A data center is a physical or virtual facility used to house the critical technological infrastructure of companies and organizations, including servers, storage devices, networks, and related equipment. Data centers are essential for running the applications and services organizations need, such as website hosting, databases, business applications, and data storage.
Main components of a data center include:
- Servers: Computers that run applications and store data.
- Storage Systems: Such as network-attached storage (NAS) or direct-attached storage (DAS) systems that hold data.
- Networking Equipment: Devices like routers and switches that manage traffic in and out of the center.
- Power Supply: Including uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems and generators to ensure the center remains operational during power outages.
- Cooling Systems: To maintain an optimal temperature for servers and other equipment.
- Security: Both physical and digital measures to protect data and equipment, such as surveillance cameras, card-based access systems, and digital firewalls.
Data centers can be on-premise, where they are operated and managed within the company’s facilities, or hosted by a cloud service provider like AWS or Google Cloud, where the infrastructure is fully managed by the provider.
