DATA CENTER

Smartnet is a leading provider of data center solutions with a comprehensive portfolio of network, server and storage connectivity. A data center house an organization's most critical and proprietary assets, they are vital to the continuity of daily operations. Consequently, the security and reliability of data centers and their information are among any organization’s top priorities.

In the past, data centers were highly controlled physical infrastructures, but the public cloud has since changed that model. Except where regulatory restrictions require an on-premises data center without internet connections, most modern data center infrastructures have evolved from on-premises physical servers to virtualized infrastructure that supports applications and workloads across multi-cloud environments. The most widely adopted standard for data center design and data center infrastructure is ANSI/TIA-942. It includes standards for ANSI/TIA-942-ready certification, which ensures compliance with one of four categories of data center tiers rated for levels of redundancy and fault tolerance.

By choosing Smartnet Data Center Services, you get complete transparency into the price-quality relationship. That way, you will have a clear understanding of how we can help you drive better business results. Our Services give you more than just access to technologically advanced physical facilities used for storing and processing business-relevant information. We also provide you with the support of highly-trained professionals who can help you increase the efficiency of your systems and applications.



Tier 1: Basic site infrastructure. A Tier 1 data center offers limited protection against physical events. It has single-capacity components and a single, nonredundant distribution path.

Tier 2: Redundant-capacity component site infrastructure. This data center offers improved protection against physical events. It has redundant-capacity components and a single, nonredundant distribution path.

Tier 3: Concurrently maintainable site infrastructure. This data center protects against virtually all physical events, providing redundant-capacity components and multiple independent distribution paths. Each component can be removed or replaced without disrupting services to end users.

Tier 4: Fault-tolerant site infrastructure. This data center provides the highest levels of fault tolerance and redundancy. Redundant-capacity components and multiple independent distribution paths enable concurrent maintainability and one fault anywhere in the installation without causing downtime.

Data center architectures and requirements can differ significantly. For example, a data center built for a cloud service provider like Amazon satisfies facility, infrastructure and security requirements that significantly differ from a completely private data center, such as one built for a government facility that is dedicated to securing classified data.

Regardless of classification, an effective data center operation is achieved through a balanced investment in the facility and the equipment it houses. In addition, since data centers often house an organization's business-critical data and applications, it's essential that both facility and equipment are secured against intruders and cyberattacks

The primary elements of a data center break down as follows:

• Facility – the usable space available for IT equipment. Providing round-the-clock access to information makes data centers some of the world’s most energy-consuming facilities. Design to optimize space and environmental control to keep equipment within specific temperature/humidity ranges are both emphasized.

• Core components – equipment and software for IT operations and storage of data and applications. These may include storage systems, servers, network infrastructure, such as switches and routers, and various information security elements, such as firewalls.

• Support infrastructure – equipment contributing to securely sustaining the highest availability possible. The Uptime Institute has defined four tiers of data centers, with availability ranging from 99.671% to 99.995%.

Some components for supporting infrastructure include:

• Uninterruptible Power Sources (UPS) – battery banks, generators and redundant power sources.

• Environmental control – computer room air conditioners (CRAC); heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; and exhaust systems.

• Physical security systems – biometrics and video surveillance systems.