What is a Data Center?

As we spend more time online exchange and sharing of digital data is becoming more vital for businesses to run. This digital exchange requires massive computing and networking equipment that is located in a centralized physical location called a data centre.

A data center is a specialized computer room that houses the storage and computing hardware for an organization or a business. The essential components of a data Importance of data centres center include servers, which contain the processing power that transforms raw data into useful information, and storage devices that hold the data on hard disk drives or robotic tape. Data centers also rely on communication and networking equipment such as routers, switches and miles of cables to help the flow between servers.

In the 1990s, when IT operations increased and companies began to utilize low-cost networking equipment to house their networking equipment in a central location, the term “data center’ was first used. Businesses can either build their own data center on their own premises or partner with a third-party provider of data center services who offer colocation and managed services. Third-party options are often an energy-efficient and cost-effective alternative to facilities on premises.

Many of these third-party solutions also provide greater flexibility around the management of policies. For example a data center could provide multiple policies in one location that allows IT to limit the workload of data by having distinct policies that satisfy the requirements of compliance across different geographies and business units. This can drastically reduce security risks and boost overall information governance.