helps ensure seamless connectivity to a host of services.

Compliance
Maintaining compliance with various regulatory norms, guidelines and industry practices involves complex considerations. Uniformity in regulations in different geographical further adds to the complexities. Data center developments, for instance, are classified under commercial or industrial buildings standards, hence parking requirements are also determined accordingly, requiring provisions such as on-grade parking according to local directives. Fire compliance is another critical area that demands critical consideration. Possessing extensive experience in design and construction, data center operators can eliminate the complexities and help make your data center compliant.

Management
With widespread migration from CapEx to OpEx based consumption models, enterprises are shedding investments in keeping the lights on. Modern IT teams’ focus is channelled towards innovation and customer service delivery. Data center operations demand a 24×7, dedicated and skilled resource pool. Moreover, managing a data center building involves more significant complexities than a small captive data center. To avoid maintenance, monitoring and management hassles, enterprises can bank upon the inhouse expertise of data center operators who possess a team of domain experts, engineers, and IT personnel.

The future of data centers lies in ‘scale’. Data growth will continue to skyrocket, and the resultant demand for infrastructure will bolster the growth of data centers. Hyperscalers are bullish on cloud growth and will continue to ramp up investments in India. Led by business needs, an increasing number of enterprises will exhaust their existing data center capacities. While multi-tenant colocation may work for some, many large enterprises need dedicated data centers. The above factors remain key to achieving the end objectives. Data center operators are well positioned to cater to every evolving needs – from colocation, buy-out or build-to-suit. Yotta combines its data prowess in the data center industry with the Hiranandani Group’s capabilities in architecture, construction and power, while leveraging economies of scale.