The business world continues to change – and technology continues to help pave the way. The current business model is heavily dependent on the capabilities of IT and this trend shows no evidence of slowing down. One of the biggest impacts on the modern organization has been the cloud. Cloud computing has helped create a massively interconnected network allowing users and business to share rich content and applications. Here’s the important factor to consider – the cloud is continuing to grow.

The latest Cisco Global Cloud Index report shows just how quickly cloud computing is impacting the data center platform:

• Annual global cloud IP traffic will reach 14.1 ZB (1.2 ZB per month) by the end of 2020, up from 3.9 ZB per year (321 EB per month) in 2015.Global data center IP traffic will nearly triple over the next 5 years. Overall, data center IP traffic will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25 percent from 2012 to 2017.
• Global cloud IP traffic will almost quadruple (3.7-fold) over the next 5 years. Overall, cloud IP traffic will grow at a CAGR of 30 percent from 2015 to 2020.
• Global cloud IP traffic will account for more than 92 percent of total data center traffic by 2020.

So, is data center efficiency important for the cloud? Absolutely. With that in mind – here are three great ways to keep your cloud a little cooler.

Custom cloud data center climate control.

Every data center is unique. This is especially true for custom cloud environments. Let’s face it – you have some very specific applications for your environment. You have requirements, user controls, and a cloud platform that’s ever expanding. In these cases, when building or expanding a data center – many look to custom climate control solutions for their cloud environment. These types of options provide climate solutions for almost any environment; data centers, server rooms, test/dev labs, branch data centers and even cloud disaster recovery-ready data center locations. The great thing about custom climate controls is that you’re able to find options around precision air control. For example, if you’re trying to create modular cooling or containment solutions – you don’t have to rip apart your data center to accomplish this. Modular containment can be inserted right into your existing data center without much disruption at all.

Managing cloud data center airflow.

Cloud computing has reengineered how data flows and is transmitted. Maybe it’s time you work with a cloud airflow solution, which has reengineered data center airflow. The idea is to allow your cloud and your data center to breathe easier. There are airflow solutions that are specifically designed to limit bypass airflow by effectively sealing the openings in raised floors. Other solutions, built directly into the rack, help control intake airflow in server racks; as well as specifically blocking airflow, ensuring hot and cold aisle separation. Finally, there are great environmental monitoring systems that aim to optimize room airflow. These cost-effective monitoring solutions can be installed across network closets, server rooms, and enterprise data centers.

Using liquid to cool your cloud data center.

Liquid-based cooling has actually become a huge ally to cloud computing data center. We discussed this in a recent Upsite post, but it’s important to reiterate the topic. Consider this, new liquid cooling solutions are absorbing heat by vaporizing Novec 7000 (a dielectric, non-toxic, engineered fluid from 3M Corporation) within sealed modules mounted directly to the hottest server devices. The cool part, no pun intended, is that this is applicable to servers as well as individual components. The point is that there are new options around cooling impacting next-generation deployments within the data center. This also means that there are great ways to cool your cloud.

Cloud computing will continue to impact the modern business. Organizations are continuously adapting to an ever-evolving IT model. Through it all – the data center remains the home to all of these new technologies, platforms, and applications. Cloud computing has allowed organizations to truly distribute their footprint and expand their market. Still, it’s critical to keep your data center and cloud running efficiently. With that in mind, always look for new and efficient ways to keep your cloud running a bit cooler.