The field of data and technology is constantly evolving and changing our way of life. Already, a new phase of technological innovation like AI (artificial intelligence) and ML (machine learning) has arrived, bringing with it, new applications which have transformed the way we do a large number of activities. That is why adaptability becomes so important for meeting future data center demands in the changing landscape of technological innovation.

The technological changes and innovations that have already taken place and are affecting our lives include IoT (Internet of Things), AI (Artificial Intelligence), 4K quality videos, cloud services and the emergence of 5G network. In the presence of such advancements in the field, it is easy to predict that data operators will need to provide a larger data capacity as well as higher computer power for adapting with these changes and meet the unprecedented demands that are going to develop in the near future.

There is a large gap between the demand and supply of data in the industry. This calls for a redefining of how network operators have conventionally developed a system of designing and deploying networks and data centers.

Whooping Facts!

As per the research led by Gartner, by the year 2025, advances in the technological sphere such as different types of SDx (Software-Defined Systems), HCI (Hyper-Converged Infrastructure), new types of batteries, and of course 5g network will lead to the rapid increase in the number of data centres, so much so that they will increase fourfold. In addition to this, by 2025, the computational capacity of enterprise data centers per geographical area will also increase by five times.

Therefore data network operators are subject to a huge pressure for constructing and developing such data centers that will be able to adapt to the increasing demands for data at an unprecedented scale globally. Future data centers will need to be able to deal with and manage the increased bandwidth and connectivity demands brought about by the new technologies. As a result, operators are required to focus on investing in technology that will advance and grow with the changing scenario.

Changes are required for being prepared for the future

With the swift and continuous advancement of technologies, it becomes very important to make low-latency storage and computing available. Low latency means faster applications. This should be the primary focus of the operators’ when they design their operations for keeping up with changing demands. A data center operator incurs huge costs during the downtime of the center (when it is not operating), therefore, care should also be taken to engage a fiber management system properly so that everyday operations become smooth and continuous.

According to studies, based on the demands for data at the current rate, upgradation of hyper-scale data centers is anticipated to take place biennially (every 2 years) for keeping up with the increasing storage and bandwidth demands.

It is obvious that a complete remodeling of the system for the upgradation of a data center every two years will require the operator to incur an enormous cost in terms of capital as well as time. To avoid that in the future, as of now, operators must do everything possible for investing in adaptable technology that will keep their investments safe in the future.

The changes that are taking place to future-proof the data center infrastructure begins with simplification. Earlier, data center infrastructures used to be majorly complex or proprietary systems, which are now evolving into systems standardized based on COTS (Commercial Off-the-Shelf) infrastructures, which are predictable and repeatable. Initiatives are being taken for standardization, consolidation, and rationalization, and for that, resources are being rapidly adopted such as new innovations and advancements with hyper-convergence systems, software-defined and composable infrastructures.

The future of data centers critically require cabling

It is very important to reduce downtime or non-operative hours in data centers. For this, efficient fiber management solutions are highly important for clearly and concisely organizing the cable fiber network, which not only reduces downtime but also lessens the risk of damage.

Inaccessible data simply means massive costs suffered by the operator, hence it is essential to remove or reduce downtime as far as possible. Also, hyper-scale data centers contain hundreds of servers; therefore it is extremely important to ensure that no errors are made while moving, adding or changing (MACs) fiber network and connectivity.

Fiber cabling is complex, and errors in fiber management can be extremely difficult to handle, therefore flexible and comprehensive fiber management systems which can be managed easily and efficiently need to be deployed. Since the aim is to attain the maximum protection and ease, it is suggested that operators install fiber optics systems in the MMR (Meet-Me-Room) or the MDA (Main Distribution Area) – high-density area having a clear point of demarcation. Dense cross-connect fiber management system should be selected. Since all the connections will be in one location, there will be less chance of someone interacting with the active fiber equipment in the data center, therefore less likelihood of error.

Fiber management systems which have interchangeable modules (which are easily installable, exchangeable, and removable) is the best choice to keep up with the increasing connectivity and bandwidth demands. Modular LISA Double Access solution by Huber+Suhner is a prime example.

Modular fiber management systems make the cabling very flexible as they can be installed in various positions (against walls/ end of a row/back-to-back in a row) so that it can be implemented both in the Main Distribution Area as well as the Horizontal Distribution Area.

Datacenter operators need to utilize every option available to maintain flexibility for the increasing demands of the future, such as the modular pay-as-you-grow fiber management system.

Data centers should remain prepared for the unknown

Staying prepared for the unknown changes that might come up is always crucial. In the last few decades, traditional data centers that have evolved conservatively are now suffering disruption due to new advancements like cloud computing, advances in hosting services, AI, evolution in power, telecommunications, software, hardware, and so on. The rapid evolution of data centers to keep up with the rapid changes in the field of innovation and advancement is tremendously significant.

It is predicted that pressure on data centers will only increase further, hence data center operators need to make use of the systems which will enable them to keep up with the changes, such as employing simplistic high-density fiber management systems which enable easy handling of designs and distinctly indicate incoming-outgoing connectivity.

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