Datacenters

The role of data centers

Computers, laptops, smartphones – they’ve become indispensable in our lives. They have become smaller, more powerful, faster, and capable of performing a wide range of functions and processing data. Digitalization has improved and accelerated business processes across offices, factories, and hospitals. Computers are crucial for business operations; when they fail, it leads to productivity loss and consequently revenue and profit loss.

All this is made possible by data centers, where data, processing power, and applications come together. The sky is the limit, and the cloud? It’s securely stored in a data center.

Indispensable data and applications

Data is often referred to as the new gold, and data centers are considered the foundation of the digital economy. They are also essential for social and societal life. Everything that happens online is made possible thanks to data centers, and more.

We rely on the availability of data, connections, apps, computer systems, and other services 24×7. And for good reason.

Always available Datacenters

Data centers are designed to ensure that stored data, systems, and the processes dependent on them remain safe, accessible, and available without interruption. This is crucial not only for the customers who run their servers and peripheral equipment there, whether owned or leased, but also for their clients and others who rely on their services. This includes providers of cloud and hosting services responsible for data storage and Software as a Service (SaaS) provided to their customers.

Professional and innovative

Data centers in the Netherlands are among the best in the world. They leverage the latest innovations in data infrastructure, (fire)security, energy, and climate control. This ensures stable operations and reliable service.

All systems are redundant, meaning that if one fails, a backup system takes over. This redundancy extends to electricity – backup generators or batteries kick in when there’s a power outage – as well as connections, security, climate control, and more.

Types of data centers

Data centers can be categorized based on several characteristics. They may operate regionally, nationally, or internationally. Some may focus on specific sectors or applications, and their range of services can vary. The Dutch Data Center Association categorizes them into three main types:

Hyperscale Data Centers:

These are very large data centers typically owned by major tech companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook. They are single-tenant facilities that house only the servers of their parent companies, which serve clients globally.

Colocation Data Centers:

Also known as multi-tenant data centers, they provide space, storage, and data services to multiple clients. These facilities often cater to organizations that process large volumes of data, such as banks, insurance companies, government agencies, hospitals, and educational institutions. Clients typically place their own servers in these colocation data centers.

Enterprise Data Centers:

Historically, large enterprises used to operate their in-house IT, maintaining extensive server rooms within their facilities. These enterprise data centers were single-tenant facilities, serving the company’s specific needs. Over time, many organizations have transitioned to colocating their servers in third-party data centers for cost-efficiency and enhanced reliability.

Why do businesses choose data centers?

Organizations are increasingly choosing to house their IT infrastructure in data centers, whether they are businesses or government entities. There are several reasons behind this trend:

• Availability and Reliability: Data centers guarantee higher uptime levels than most businesses can achieve on their own. Redundant systems keep operations running smoothly, even in the event of power outages.
• Lower and Transparent Costs: Data centers offer high-end, up-to-date equipment and services without the need for businesses to make substantial investments themselves.
• Reduced Staffing Needs: Data centers provide 24/7 operational support, ensuring server availability and taking care of facility management. This eliminates the need to hire and maintain an IT staff.
• Scalability: Data center infrastructure can scale up or down as a business grows, ensuring that organizations only pay for the resources they use.
• Energy Efficiency: Data centers in the Netherlands are investing heavily in sustainability, utilizing green energy sources and energy recovery methods. Modern and energy-efficient equipment significantly reduces power consumption compared to running individual servers in-house.