The Future of Data Centres: Trends to Follow in 2024
In today's world, the spread of digitalization into every aspect of life has made it essential to store and protect data securely. Therefore, companies need data centres to store and manage their and customers' private data. On the other hand, the efficient operation of data centres, advancements in artificial intelligence, environmental sustainability, and the goal of zero carbon emissions are influencing companies' actions regarding investment in data centres. Investing in data centres in 2024 while considering the topics we will examine below can directly impact the efficiency of data centres in the long term.
Large (Hyper) Scale Data Centres
With the increasing amount of information, globalization, and advancing technology, the need to store emerging data has become necessary. This necessity has brought about the demand for data centres. Additionally, storage, preservation, and uninterrupted transfer of the data have become important. Over time, companies have started to need hyper-scale data centres to handle such a large data flow. So, why should hyper-scale data centres be considered one of the future trends in data centres?
Efficient and high-capacity hyper-scale data centre facilities use high-density racks to maximize server capacity. Instead of sending too much data to a single server and causing it to overheat, they provide a more efficient working environment by distributing the data flow across many servers. It also reduces cooling costs, providing financial advantages to companies. Moreover, large-scale data centres can easily perform recovery and backup operations with their powerful virtual network systems.
In large-scale data centres, the environmental impact is reduced, and sustainability principles are adhered to because existing data centre tools are also recycled to use in the constructed new data centres. Lastly, since large-scale data centres can be scaled horizontally and vertically, their lifespan is extended.
Artificial Intelligence Developments and Their Impact on Data Centres
Data centres are versatile facilities used not only for data transmission but also for data storage, computing and communication. The increasing use of chat tools such as ChatGPT, cryptocurrencies, etc. is causing data centres to use more energy, thus leading to the development of data centres in terms of scale, number and quality. Thanks to the developments in artificial intelligence, the need for manual operation of these complex structures is reduced. In recent years, data centres, which are designed integrated with artificial intelligence, control air flows through machine learning, and provide cost savings by optimizing cooling of the environment and energy expenditures.
The benefits of artificial intelligence integration for data centres are not limited to energy and cost savings. Network traffic management, data security and infrastructure processes are as important as the smooth operation of data centres. AI-based network management algorithms facilitate big data analysis, ensuring uninterrupted data transfer, and AI security tools can prevent cyber-attacks on data centres. In operational processes, artificial intelligence is also used in the monitoring and maintenance of physical structures and systems in data centres and automation processes, and in detecting and responding to problems in advance.
How Does Edge Computing Affect Data Centres?
In recent years, the development of mobile devices, spreading smart systems, and IoT devices has not only increased the flow and usage of data but also made data processing more complex. Data centres that aim to process such massive data flows and provide uninterrupted operations benefit from edge computing technology. So, how does edge computing affect the operating principles of data centres?
Edge computing allows data to be moved to the place where it is produced or used rather than being processed by a central system. This way, data centre operations are impacted by bandwidth adjustments, data processing times, and latency.
• Bandwidth: By processing the dense data produced by IoT devices at the local level through edge computing, network traffic congestion is reduced.
• Reduced Latency: Since data processing time is significantly shortened through local processing, data is transferred end-to-end more quickly.
• Increased Security: With hybrid cloud solutions, data processed locally rather than at a central location has a shorter transmission path. Consequently, it is less exposed to threats during transmission.
Edge computing provides significant advantages to companies with user profiles in different regions and countries. It helps with local cloud services and provides immediate intervention for malfunctioning data centre devices, which benefits regions far from the main data centre by facilitating the establishment of data centres.
How Should Data Centre Construction Processes Be According to Emerging Trends?
Data centres are the heart of today's digital world. The design and construction of these centres are constantly being renewed to keep pace with ever-changing technological developments and increasing data volumes.
Data centre construction processes are critical in today's digital world and many strategic parameters must be considered. Factors such as security, energy consumption and data transfer play a decisive role in the location selection of data centres. In this process, the areas where the data centre will be built should have geographical diversity. Energy efficiency is a critical factor in both environmental sustainability and reducing operating costs. Making environmentally friendly choices not only diminishes operating costs but also minimizes environmental impact.
Long-term sustainability and durability should be targeted in the construction process of data centre projects. After the completion of the projects, the structures must be resistant to all kinds of disasters, especially earthquakes, without water leakage for at least 20 years. To achieve these goals, every production must be thoroughly controlled in terms of QA/QC (Quality Assurance and Quality Control) and these parameters must be implemented. For construction processes to proceed without errors, all electromechanical and architectural systems need to be modelled by data centre standards.
Other important points to be considered in data centre construction processes are as follows:
• Cooling Systems: Cooling systems, one of the largest energy consumers of data centres, should be designed with high-efficiency and low-cost solutions.
• Power Infrastructure: A reliable power infrastructure such as uninterruptible power supply (UPS), generators and redundant power systems should be established.
• Maintenance and Management: The infrastructure and software systems should be in place to effectively manage and maintain the data centre throughout its lifecycle.
Impact of Sustainability and Greenhouse Gas Emissions on Energy Use of Data Centres
The United Nations' net-zero commitment to prevent a 1.5-degree Celsius rise in global temperatures directly impacts the energy usage policies of data centres. The Global Cooling Pledge announced at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference aims to reduce emissions from cooling systems by 68% by 2050. To achieve this goal, strategies are being implemented to enhance the efficiency of cooling systems. Companies might choose geographically cooler regions and hyper-scale data centres to minimize cooling needs. By employing green technologies or microgrid methods, companies can enhance their energy self-sufficiency and reduce their energy consumption.
In Türkiye, the number and capacity of data centres are increasing daily due to global trends. In this context, Serban, continuing its operations, offers uninterrupted service with its EPC+ service approach, providing flexible and scalable end-to-end solutions for data centres.