How Protecting Data Centres Adds to Business Profitability
Published on : Tuesday 20-09-2022
In order to protect the data equipment and servers from falling prey to contamination, companies must keep preventive measures in place beforehand, says Dr Vijay Chaudhry.
In recent years Data Centres have become an imminent part of the work model with the businesses undergoing significant digital transformation. Organisations are adding to their resiliency by resorting to the Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, and the new age technologies aimed at enhancing the efficiency of work. As a result, companies are investing heavily on Big Data and Data Analytics for ensuring efficient data management.
Gradually, data centres have become an essential part of the operational structure for enabling computation, data storage, and networking along with various business applications. Data centres provide a network of servers to enable storage, retrieving, analysis, processing, and delivery of data and results across the organisation. From big conglomerates to medium enterprises and even start-ups are flocking to data centres for securely storing sensitive information by availing the benefits of cloud-based services. Rising to prominence as a critical service for business proliferation, large data centres have become a part of the mission-critical category for their communication application across a wide range of industries like banking, telecom, large firms, consultancies, etc., to name a few.
But along with the large gamut of advantages, data centres come with serious unrecognisable threats. They require constant manual vigilance for protection against data damage, corruption, and loss. The deteriorating air quality inside the data centre is responsible for the downturn of the business. The atmospheric particulates like smoke and dust suspended in the air are the major cause of Airborne Molecular Contamination (AMC). Additionally, vapours of compounds like sulphur, oxides of nitrogen, chlorine, ammonia, etc., initiate chemical contamination that further adds to the Airborne Molecular Contamination. The intensity of threat increases phenomenally in the miniaturised electronics that promotes micro corrosion/e-corrosion which increases the downtime of the machine. High relative humidity together with the gases corrode the electronic circuits that interrupt the operation, reliability, and longevity of sensitive electronic process control equipment in industrial control rooms, as well as data centres.
The corrosion in data centres can be majorly attributed to the harmful environment resulting from infiltration of outdoor particulates and gaseous contaminants. The problem is further amplified if the facility is situated near landfill sites, sewerage/drains, high-density traffic, process industries, etc. The pollutants continuously discharge highly corrosive gases like SO2, H2S, NO2, etc., that easily enter the server rooms, data centres/control rooms, switchgear rooms, process control and signalling/switching rooms. In case the contaminants come in contact with high humidity it leads to micro-electronic corrosion and equipment malfunction which is responsible for downtime losses.
The corrosive effect results in the loss of all the important data and information. This can cost the company their fortune as corrosion highly disrupts the prospects of the mission-critical facility and disturbs their revenue model along with the profitability. Cumulatively, it levies a huge amount on the business to recover. Compounding the already existing problems, the additional expenses incurred in the form of maintenance, costly repair, and unplanned downtime leads to a decrease in the efficiency of the processes. Recently, even the OEMs have denied offering annual maintenance contracts for expensive cards in case the company fails to meet the environmental conditions as per the prescribed limits.
In order to protect the data equipment and servers from falling prey to contamination, companies must keep preventive measures in place beforehand. Deploying Data Centre Air Purifiers (DAP), and advanced Gas Phase Filtration systems plays an imperative role in checking the damaging effect of humidity. The contaminant-laden air stream passes through the gas adsorbent impregnated with neutralising chemicals placed in a properly designed housing. This way the damage to the micro circuitry of PCBs is inhibited by filtering out corrosive gases. To protect the Data Centres thoroughly, dehumidifiers must also be installed to maintain the humidity at optimum levels and prevent the condensation of equipment.
In this, media testing forms an essential part of the process to curb corrosion in data centres. It has corrosion coupons to detect the influx of gases and identify if there is corrosion in the server room. Along with this, ACM – Atmospheric Corrosivity Monitor – helps in identifying the corrosive gases and also gives a clear idea of the percentage in which they are available. It categorises the corrosivity level into G1, G2, G3, G4, etc., on the basis of the criticality of the gases. India is well-equipped for media testing and lab services where leading players like Bry-Air help in controlling the corrosion menace with its ability to conduct predictive maintenance.
Looking at the rising importance of data centres it is only sensible that businesses pay attention to the underlying threats surrounding the Datacom equipment and servers. They must invest heavily on technologies to protect the data centres.
References
1. https://www.bryair.com/industries-applications/applications-of-gas-phase-filtration-system/corrosion-prevention/data-centre-corrosion-control/
2. https://www.bryair.com/products-solutions/gas-phase-filtration-systems/data-center-air-purifier-dap-series/
Dr Vijay Chaudhry, President, International Business & Gas Phase Filtration business division of Bry-Air (Asia), has over 28 years of comprehensive experience in managing the entire business value chain including balance sheet and P&L management. His area of specialisation is in the field of Industrial Air & Gas Pollution Control (APC) and Purification Systems. He has held various key positions and roles for implementation of growth strategies and building businesses on a sustainable basis.
At Bry-Air, he leads the entire International business including wholly owned subsidiaries in China, Brazil, Malaysia, Nigeria and direct export of the company. He is responsible for increasing footprint in overseas markets and sustainable growth of top and bottom line. He is also instrumental in growing the gas phase filtration business across segments like data centres, petroleum and oil refineries, pulp and paper, server rooms, telecom, media broadcasting, etc. Dr Chaudhry is a Mechanical Engineer with an Advance Diploma in Marketing from All India Management Association, Delhi. He has also been honoured with Doctorate Degree in “Excellence in Management Practices” by Young Scientist University, USA.
