Steps for building Hyperscale Data Centers

A hyperscale data center is a facility that has at least 5000 servers and covers 10,000 square feet. Companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft leverage hyperscale data centers to provide their services at scale. The ability to scale is the hallmark of a hyperscale data center.

A hyperscale data center is one or more buildings that house a computing infrastructure, with servers, storage, and networking equipment. Organizations rely on the speed and reliability provided by hyperscale data centers and their optimized infrastructure. These data centers are designed to manage high volumes of traffic with limited latency allowing for on-demand processing and manipulation of data.

Some other industries that use hyperscale technology include online gaming platforms, ecommerce, advertising, marketing, and social media, to name a few. A hyperscale data center has everything a business needs to store, process and manage large amounts of data safely and securely.

Today we’re going to consider the steps it takes to build a hyperscale data center.

Planning

As with anything, it’s always best to start with a plan. Developers must consider the requirements and resources needed to build a hyperscale data center. Some sites will be built in stages while others are built out completely from the beginning. Power, water, space, staffing, and the ability to scale are all considerations during the planning stage.

Usage is also an important consideration in the planning process. Some data centers will be used to service a multitude of simultaneous application users, while others are focused on hyperscale data analysis.

An interesting trend within the last few years has been the growth of edge computing, where data centers are built near organizations that require a hyperscale solution. Edge computing allows for lower latency and increased speeds in data processing and management.

Design

A hyperscale data center is designed differently than a traditional data center. Besides the large-scale infrastructure to keep the enormous facility temperature controlled, design considerations must also include strategies for growth and further expansion. As the facility grows it will require greater resources and consume more power. Access to further infrastructure is another consideration in design, such as access to telecommunications networks.

Renewable energy is often considered in the design phase and can include solar, wind and hydroelectric power to reduce environmental impact. When selecting a hyperscale data center solution, companies will often choose an environmentally-friendly provider.

Location

One of the main considerations in building a hyperscale data center is determining a location. Location is driven by two primary considerations: Cost is the main concern and scalability is the second concern. Because hyperscale data centers utilize a lot of power, cost per kWh (kilowatt hour) is a big concern.

The power that is supplied to a data center must be reliable, and in some cases can come from separate substations on different grids. The reason for this is to ensure stability and strengthen reliability. Most data centers will also have backup generators in place to add further protection and reliability.

Some states may offer tax incentives for building and operating data centers, which has led to more projects and expansion.

Security

When building a hyperscale data center, security is put in place to prevent unauthorized access. Hyperscale data centers are secure facilities and have on-site security features as well as network security to protect against cyber threats. As newer technologies advance, such as 5G and IoT (internet-of-things) the need for security will increase and require new adaptations to operate without disruptions.

Staffing

Due to increased automation, fewer people are needed to operate a hyperscale data center. Some facilities are completely automated – however, managing a hyperscale data center still requires equipment maintenance, monitoring, security, and operational management.

There are three primary areas of staffing: There are operations personnel, facilities, and security. Staffing may vary across hyperscale data centers, but these three things are a typical starting place. All staff require special qualifications, technical training, and certifications. Again, these requirements vary, but qualified personnel are critical for safe operations and stability.

Conclusion

Over the last few years, the growth and development of hyperscale data centers has increased. Businesses have started to realize that speed, reliability and storage are key components to success in a disruptive digital landscape.

There are too many benefits to list here, but many organizations can utilize the resources of a hyperscale data center to provide better customer services and scale on-demand. Companies can also offset their carbon footprint by choosing a sustainable provider.

Planning is the first step towards building a hyperscale data center. Second is understanding the resources and requirements necessary to start a building project. The next step is design considerations. The sheer size and space of a hyperscale data center requires a long-term scalable solution. When building a hyperscale data center, the focus is on growth and having the ability to expand further.

Location is also important as well as costs, power, and water requirements. It goes without saying that security is a primary concern along with infrastructure and access to telecommunications networks. Finally, we have to consider our staffing needs to ensure safe and secure operations.