5 Common Issues With Data Centers

Cybersecurity experts are usually saddled with maintaining data centers and may come under unpleasant scrutiny if anything goes wrong.

But no IT personnel would want to deal with constant complaints from their clients or bosses regarding securing their data. So, to ensure you aren’t taken unaware, this article addresses common data center problems and provides preventive measures to keep them from happening.

1. Power Outages

Unexpected power outages can affect a data center’s power system, resulting in downtime and lost revenue. Uptime Institute estimates that power outages cause 43% of data losses. To prevent this, power systems should have backup power sources such as uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), generators, or battery banks. 

In addition, the power system should be regularly monitored and maintained to ensure it is functioning correctly and ready to provide reliable power during an outage.

2. Cyber Attacks

According to Norton, the cost of preventing cyber attacks within the US will reach $10 trillion by 2025 versus $3 trillion in 2015. This increase is due to the rise of cyber attacks in the US.

Attackers can target data centers with malware and ransomware and launch Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks to take down a data center’s systems and networks. They also use phishing emails to access sensitive data and deploy malicious code or scripts to manipulate or delete data or steal confidential information. 

Implementing robust security protocols and regularly updating them is essential to preventing these cyber attacks.

3. Heat

High temperatures in the data center can cause hardware failure, leading to downtime and potential data loss. It can also accelerate the aging of hardware and reduce its lifespan.

To prevent these issues, data centers should be maintained at optimal temperatures using cooling systems such as air conditioners or chillers. In addition, proper ventilation and airflow should be maintained to help keep the temperature in check.

4. Network Connectivity Issues

Poor network connections can prevent users from accessing the data center or cause slow response times. This can be caused by poor routing, insufficient bandwidth, hardware or software failure, or a combination of these issues. 

To address these issues, business IT support in Brisbane can configure routers to optimize routes, increase bandwidth, upgrade outdated software and use network monitoring tools to detect and diagnose any issues that may arise.

5. Aging Hardware

As technology evolves, the hardware used to support data centers can become outdated and need to be replaced. This can be costly and time-consuming, especially if the hardware is integral to the system. 

Keeping up with the latest technology and upgrading when necessary can prevent these costs and delays.

Businesses should research and invest in reliable, long-lasting hardware and create a budget for hardware upgrades. They should also ensure their hardware is configured correctly and backed up regularly to minimize downtime during an upgrade.

Conclusion

These five data center issues can lead to massive data loss and revenue if not tackled properly. Therefore, IT personnel must ensure that they carry out routine check-ups and maintenance to keep data centers running smoothly without downtime.