Four things you might not know about data centres

Cost savings, stability and security are driving businesses to the cloud

Data centres are large, sophisticated facilities that house thousands of computer servers in a carefully controlled, highly secure environment. They’re changing how small businesses plan their IT infrastructure, for several good reasons. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Data centres save money.

Creating a server room or data centre entails a sizeable upfront cost for expertise, hardware, security and built-in redundancies, in case of failure. The cost is so prohibitive that, in the past, only large companies could afford it. Now smaller businesses can get the benefits of data centres at a fraction of the cost by subscribing to cloud-solution services. You pay only for the storage you need, and experts manage your data, back it up and protect it for you.

“Data centres and the cloud have opened up the market so much,” says Steve Hay, COO of Yardstick Technologies, a managed IT services company in Edmonton that offers cloud-based solutions, including server hosting in a Rogers Data Centre. “Companies can now do things that they couldn’t afford to do before, which helps them innovate.”

2. Security is the top priority.

Nervous about storing company data in the cloud? Data centres are far more stable and secure than a cluster of servers sitting in your company’s office.

“There are two ways to secure data: physically and logically,” says Hay. Physically, the Rogers Data Centre that houses Yardstick’s servers is imposing. The security features, including retinal scanners and video-monitored server suites, are worthy of a spy movie. Logically, Yardstick uses encryption, firewalls and other military-grade security tactics to protect customers’ data. “The security at Rogers Data Centres is awesome. It really is – I couldn’t ask for anything more,” says Hay. “I can be a little particular about how I like things set up, but Rogers genuinely does a great job with the security.”

3. Location matters.

When choosing cloud solutions, be sure to ask providers where their facilities are located. Data centres are available all over the world, but storing your data in another country can raise issues you may not have considered.

“Most of our customers and people we talk to have concerns about data residing in other countries, and the potential impact of geopolitical situations across borders,” says Hay. “When your data is contained within Canada, it’s simpler – it’s one country, one border, one set of laws.” Yardstick’s customers can rest easy knowing that Rogers Data Centres are wholly owned and operated in Canada, connected by a nationwide Fibre Optic network.

4. You need a strategy.

Data centres need to fit into your company’s tech strategy. You’re not just storing data in the cloud – you’re building an IT infrastructure that should help your business move forward.

Hay advises working with a cloud services provider that understands how to leverage data centres. “A lot of people make dangerous assumptions or know a piece of it, but it’s important to understand how your technology strategy plays into it,” he says. “Any technology, including data centres, can play a great part in your overall strategy, but no single piece can replace a good strategy. You’ll always struggle if you’re working with individual components and don’t see how they fit together.”

Learn more about Rogers Data Centres.