The concept and purpose of a Custom Data Center would seem obvious, like a custom suit, a facility specially designed and built to meet the owner’s exact specifications. Yet, it is an often used and sometimes misunderstood term when referring to data centers. The basic rationale of a data center is relatively universal; provide a secure and reliable facility to contain and support the computing, storage and communications systems, yet not all data centers are identically designed or built the same way. While the general requirements of most organizations are similar, one size or design does not fit all.
The previous issues of the Executive Series reviewed the major factors that play a role in the decisions involved with designing and building a data center, such as; ”Build vs Buy”, “Total Cost of Ownership” and “Energy Efficiency” which impact the decisions that go into the choices involved in your organization’s overall data center strategies.
This article series examines some of the factors when considering if a custom designed data center is required for your organization, as well as potential advantages and pitfalls of deviating from mainstream designs. It also covers the requirements analysis process and business justification.
Over the next few weeks,we will the following aspects of a custom data center strategy:
- Requirements Analysis Process
- Responsibilities of the Stakeholders
- Comparative Costs
- Potential Pitfalls and Time Frame for a Custom Data Center
- Business Justification
You can download a complete PDF of this article series on DCK Executive Guide to Custom Data Centers courtesy of Digital Realty.
