The term “data center” describes a purpose-built facility capable of housing larger computer systems, data storage, network systems, and other adjunct systems. Data centers provide a secure environment with significant electrical powering and cooling. Data centers are built in all shapes, sizes, and capabilities. The Uptime Institute has developed a tiered rating system to describe data center capabilities, with ratings of one through four (with four being the most robust and expensive).
In today’s economy, most enterprises are rethinking plans to build or expand private data centers and are instead considering the use of third-party collocation data centers for their critical IT systems. Many industries, such as healthcare, are experiencing dramatic growth in their need for easily available data storage systems, along with the concentrated power and secure space to operate these systems.
Advocate Networks has broad experience assessing, planning, sourcing, building, and operating data centers and collocation services. This experience includes assisting clients in the consolidation of large data center systems for the purposes of improved service and reduced cost, as well as sourcing new collocation services while reducing costs through competitive procurement.