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Data Center Downtime

Understanding the Consequences of Data Center Downtime

A study by Ponemon in 2016 revealed that the typical financial impact of an unplanned data center outage is $9,000 per minute, with maximum costs soaring to $2,409,991. However, the repercussions of an outage extend beyond budgetary constraints. These events can lead to data loss, equipment damage, reduced productivity, and diminished brand reputation.

To effectively counteract these challenges, consider implementing these six strategic measures to enhance availability and minimize downtime risks.

Reasons Behind Data Center Downtime

Data centers are expected to deliver high reliability. Despite this, several common causes of downtime have been identified in the Ponemon study, posing threats to service availability.

  • Failure of UPS Systems – responsible for 25% of downtime events.
  • Human Error and Cyber Threats – contributing to 22% of incidents.
  • Additional Causes: Failures due to water, excessive heat or CRAC, and weather-related disruptions.

Despite the inevitability of internal and external threats, adopting a proactive strategy can offer competitive advantages and minimize these risks.

Strategies to Prevent Downtime in Your Data Center

Evaluating your IT infrastructure and strategizing for future needs can reduce common downtime occurrences.

  • Battery Monitoring: A single failing cell can jeopardize the entire backup power system. By utilizing a comprehensive battery maintenance program, you can spot system anomalies and track battery lifecycle, allowing for informed decisions. Consider leveraging monitoring software like Vertiv’s Data Center Planner to preemptively address battery issues. This tool provides up-to-date data on devices, equipment locales, capacities, and power usage, enabling confident system changes without risking availability.
  • Adopt Lithium-Ion Batteries: Designed for UPS applications, lithium-ion batteries are compact, lightweight, and durable compared to traditional VRLA batteries, all while delivering essential power for critical tasks. These batteries require minimal maintenance and have reduced space and cooling demands, leading to decreased operational costs. For further details, visit our blog on lithium-ion batteries.
  • Thermal Management: Matching cooling systems with load requirements is crucial for uptime. Optimize your cooling infrastructure with Vertiv’s Liebert iCOM-S Thermal System Supervisory Control. This solution offers swift data access and diagnostics while enabling centralized management of cooling systems.
  • Regular Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance and keeping the data center clean is vital for infrastructure protection. Addressing environmental factors like moisture and humidity can prevent component corrosion and power failures. Regularly identifying repair and upgrade needs can prolong infrastructure lifespan and boost efficiency.
  • Comprehensive Staff Training: Given that human error is a significant downtime contributor, continuous training and communication are critical. Regularly updating policies and procedures ensures everyone is aware of potential threats and response strategies. Practicing these protocols equips teams to promptly handle issues.
  • Frequent Assessments: To achieve optimal availability and productivity, consider our data center performance optimization and assessment services. We offer a range of services designed to identify vulnerabilities and develop a plan tailored to your needs and budget.

Collaborate With Us

As a trusted Vertiv partner, our commitment is to help you reach your objectives. Reach out today to discover our data center solutions for minimizing downtime and enhancing availability. Call us at 469.467.4000.

FAQs About Data Center Downtime

  • What is the average cost of data center downtime?
    The average cost of an unplanned data center outage is estimated to be $9,000 per minute, according to a 2016 Ponemon study.
  • What common factors lead to data center downtime?
    UPS system failures, human errors, and cyber threats are among the leading causes, with others being environmental factors like water, heat, CRAC failures, and weather incidents.
  • How can battery management reduce downtime?
    Implementing a battery maintenance program and using monitoring software can detect issues early, ensuring backup systems remain operational.
  • Why should lithium-ion batteries be considered for UPS systems?
    Lithium-ion batteries are more compact, durable, and efficient than traditional batteries, reducing space and cooling requirements and lowering operational costs.
  • How does thermal management affect data center availability?
    Proper cooling that aligns with load demand is essential for uptime, and using integrated systems like Vertiv’s Liebert iCOM-S can optimize and centralize cooling management.
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