Data centres are vital parts of a digital initiative. Previously, they were centrally managed and on-premises facilities. These days they have changed to scalable and distributed models — there is the deployment of edge processing and cloud services with hyperscalers.

The transformation process includes:

Modularity: Here hyperscalers are used which have the core characteristic of modularity. A modular data centre follow’s a Lego-like approach. It adapts progressively to a design that is agile and flexible.

Resilience and Redundance: A modern data centre has to be resilient. Modularity allows replacement of individual physical components. It reduces costs as well as downtime. There is flexibility to scale up at the physical level as one can add components modularly. There can be outsourcing for maintenance.

Automation: Today’s IT infrastructure is supported by artificial intelligence for IT operations — AIOPs. It leverages AI to make IT operations visible. It alerts the users when specific thresholds are crossed or issues are detected.

Energy Efficiency: Data Centres consume massive electricity as their workload is intensive. Energy bills escalate every year as cost of power increases and the underlying demand too increases. To make them energy efficient, there should be separation of hot and cold air and there should be use of energy efficient technologies. There should be server consolidation and server decommissioning when they are inactive. Cooling systems could be made immersive.