Data centre consolidation and what it can offer you

The world of technology continues to change at a blistering pace, and that's why data centres need to brace themselves for the new innovations we're likely to see in the years ahead. One recent trend which is worth noting in this regard is that of data centre consolidation. In a nutshell, what this refers to is the tendency for data centres to utilise more efficient technologies so that they can concentrate their resources more effectively. It should go without saying that the potential for savings is significant here. Data centre consolidation can mean not just the replacement of obsolete storage technologies with more up-to-date ones, but it can also result in the merging of facilities.

Monday, 25th August 2014 Posted 10 years ago in by Phil Alsop

One thing is for sure - data centre consolidation looks set to gather further momentum in the next few years. So what can it do for you?

The benefits of data centre consolidation
As we've already hinted at, the efficiency savings that data centre consolidation can offer are likely to be substantial. The global market is exceptionally competitive at present, and more new entrants are likely to enter the fray over the next few years. With that in mind, then, data centres will have to improve efficiency where possible simply to stay ahead of the pack. Those data centres which fail to adapt according to the changing conditions are likely to find themselves losing crucial ground to their competitors - and once that ground is lost, it usually proves exceptionally difficult to reclaim.

Data centres are already making moves in the direction of consolidation. They're achieving their objectives in a number of ways - not only through reducing the number of sites and adopting new technologies, but also through the increased use of the cloud. Not only will this consolidation provide major savings, but it should also allow for easier centralised management.

The challenges of data centre consolidation
It is worth noting, however, that quite a few people still harbour some concerns about data centre consolidation. Perhaps the most obvious of these is security - businesses still fear that data security may be compromised in consolidated data centres. This is, needless to say, a concern which data centres themselves have to take seriously. The process of consolidation may appear somewhat opaque to clients who aren't necessarily au fait with how it works. Data centres must therefore engage with clients to ensure that any concerns they may have about the consolidation process are addressed.

Data centre consolidation is also likely to meet some technological hurdles. Data centres must therefore adopt flexible and innovative approaches to ensure that they're ready to face the future. Keeping up with the latest technological developments is crucial, and data centres must not rest on their laurels - those that do are likely to find themselves left behind within the space of a few years. Furthermore, security has to be a key priority for any data centre planning consolidation. Wherever data is stored, data centres must make sure that they have complete control over it. Robust security measures are therefore indispensable.

This article was written on behalf of Geist.