First and foremost, what’s a data center? A data center is a building, or segregated area of a building whose sole purpose is to provide secure, highly available, and reliable IT services. We sometimes forget that when we’re in the world of power and cooling. These functions, while extremely important in their own right, really just support the IT services that sit within a data center.

With that said, what makes it so challenging to manage risks related to the IT services a data center provides? Part of the equation is that IT equipment is far more sensitive than humans. IT equipment requires a very stable power source and narrow operating envelopes when it comes to temperature and humidity. Add to this the huge expectations from businesses to keep applications up and running and available, and the multi-disciplined/siloed nature of data center operations (IT, network, facilities, etc.), and you have yourself an environment with a large potential for risk.

Not to mention the dilemma that arises when cost reduction is prioritized over risk reduction.

For more on data center risk management, check out our recent webinar titled, Data Center Risk Management: The Importance of Mitigating Risk to Maximize Resiliency.