What is a Data Center?

As we spend more of our lives online, the exchange of digital data becomes more essential to keep businesses running. This digital exchange requires huge computers and networking equipment that are housed in an centralized physical location, known as a datacenter.

A data center is a specialized computer room that houses the storage and computing equipment used by an organization or company. The core components of a data centre comprise servers, which house the processing power that turns raw data into useful information and storage devices that store this information on hard-disk drives or robotic tape. Furthermore, a data centre relies on networking and communication equipment like routers, switches and endless miles cables that help the flow data center of data between servers.

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

Many of these third party alternatives also offer more flexibility when it comes to policy management. For example, a data center can offer multiple environments for policy management in a single location, allowing IT to limit data workloads by establishing distinct policies that meet compliance demands across geographies and business units. This could reduce security risks and improve information governance.