Enhancing Sustainable Futures: The Role Of Data Centre Monitoring In Driving Environmental Awareness And Practices
The relentless demand for data continues to grow, with data centres serving as the backbone of our digital world. While this is excellent news for facility managers, it also brings a pressing need for responsible environmental practices. Efforts have been made initiated to repurpose the heat released by these centres to warm public swimming pools or student housing. However, this approach falls short in effectively reducing the emissions from data centres.
This is where data centre monitoring becomes crucial in ensuring sustainable operations. Advanced monitoring technologies contribute to energy efficiency, security enhancement, and environmental impact reduction, making data centres catalysts for positive change.
Despite climate change and sustainability taking centre stage in recent years, a study by Paessler reveals that only 37% of companies globally have started to work on sustainable IT strategies. Whilst this is a positive step, data stored in data centres can face environmental and security issues without real‑time monitoring and analysis. For instance, about 50%of the energy on the OT level in data centres is used for IT cooling. The use of the right cooling technology can reduce energy consumption by a third but this can only be measured through monitoring.
Paessler research also indicates that cloud adoption remains slow, with only 19% of global storage infrastructure in the cloud. However, this is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. Given the scrutiny data centres face regarding their environmental impact, regular regulation of energy efficiency is essential. Monitoring and controlling temperatures are crucial for optimal equipment performance and reducing unnecessary energy consumption.
Servers and computers generate heat which can have adverse effects, from potential breakdowns to increased wear and tear on IT components. Excessive heat can significantly reduce the lifespan of machines and increase overall operational costs for large data centres. While air conditioning is a viable solution it comes with a substantial cost and the challenge of maintaining temperature uniformity across the facility to ensure maximum energy efficiency.
Energy supply and usage are critical concerns for data centres. Ensuring a constant and reliable power supply for both IT equipment and facility operations is paramount. Disruptions in power supply results in extensive downtimes, violations of Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and substantial expenses. To counter potential power interruptions, data centres often incorporate dual emergency systems such as uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and standby power systems (SPS).
To effectively monitor the environment, organisations need a tool that can collect data from IIoT sensors, OT systems, and traditional IT components using common protocols. This data can then be displayed in centralised system, simplifying problem identification and take corrective actions before disruptions occur.
Safeguarding computers and equipment alone is insufficient to make data centres resilient against physical and online risks. Integrating cybersecurity software and infrastructure is essential to prevent data breaches. Adopting a company‑wide 'zero trust' approach is among the effective strategies to limit data breaches, acknowledging that trust can be exploited and granting data on an individual basis.
As organisations increasingly recognise the importance of environmental awareness, the role of data centre monitoring in implementing sustainable practices take centre stage. However, navigating the complex data centre landscape can be overwhelming for managers especially when data is scattered among various teams and formats. To pursue sustainable practices effectively, companies should consider solutions that ensure uninterrupted operations and shield data centres from digital threats. By channelling all monitored data into a centralised system, IT and facility managers can focus on broader business objectives. Through real‑time monitoring, energy efficiency measures, and robust security protocols, data centres can lead the way towards a greener and more sustainable digital future.
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