The impact of technology on global affairs in the twenty first century has been monumental. Among the hallmarks of the technology driven world is the growing reliance on remote data centers. This has brought with it great benefits and challenges. Companies pushing and supporting the Remote Infrastructure Management (RIM) agenda need to rethink how to cope with the challenges without compromising on the benefits.
High-Performance Storage and Networking
Since the inception of cloud computing, and with it remote computing, there has been a tremendous growth in the data processing capacity. While cloud storage services are expected to reduce the dependence on physical storage space, the cloud is not enough in itself. In fact, the characteristic high-performance of cloud computing demands more of on-site IT infrastructure as it seamlessly increases the access to applications and services by users. Therefore, for the full potential of remote computing to be realized, it is necessary to implement high-performance networking and storage solutions.
Resistance to Environmental Factors
Physical damage is a risk that owners and clients of remote data centers grapple with. There is a significant investment to mitigate these risks. Monitoring and controlling temperature and humidity in the data centers is critical as the infrastructure is prone to damage if these variables are unregulated. Shielding the centers from harmful vibration and electromagnetic pulse and investing in backup power sources to check power fluctuations and outages is typical of these centers.
These measures are taken to protect the massive investment in remote data centers. The IT community is inventing meticulous and cost effective alternatives for the physical protection of remote data centers.
Right-sized Form Factors
As floor space in remote data centers is limited, the remote infrastructure needs to evolve in accordance with the restrictions on the physical size of hardware. Manufactures of IT hardware need to minimize the form factor of their infrastructure to meet the user needs.
Remote serviceability
The absence of on-site technical staff at remote data centers does not negate the need for periodic maintenance of IT infrastructure. It is imperative to consider the ease of remote maintenance by technical staff as well as basic on-site maintenance by non-technical personnel.
Security and Compliance
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, security is a major concern for IT infrastructure. The vulnerability of IT equipment to threats like unauthorized access, data manipulation, and theft cannot be overstated. It is therefore upon the pace setters in Silicon Valley and other technology hubs to consistently check and update countermeasures to the evolving security threats that IT infrastructure face.
