As data storage and management needs continue to expand, more and more businesses are offloading IT infrastructure to colocation. As someone responsible for the design, support, and/or evolution of a multi-tenant data center, top of mind for you is providing a reliable, high-performance environment for your customers, using cost-effective systems, and implementing the best possible operational management.
Key considerations for colocation providers include power supply, climate control, monitoring and security, and dedicated colocation enclosures. Depending on customer requirements, this can go as far as operating the hosted systems in their own sealed-off areas of the data center and protecting them with elaborate access control features. Colocation providers must use appropriate technical solutions to ensure a guaranteed level of security for their customers and must provide the necessary proof.
Rittal’s innovative, flexible, and future-proof rack systems have been engineered as an optimized system to provide proper airflow, efficient cable management, and a wide range of security access control.
Top Challenges — and Solutions — for Colocation Facilities
> Handling the Floorspace Challenge
> How to Get IT Enclosures Rapidly and Reliably
> Helping Ensure Security and Monitoring in a Colocation Environment
> The Need for High-Density Cooling
> Planning for the Future of Colocation
> Contact Rittal Today for Colocation Solutions
Handling the Floorspace Challenge
Using space wisely is imperative for a successful colocation facility. Optimal space management within both a colocation facility and IT cabinets is dependent upon fully maximizing this precious asset. “Stranded,” or unused, space can be reduced, which improves operational efficiency and adds adaptability and flexibility.
Even using space as wisely as possible, a colocation facility will eventually need more space; that’s when a flexible rack enclosure system becomes so valuable. With the TS IT Colo enclosure, colocations can optimize floor space freely thanks to a flexible, scalable, and modular design.
What robust IT cabinet solutions will meet colocation facility needs today and well into the future? This brochure covers scaling to support maximum IT component installation flexibility, integrating optimal cooling, and reducing energy costs.
How to Get IT Enclosures Rapidly and Reliably
Availability is more important — and less guaranteed — than ever before. When a customer needs to get into a data center quickly, some rack systems may be better suited than others. Yet, you can’t stand up IT cabinets quickly when they are not available to be shipped.
The good news is that dedicated colocation enclosures from Rittal are manufactured in the US and regionally stocked. This allows for short transit times and faster deployment with preconfigured IT cabinets with drawings, required details, and support documentation. A wide variety of accessories are also available to support colocation requirements.
Reports suggest that the global colocation center market will increase by more than 14% annually through 2030. This means that colocation facilities will require more enclosures to support network and server equipment, and the faster the enclosures can be delivered equates to improved business. Continue reading to learn more about how preconfigured and standardized enclosure solutions can benefit colocation facilities.
Helping Ensure Security and Monitoring in a Colocation Environment
Colocation facilities regularly face dozens of potential threats that could derail an operation with IT failure and/or data loss. Security must always be a top priority to protect assets and continued business, otherwise the entire operation may fail.
Having the right IT enclosure provides the last line of defense. An IT enclosure, or cabinet, discourages unauthorized access and protects IT components from physical threats (with water and dust being the most threatening). Some enclosures are best for reducing the risk of equipment failure, translating to less downtime, reduced costs, and improved efficiencies.
As closely as colocation security standards can be followed, active and automated monitoring is essential. The CMC III from Rittal, for instance, performs real-time collection of environmental conditions, controls access, and sends alarm notifications.
This 2-part blog series covers overall security awareness, passive and active physical security, and new vulnerabilities. There is a data center physical security checklist and several IT cabinet security suggestions.
The Need for High-Density Cooling
Colocation facility managers know that too much heat increases latency and the possibility of hardware failure. As densities and processor capacity grows, cooling becomes vitally important. For years, colocation data centers used various methods to cool air, yet these were never very energy-efficient at cooling down racks. With developments in liquid cooling, an effective and scalable heat removal solution, many data centers are enjoying much greater heat removal capacity.
How can you be sure that a climate control system (and a server enclosure) is right for a given environment? Certainty can only be gained via consultation with IT enclosure experts who base recommendations on the unique conditions and needs of an environment and customers. A true solutions provider, not just a cabinet manufacturer, is the answer.
As rack densities increase, so do demands for highly efficient heat removal. Learn more about the advantages of in-row, in-rack, immersion, and direct-to-chip cooling, plus how to identify the right cooling method for your colocation facility.
Planning for the Future of Colocation
“Future proof” is an achievement every colocation facility is striving to reach. With the ultimate goal being to avoid downtime at all costs, managers will do whatever is needed to stay up and running.
How can colocations best plan for future IT cabinet needs? Stay flexible. IT enclosures should allow for scaling as density needs expand, specs change, or expansion happens, so end users have space for new, extra deep servers or high-density cable installations. Flexibility provides adaptation on these important investments.
Selecting the correct enclosure platform partner who knows colocation trends is critical. Prepare to answer these three questions: Where are the IT enclosures going? What is going in them? How many are wanted/needed? It is difficult to plan for an unprecedented future, but it is possible to “future proof” enough to select ideal racks for colocation.
For a broader look at Rittal’s offerings for colocation facilities, browse our Colocation Infrastructure Brochure below. As the world’s largest enclosure manufacturer, Rittal offers an unparalleled range of products and solutions with years of experience providing enclosures to many of the top data center facilities in the world. Our preconfigured solutions are designed to match colocation-specific requirements while simplifying ordering, reducing deployment costs, and delivering effortless scalability.
Contact Rittal Today for Colocation Solutions
If your colocation business is seeking dedicated IT infrastructure solutions, then simply contact us today to get started. With in-stock rack solutions, preconfigured designs, lower deployment costs, simple scalability, ensured system compatibility, and global support and service, Rittal offers comprehensive solutions you can rely on.