Track to simplify the work of data center administrators
By opting for global monitoring, administrators can ensure trouble-free data center operations and respond to alerts faster, before it’s too late.
What gives life to a business? For IT administrators, the answer is clear: the server room or data center is often considered the heart of the business. In fact, it is where all of the company’s IT infrastructure and networks are managed. Hence the importance of steps to be taken to protect and continuously monitor the data center. In the event of a breakdown or malfunction, the entire operation may, in the worst case, be completely paralyzed.
Convinced that such failures can be avoided thanks to global monitoring, many companies have already adopted a 24/7 approach in this direction by relying on appropriate tools. They can monitor the status of devices such as servers, switches, computers and routers. In addition, an alarm is automatically triggered if the threshold values defined by the company itself are exceeded. But the data center is often doubly threatened: Trojan horses, viruses and other cyber threats are not the only risks that can cause significant damage. Environmental factors can also negatively affect infrastructure. Like doctors faced with an unknown disease, IT administrators spend a lot of time trying to find the underlying symptoms.
Damage due to environmental influences
Data centers are not only exposed to risks from networks. The environment also represents an underestimated risk. In some cases, even small changes in the air – such as temperature or humidity – can negatively affect the reliability, performance, and lifespan of computer components. Thus, too high a level of humidity can create condensation inside a server and lead to short circuits or corrosion. Temperatures that are too high cause processors to slow down or servers to shut down for security reasons. With the monitoring tool, the sensors can be used to measure the temperature of the room, for example, and the results can be compiled in a central dashboard. At a glance, system administrators can see if the increase in server CPU temperature is related to a short-term increase in computing load or if room temperature is responsible. . Countermeasures can be taken faster, before other parts are affected. An overview of possible error sources greatly shortens troubleshooting and thus prevents more consequential damage.
Look at the dangers in the face
Infrastructure and IT premises are often seen as separate worlds, under the responsibility of separate teams. This isolation often makes it difficult to have a unified view of the status of the entire data center. Having centralized monitoring makes it possible to identify, locate and resolve incidents or breakdowns affecting a specific service more quickly. State-of-the-art physical monitoring tools and hardware security can help access control, power supply and distribution, and air conditioning around the clock. Hacker attack: environmental sensors can also be integrated into the monitoring to record all important environmental and environmental parameters: temperature, relative humidity, dew point, carbon monoxide as well as movement and vibration. Various sensors immediately detect anomalies or deviations from predetermined limit values and immediately report them to the manager. IT administrators are also informed via e-mail, SMS or push notifications and thus can react immediately
24/7 monitoring – unrestricted
To ensure that a deployed solution effectively monitors the data center and supports business continuity, there are several key aspects that must be considered from the outset. So, in addition to having technical support, the fact of having permanent regular updates makes it possible to immediately respond to the smallest breakdown. A rights management system is also important to clearly define responsibilities. Clear dashboards and flexible reporting also help IT admins and management teams see results at a glance. With remote working on the rise, IT managers are turning to app-based solutions that allow them to monitor the data center and respond from anywhere. With all these elements, teams can not only optimize the data center and its security, but also make better use of existing resources to keep their operating costs down.
Data Center First Aid
A data center is often the central point of a company where the IT infrastructure is often integrated. Therefore, it is important to protect it from risks related to cyberattacks, environmental factors or unauthorized people. A global monitoring solution, capable of integrating both equipment and applications, ensures flawless operation of the data center. The interfaces allow the status of the associated device to be queried as well as environmental factors, safety factors or technical functions. Thus, the IT administrator can monitor almost all areas of his data center around the clock. use of resources, and to react immediately in the event of an alert or problem, before it is too late.
