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By Alberto Jessurun / October 27, 2021 / Blog

7 Ways Data Centers Are Fighting the Cloud

How can data centers stay relevant in the age of cloud computing?

Key Takeaways
  • Data centers became critical to business continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • As businesses move to the public cloud for data storage, data centers have to fight to stay relevant
  • Many data centers are focusing on the data center as a service (aaS) model
  • Some are embracing new data-centric server architecture over computer-centric architecture
  • Data centers are relying on servers that improve data curation and usability
  • Others are turning to servers that can automate tasks and decision-making processes
During the COVID-19 pandemic, technology allowed commerce to continue as businesses shut their doors and workers set up remote offices. Data centers, in particular, played a significant role during this global crisis, and as remote work and digital finance become the new normal, data centers will continue to play a pivotal role. 

Although their services are in high demand, data centers must work hard to attract and retain customers in this competitive environment. For example, data center infrastructure providers must embrace innovation and provide high-quality services to convince consumers to choose their services over public cloud providers. On-premises data centers, similarly, need to ensure they meet the IT needs of their organizations without driving up costs too much.

If you run an on-premises or third-party data center, or if you are thinking about outsourcing some of your storage and server needs to a data center, you should understand these businesses' practices. To give you some insight, this guide looks at seven trends in the data center industry right now. 

1. Data center as a service

The as-a-service (aaS) model of pricing is not new to data centers — public cloud providers have been offering consumption-based cloud IT for years. But to regain market share from these businesses, traditional data centers focused on infrastructure are also moving to the as-a-service model.

These data centers are focusing on offering a better experience in relation to cost, control, and usability compared to public cloud providers. They are also providing customers with transparent pricing models designed to beat the hidden costs built into public cloud storage. 

The as-a-service model helps meet the demands of businesses with tight budgets and limited skill sets. The businesses get predictable, upfront pricing plus access to the data security and IT expertise of the data center's employees. 

2. Verticalization and specialization

To be more competitive, data centers and server manufacturers are specializing. For example, some server manufacturers are specializing in software ecosystem enablement or domain-specific accelerators that meet the very specific performance and feature requirements of their customers. 

In that same vein, data centers are increasingly focusing on colocation or hybrid services to meet the needs of clients who don't want to migrate to the cloud. 

3. Improved data management

Data centers have to deal with countless data points, and while collecting data is easy, using it in an effective way that drives business performance can be very challenging. To provide their customers with a higher level of service, data centers are finding ways to improve data curation, transportation, preservation, and storage methods.

In particular, they are investing in server architecture with faster analysis capabilities that leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to address data volume and life cycle challenges.  

4. Addressing the emergence of "self-driving" servers

Both on-premises and third-party data centers are experiencing the emergence of "self-driving" servers. Increased levels of automation in systems management infrastructure is poised to automate tasks but also decision making. As these technologies continue to become more prevalent, data centers will continue to leverage these abilities to improve workflows for their clients. 

At the same time, data centers are also developing policies and processes to address the potential of runaway system power and policy recommendation engines. 

5. Control and data plane separation

Control plane and data plane separation is being created through the evolution of server application architecture. With this shift, the control plane will be part of the software layer, while the data plane will become part of the programmable hardware in the form of service processor add-in cards. 

Add-in cards will let disaggregate infrastructure software such as network or storage visualization run bare-metal and containerized applications. This opens the door for intent-based computing that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate administrative or other tasks in ways the reduce customer workloads. 

In other words, data centers aren't just offering storage capabilities like public cloud providers. They are improving the productivity and efficiency of their clients. 

6. Shift from computer-centric to data-centric architecture

In line with the other industry shifts explained above, the servers used in data centers are moving from computer-centric to data-centric architectures. This change is forcing the industry to adopt new memory and storage models with its servers. 

Data centers are investing in servers that have persistent, encrypted, and tiered memory capabilities inside the server. At the same time, the demand for safe remote accessibility is driving data centers to integrate Server Class Memory (SCM) or Non-Volatile Memory Express (NCMe) to optimize data security.  

7. Adopting new server technologies to support remote workers

Companies dealing with a remote workforce need to adopt technology that allows their remote teams to access their tools and infrastructure without disrupting the security of the organization's network. This change in business practices is forcing companies to evaluate their existing technology and invest in new resources that support their remote workforce. In particular, they need servers that can debug themselves and provide telemetry and analytics in a way that preserves business continuity. 

Choosing the right servers for your data center can be challenging. To ensure you make a future-proof decision that is not likely to be affected by the rise in cloud computing, you should work with an expert. A technology partner can steer you toward the best servers for your needs. 

Contact Unisol International to talk about servers and more today. 

At Unisol International, we help businesses in a variety of industries select, quote, and even set up and implement the technology they need to be successful. Whether you have an on-premises data center or standalone data center that meets the data needs of multiple clients, we can help you find the servers and other technology you need to stay relevant and competitive as the world shifts to the cloud. To learn more, contact us today.

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