Data Centers - We Can’t Live Without Them

In today’s high-tech world of information and technology it would be impossible for most of us to function in our day to day lives without some form of information interaction  that is digitally transmitted and stored in any number of locations.  Data centers are an integral part of virtually every business these days as they rely heavily on massive amounts of data being stored and made available for daily business functions.   From emails to on-line banking or accessing a form from the workplace network to operating a telecommunications center, virtually everything we do or use today somehow interacts with digital data being transmitted, stored and made secure in a data center.

However, data centers are much more than just a place to store data; this is just one of the many components that make up a data center.  Data centers are run by computer systems that make the data they store useful to whom or whatever has access to the data.  These systems can be quite immense depending on the size of the business or corporation.  The various ways in which the data is being accessed and used dictates what type of infrastructure is put in place to move, save and protected the stored data.  There are the data storage systems themselves that typically are paired to ensure storage redundancy and then you must have the hardware and software in place that makes data connectivity possible.  Telecommunications of course is necessary for the transmittal of data and each data center typically has a primary and back-up power distribution system for ensured reliability.  These are the main components that make up a typical data center.

Data centers play such an important role in our everyday lives that extreme measures are taken to protect the stored data.  Aside from routine back-ups and virus protection software, data centers are also commonly protected by both electronic data security and physical security systems as well.  Fire suppression and environmental control systems are also a vital part of most large data centers.

For a typical example of how a data center interacts with our everyday lives, let us take a quick trip to the electronics super store.  Suppose you are unable to find an advertised sale item you wish to purchase.  You flag down one of the store’s sales associate who punches in the information on your item into one of their sales terminals.  The information is then transmitted to the stores corporate data center where an inventory check locates your item at a store 55 miles away.  With a swipe of your credit card, the electronic wheels are set in motion.  Through applications, that are part of the data center, your credit card information and sales amount is transmitted to your bank for approval and then back with confirmation of payment.  Another application, that is also part of the data center, then electronically removes your item from the store’s inventory, tags it for re-order and transfers the item to the inventory of the store that you made the purchase from.  Last, through yet another application that is part of the data center, the item is electronically marked to be shipped on the next truck heading to the store of purchase.  All of this takes place within seconds from the sales associate hitting the ‘enter’ key.  A few days later, you receive an email and a text message, through yet another application that is part of the data center, alerting you that your item has arrived and is ready for pick up.