No matter what your industry is, it’s hard to deny that the Internet of Things (IoT) is changing the world around us. Consequently, it has generated mountains of data. For instance, when a customer call Cox customer support number for help, this activity generates data as well. Data is being consumed and analyzed in real-time faster than ever. It’s basically transforming the traditional enterprise data centers.
IoT has turned into a challenge for data centers. Facility managers throughout the world are struggling to meet the capacity requirements and address latency problems. These challenges have led to the creation of micro data centers to accommodate the increasing demands.
Micro Data Centers (MDCs) Explained
Let’s first understand what these micro data centers are. These data centers incorporate all the essential components of a typical data center. However, it has a scaled-down development. All the components are enclosed in a single standard IT rack with lots of room to store your IT equipment, racks, servers, and other accessories. These data centers can’t adjust more than 100 to 150 kWs.
Why Are Micro Data Centers the Answer?
IoT-generated data can take up a lot of bandwidth. The traditional data centers are not designed to cope with such a significant amount of data. The rising logistical challenge makes data transfer difficult. Centralized storage was not created with this challenge in mind. A monumental shift is needed to cope with this demand.
What does logistics include really? It mainly includes latency and bandwidth. We all know when a significant amount of data needs to be moved from one place to another, the process becomes slower. It is measured in milliseconds, and even the tiniest break in transmission can result in catastrophic repercussions.
The present centralized cloud storage requires data to travel thousands of meals for processing. In localized micro data centers, using edge computing means you can perform instant analysis and react immediately to any information the moment it is produced.
How Can Micro Data Centers Be Useful?
Today, lots of corporations have started to use micro data centers. The data stored at the edge can be organized into subsections. Only the data that needs to be transferred to a centralized data center can travel further. The remaining data will be stored safely. The company can upscale as and when the need arises. All they have to do is add additional units.
A company named 451 Research predicted that by 2022, the market for modular data center will be worth $4.2 billion. This market is growing thanks to edge computing, which is making it possible to process data closer to the device or user because of small data centers, the presence of 5G cell towers, and the increasingly connected IoT devices. Furthermore, Gartner predicted that by 2022, more than half of the enterprise data will be created as well as processed outside the cloud or data center.
Let’s look at the main advantages of using micro data centers in the present era:
Quick and Easy to Use
Micro data centers have literally eliminated the legwork in specifying the components of an IT solution for loads locally or at the edge. This is pre-built for faster deployment.
Seamless Integration
Since micro data centers are pre-integrated and tested in advance to ensure all components are functional, they are considered to be a highly reliable solution. most MDCs are plug-and-play. They are so well integrated that you can start using them almost immediately.
Advanced Monitoring
The Pre-integrated sensors and software allow you to monitor and control the data centers. This ensures you get complete visibility into each rack’s environment and monitor everything at the outlet level. You can also control all components remotely. This means if your IT staff can offer support remotely as well.
Lots of Customization
Although everything in a micro data center is already built-in, you can still customize the solution based on your unique business needs. For instance, you can choose the size, add rack accessories, and fiddle with the voltage options as per your needs.
Small Footprint
Micro data centers are pre-engineered to remain cool and work quietly. They have such a small footprint and it will feel as if the data center is a piece of furniture. You can scale up the racks and cases based on the environment.
Through its convenience, MDCs can be used in a variety of industries including logistics, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, transportation, financial services, media, telecommunications, and more. Companies can place their power computing and IT capacity closer to devices, end-users, customers, and associates. As these data centers become mainstream, they will give birth to the next wave of performance computing which will also 5G, analytics, and AI.