Sunday, 11 June 2017 Blog ehdf

Data Center Outages, Vol. 1: Power

On the 30th of January this year, Delta Airlines cancelled a total of 270 flights in the US, due to an IT outage. This was the second instance in about six months that such an incident had affected the airlines’ services. In the August of 2016, the airline had to cancel about 200 flights resulting in a loss estimated at $150 Million – the most recent losses and their implication is still being calculated. It’s obvious to anyone that cares to see, that the effects of a Data Center Outage can severely affect a modern business. Data Center Companies in the UAE are just as critical a link in the chain and, any disruption in their services, just as likely to leave a hefty price to pay. While the upside of the services provided by Data Centers is recalibrating the way businesses function, the possible downside can be just as disruptive – albeit in a negative light. Data Centers in Dubai have introduced a more effective and efficient way of running an enterprise.

The strategy has been adopted by enterprises ahead of the curve so enthusiastically, that one can only predict a widespread adoption in the near future. The success of the strategy does, however, bring into sharp focus the damage that a Data Center outage can cause. Power outages can disrupt Data Center services like little else can. Fortunately, however, they are a risk that can be anticipated and mitigated to the best extent possible.

As in any other geographical market, Data Centers in the UAE are a possible vulnerability in the ecosystem that sustains a business. Any disruption in such services comes with the possibility of a loss or productive business hours, reputation, clients and, of course, revenue. Disruption due to a power outage also comes with the additional risk of a loss of Data and Hardware, which can unleash a further secondary wave of losses. A further layer of uncertainty is added by the various factors – ranging from natural disasters and accidents to infrastructure failure – that can result in such a disruption.

Naturally, such vulnerabilities are not restricted to the external Data Center strategy. They remain an ever present danger in a model relying on an internal Data Center as well. In fact, this vulnerability is an additional reason for the preference of an external Colocation Data Center. Numerous Data Center companies in Dubai and UAE, already provide best in class services that include elaborate and effective redundancy in their ability to power their Data Centers – from dual power feeds to off grid back up that allows a period for which critical services can operate in the case of a catastrophic breakdown due to externalities. Such back up and redundancy can be extremely cost prohibitive for the vast majority of businesses. This is where a Colocation Data Center provides a solution that addresses the issue affordably and effectively.

We live in a world that is increasingly integrated and in which geographical location no longer restricts the business partnerships and relationships of an enterprise. Dubai and the UAE, as a business center of repute and significance has several businesses that need network and IT infrastructure availability to remain compatible with time zones and locations of all descriptions and specifics. This places an additional emphasis on the 24/7/365 availability of Data Center services. Data Centers in Dubai have proactively sought to provide services that address these demands. Businesses in the Middle East should take advantage of services that guarantee solutions that avoid foreseeable vulnerabilities such as power outages that cause Data Center disruptions. As the example of United Airlines illustrates, even high flyers can be brought down to earth when critical systems experience disruption.