As we spend more time online and in the process of sharing and exchanging of digital information is becoming more crucial to keep businesses running. Digital exchange requires huge computing and networking equipment which is located in a centralized physical location known as a datacenter.
A data center is an special computer room that houses the computing and storage equipment of a business. The essential components of a data center include servers that house the power of processing to transform raw data into usable information, and storage devices which hold the data on either robotic tapes or hard disk drives. A data center also depends on communication and networking equipment, such as routers cables and switches to aid in the flow between servers.
In the 1990s, as IT operations grew, and companies began to employ cheap networking equipment to store their networking equipment in a central location, the term “data center” was the first to be used. Companies can either build their own data center on their premises or partner with a third-party provider of data center services who provide managed and colocation services. Third-party providers typically offer the lowest cost and energy efficiency alternative to on-premises data centers.
Many of these third-party solutions also allow greater flexibility for the management of policies. A data center, for example can provide multiple policy environments in one location. This allows IT to limit the data workload by establishing distinct policies that satisfy compliance requirements across geographies and businesses. This can help reduce security risks and improve the information governance.