What is a Data Centre? Including Top 10 Data Centres in the World

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What is a Data Centre?

A data centre is a facility that centralizes an organization’s IT operations and equipment, enabling the storage, management, and dissemination of data. These facilities are designed to support large-scale data processing and provide various services like data storage, processing, and backup. Data centres house critical applications and data, ensuring they are available and secure. They typically consist of servers, storage systems, networking equipment, and various security devices.

Here are some aspects of a data centre:

IT equipment – There are thousands of servers in a data centre. A lot of storage hardware, cables and, racks.

Security – Since a lot of data is being stored in these facilities, it’s only natural that there will be an incredible amount of security. There are firewalls in place to protect from threats.

Data centres also have a lot of CCTV cameras to catch any thieves that make it into the building. You’ll also find fire suppression equipment like fire extinguishers and sprinklers. There will be fire doors just like any good organisation.

Operation staff – Operation staff have to be in the data centre to make sure things are running optimally. They will have to take care of problems that occur and engage in general maintenance and improvement tasks.

Cooling – The cooling in data centres have to be very efficient. Hundreds, if not thousands of servers are densely packed in a data centre. So this means it gets very hot. And in order to keep the servers/computers from overheating, they have to install efficient air flow systems.

A lot of organizations are getting really smart at building data centres. Data centres have been over 60 years of evolution. Organizations are starting to build data centres in cold places such as Finland and the Niagra falls to reduce the cooling costs.

Backup generators – Imagine if a data centre went down. This would cause a lot of businesses to move away from that data centre. Backup generators are an extra layer of protection in case of power out happens.

Creating a data centre can take a lot of capital. You have to pay for a facility, lots of equipment and staff. The monthly bill for this can easily go up into the six figures. That’s why mainly big companies such as Facebook have data centres.

This also gives companies a lot more control over their data since that can become critical to a business’s reputation. One data breach can get a company sued and a bad reputation which will last for years.

History of Data Centres

The concept of data centres dates back to the early 1960s with the advent of mainframe computer rooms. Early data centres were referred to as “computer rooms,” where massive mainframe computers occupied entire rooms or floors. The development of the data centre was closely tied to the rise of computer technology and the need for centralized management of data and computing resources.

In the 1980s, with the introduction of microcomputers, companies began to set up dedicated rooms to house their growing IT infrastructure. This marked the beginning of modern data centres. The term “data centre” became popular in the 1990s as organizations started to recognize the importance of a centralized facility to manage and secure their IT resources.

Pioneers of Data Centre Technologies

Several companies and individuals have played a significant role in the development of data centre technologies:

  • IBM: As one of the earliest pioneers, IBM developed mainframe computers and established practices for data centre management.
  • Sun Microsystems: They introduced various innovations in networking and server technologies that became fundamental to modern data centres.
  • Amazon Web Services (AWS): AWS revolutionized the industry with the introduction of cloud computing, enabling scalable and flexible data centre solutions.
  • Google: Known for its advanced data centre infrastructure, Google has developed numerous technologies to optimize efficiency and sustainability.

Types of Data Centres

  1. Enterprise Data Centres: Owned and operated by companies for their internal needs.
  2. Colocation Data Centres: Allow multiple organizations to rent space within a shared facility.
  3. Cloud Data Centres: Operated by cloud service providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.
  4. Edge Data Centres: Smaller facilities located closer to the end-users to reduce latency.

Components of a Data Centre

  1. Servers: Physical or virtual machines that host applications and data.
  2. Storage Systems: Devices that store data, including hard drives, SSDs, and tape drives.
  3. Networking Equipment: Routers, switches, and firewalls that manage data traffic.
  4. Power Supply: Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and backup generators to ensure continuous operation.
  5. Cooling Systems: HVAC systems to maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels.
  6. Security Systems: Physical and digital security measures to protect data.

Functions of a Data Centre

  1. Data Storage: Providing safe and secure storage for critical data.
  2. Data Processing: Handling computational tasks and running applications.
  3. Data Backup and Recovery: Ensuring data integrity and availability through backup solutions.
  4. Networking: Facilitating communication between servers and end-users.

Importance of Data Centres

Data centres are critical for modern businesses and society as they support various essential services, including:

  • Cloud Computing: Providing the backbone for cloud services.
  • E-commerce: Enabling online transactions and services.
  • Social Media: Storing and processing vast amounts of user data.
  • Research and Development: Supporting scientific and technological advancements.
  • Healthcare: Managing patient records and supporting telemedicine services.

Top 10 Data Centres in the World

Data Centre Name Location
China Telecom Inner Mongolia Inner Mongolia, China
The Citadel Nevada, USA
Switch SuperNAP Nevada, USA
DuPont Fabros Technology Virginia, USA
Digital Realty Chicago, USA
Lakeside Technology Center Chicago, USA
COPT Data Centre Maryland, USA
Apple Data Centre Nevada, USA
Google Data Centre Iowa, USA
Facebook Data Centre Luleå, Sweden

Future of Data Centres

The future of data centres is geared towards more sustainable and efficient operations. Innovations such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and renewable energy sources are being integrated to optimize performance and reduce environmental impact. Edge computing is also expected to grow, bringing data processing closer to end-users and reducing latency.

Data centre VS the cloud

Data centres store their data on physical storage. The cloud will store data on the internet.

A data centre can be found on premise but the cloud can not. Data centre servers are performing at a limit due to their portioned hardware. The cloud, on the other hand, is shared between multiple to servers so it can get as much power as is needed.

Data centres require a variety of equipment such as power supplies, backup systems, more security etc.  But the cloud is virtual and can be accessed in any location through the internet.

You want to make sure the hosting company you go with are in a great data centre.

Data centres are integral to the functioning of modern digital infrastructure. They provide the necessary environment for managing and securing data, supporting various industries and innovations. As technology advances, data centres continue to evolve, becoming more efficient, sustainable, and crucial to the digital economy.

Author Profile

Fernando Raymond
Founder & CEO SeekaHost™ helping 100 million people get online with the most affordable domain names and web hosting services. Featured on Forbes, Entrepreneur, Reader Digest and many more publications.

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