< Previousthese can place considerable strain on racks, dedicated HD racks will also be sought after. In dense racks, cables are more difficult to handle, boosting demand for prefabricated/pre-terminated cable systems and installation cables, which reduce handling and installation time and guarantee functionality. More connectivity push-pull variants are coming onto the market, making connection easier and reducing risk. Demand for innovative fibre connector types will also continue. Preconfigured cabinets fitted with power, cooling, security and connectivity that allow infrastructure elements to communicate offer a neat solution for many applications. Different types of racks - edge, telco cabinet, core, spine, network cabinet - have very different needs. Data centres require ever-greater freedom to choose between End of Row (EoR), Middle of Row (MoR), and Top of Rack (ToR) connections in order to optimise performance and design flexibility, while realising significant savings. Asset management: Vital at every level Data centres that house hundreds of thousands of fibre optic connections in sensitive operating environments and that have to respond to new market requirements on a permanent basis can no longer be managed in the traditional way. As DCs grow more complex, provide more functions and demand greater flexibility, up-to-date, accurate knowledge of available infrastructure is a must. Dynamic data centre environments increasingly require ongoing, precise and efficient asset management. For compliance purposes, the ability to demonstrate the lifecycle of DC assets, such as switches or servers, is also essential. For active equipment, monitoring is often well organised. However, on the passive side, this is far more challenging. Often, a lack of insight leads to prolonged repair procedures. Once you’ve implemented a system that helps you keep track of automation, workflow management, patching and so on, you can plan ahead more easily. The more you automate, the easier, faster and more fault-tolerant your network becomes. If you can optimise MAC data centre trends www.networkseuropemagazine.com 20processes and records, you can improve availability, uptime and Time to Capability, speed up repairs and expand in a modular way. Installation managers need to be absolutely sure each port is connected exactly how they think it is to prevent security issues. DCIM and inventory management are vital to ensuring this. Automated workflow can also guide technical staff through processes and make MACs easier. LAN As more Wireless Access Points and devices (with IP addresses) are introduced in line with the growth of WiFi6, 5G, IoT, Smart Buildings and Cities, Industry 4.0, and more, the need for Power over Ethernet (PoE) or Power over Digital Line (PoDL) is growing. Not only is the number of devices growing – higher levels of power are being demanded for everything from computers to digital signage, today, PoE provides more than three times the level of power than the previous standard - and more than six times the level of the initial standard. To handle increased temperatures, cable type, bundle size, cable duct properties, link lengths and other factors must be considered. Planners and end-users will also need to consider the new Remote Power categories in the EN 50174 series of installation standards, which define the capability of an installation to support the different types of PoE. Individual channels that meet EN50173-1, using connectivity according to IEC 60512-99-2, will support the highest level of PoE (4PPoE with 90W). Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) is gaining ground in the building cabling market, opening the door to digital building management. Originally developed for the automotive industry, SPE cabling based on xBASE-T1 using a single twisted pair for data transmission is increasingly being adopted in manufacturing and building automation. SPE makes it easy to transform buildings into smart buildings, operate them automatically and extend building networks to the farthest corners. Analysts predict that the Global SPE market will grow considerably between 2021 and 2026. SPE is replacing traditional field bus connections, which (unlike SPE) do not penetrate all automation levels. ‘Environment-agnostic’ SPE makes it possible to integrate field devices, sensors and actuators into an existing Ethernet environment, without extra gateways and interfaces. SPE allows all areas of building automation to be integrated into a structured solution concept. Energy-conserving technologies and applications can be introduced, such as intelligent management of building space, resources and LED lighting. The ability to transmit up to 50W along with data and control signals (Power over Digital Line, or PoDL) makes SPE an ideal solution for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications. SPE can also be used in commercial monitoring applications, as well as hospitals, hotels, and malls, to enable advanced data & power solutions while taking up a minimum of space. Formerly disparate systems such as lighting, facility management and HVAC are increasingly sharing infrastructure with data and telecommunication, with IP as a common medium. ‘All IP’ networks make structured cabling less complex and make device implementation faster, more efficient and more flexible. Building management and devices communicate over Ethernet/Internet Protocol (Ethernet/IP) with the building LAN (Local Area Network) providing the physical communication layer and Power over Ethernet (PoE). No ‘translation’ is required between sensors, end devices, servers, cabling and operating systems and cost-effective devices can be used. Networks can be scaled up (or down) with relative ease, and devices can be added without affecting network performance or reliability. The ‘All-IP’ approach extends the data network and PoE through an entire building’s ceiling, making it possible to connect devices to building automation via zones with pre-installed overhead or underground connecting points. ‘Plug and Play’ connection of network switches, sensors, controls, WLAN access points and other distributed building services remove barriers and reduce costs. Devices are immediately powered and connected to the network. The ‘digital ceiling’ will increasingly provide services that building occupants and managers are going to need in the near future and for years to come, enhancing user experience while reducing energy usage, making maintenance and adding new devices faster and easier, lowering installation and device costs, increasing layout flexibility, and providing a more comfortable, healthier working environment. data centre trends www.networkseuropemagazine.com 21Designing data centres MSPs and IT service providers designing data centres www.networkseuropemagazine.com 22Amy Young Sales Director Custodian Data Centres Since the start of the pandemic, the Managed Service Provider (MSP) and IT Service Provider marketplace have radically changed. As the post-pandemic business landscape begins to take shape, it’s critical for MSPs and ISPs to choose the right data centre partner to support growth. tres for e providers As many businesses begin to re-draw their digital transformation roadmaps in the wake of Covid-19, today’s end-users are looking to evolve how they structure their IT services, and more critically, streamline whom they buy these services from. For the MSPs and ISPs responsible for such digital strategies, agile, resilient and secure data centre capacity is crucial – especially for those delivering disaster recovery, business continuity and cloud services. Here, the role of the data centre operator is, in many respects, simple but critical. Their primary requirement is to deliver power, cooling, connectivity and secure physical infrastructure to support MSP service delivery. Challenges in the face of digital transformation In recent years much has changed. MSPs and ISPs are faced with a host of challenges, including the need to keep pace with the speed of constant technological change. There’s also a highly competitive marketplace to contend with, where often vendors and other service providers, even those that a business is partnered with, designing data centres www.networkseuropemagazine.com 23can compete on the same tenders. Other challenges include the need for greater resilience of the IT facet and thereby increased levels of due diligence where customers will want to see their whitespace before signing contractual agreements. Finally, with accelerated digital transformation, there is a need to future proof while meeting strict SLAs regarding data, security and uptime. The role of the data centre operator has, therefore, become even more critical for MSPs and ISPs planning to scale and grow. And with more end-users now looking to their external suppliers as trusted advisors, in-house technical expertise, agile critical infrastructure and dynamic service have become key differentiators for those providers in the channel. Digital architectures are changing According to research from Accenture, over three-quarters (77%) of executives state that their technology architecture is becoming critical to the overall success of their organisation. One key area of growth for all MSPs is digital security, and research from Datto into the impact of Covid-19 found that 84% of MSPs report advanced endpoint security, data loss protection (79%) and password management policies (72%) as the most requested services by their customers. Having a partner that specialises in state-of-the-art physical infrastructure and security is vital for MSPs, and will likely form a major component of their services, especially those around zero trust approaches to data security. Research from Gartner also states that by 2025, 85% of infrastructure strategies will integrate on-premises, colocation, cloud and edge delivery options, compared with 20% in 2020. This dramatic shift in IT infrastructure is redefining how MSPs are delivering end-user services. Mission-critical IT, whether deployed on-premises, hosted in a colo, or indeed at the edge of the network is therefore paramount for end-user digital transformation. Now, as more MSPs and IT Service Providers are called upon to expand their service portfolios with capacity for AI, machine learning and edge infrastructure, all of which require integration with cloud services, the support of specialist colocation providers have become vital. But what are the considerations for choosing a colo? Key considerations for outsourcing As with any service provider, the cost is a key aspect of the decision-making process. MSPs cannot, however, put a price on reputation, so reliability, connectivity, security and efficiency are all important factors. Efficiency, especially in the form of power usage, can be critical, and the more energy efficient a data centre provider can be, the lower the total cost of ownership (TCO) for the user. A data centre provider with a lower PUE can provide a cost-effective and scalable platform to support MSP growth, something highly appealing where cost and consolidation are influential. Diverse connectivity and low latency are also determining factors, and MSPs will often seek out carrier-neutral colocation providers who have access to dark fibre rings, 100Gb wavelengths, and who can deliver enterprise-level connectivity solutions. Many end-users are moving towards hybrid IT environments with a mix of on-premise infrastructure and cloud, so real-time access to data and application availability are indeed business-critical. Size, in terms of scalability, alongside physical security and customer experience, are also crucial. Many MSPs are looking to partner with operators that have a demonstrable track record in supporting their key customer demographics. Further, with human error, designing data centres www.networkseuropemagazine.com 24network and power failures key causes of outages, there is also a need to meet strict compliance and regulatory standards and to provide policies for zero downtime. For any service provider, it pays to have a data centre partner who can consistently meet strict SLAs. Finally, speed of deployment and dynamic service is crucial. Any Managed Service or IT Service Provider will tell you that adding value, or having the ability to go the extra mile, can be the difference between a customer renewing their service agreement or migrating to another provider. The need for new partnerships As the business landscape continues to change, so have the ways in which data centres are looking to support the MSP and ISP communities. Cost predictability is always a key factor, but so too are the pressing needs to consider technical competence, alongside environmental factors - especially as sustainability moves to the top of the business agenda. In the wake of Covid-19, MSPs are looking to their data centre providers as trusted advisors and often, as an extension of their technical or sales teams. The right operator can help an MSP win business, answer complex technical questions, and instil confidence in the end- user at every stage of the journey. Further, transactional relationships have become a thing of the past and long-term collaboration has become a focal point of business discussions. As such, many MSPs are looking for providers that can support their growth across different geographical regions and can continue to do so in a low cost and environmentally sustainable way. Finally, trust and transparency are vital, especially in a channel where tenders are often taken in-house, and where partners can find out that they are competing on the same bids. In essence, by partnering with a data centre operator that focuses solely on colocation, and without its own services division, MSPs can avoid many of the complications associated with challenging tender processes, while developing mutually beneficial relationships that are designed to support long-term growth. designing data centres www.networkseuropemagazine.com 25Grid Strain: Secure Your Supply grid strain www.networkseuropemagazine.com 26With demand for data in Europe reaching an all- time high, data centres are now consuming more energy than ever before, placing a growing strain on the electrical grids of a number of European cities. In countries such as Ireland, this has led to the introduction of restrictions on data centre connections, leaving operators without a guaranteed energy supply. Billy Durie, Global Sector Head for Data Centres at Aggreko, discusses the importance of incorporating decentralised energy solutions on-site, both to secure current supply and future-proof against legislative changes. Of all the factors brought into sharper focus by the pandemic, our dependency on data is perhaps one of the most apparent. As workers across Europe shifted to remote working en masse and online streaming soared, access to data has been recognised as more of a necessity than ever. However, behind this demand is a very real physical consequence. Our ever-increasing appetite for data has led to heightened energy consumption from data centres, placing the electrical grids of a number of European cities under strain. While it would be unfair to suggest that lockdown is the sole cause of this strain, it has undoubtedly added fuel to the fire of an already- growing industry challenge. Moreover, with a recent CBRE report highlighting a 17% increase in colocation supply in the FLAP (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris) markets in 2021 compared to the year before, it is clear that this trend is showing no sign of slowing down. What Does This Mean? With grid capacity limited, data centre operators may find that their previously steadfast grid connection is increasingly unable to fulfil the requirements of peak time, in turn presenting a heightened risk of blackouts. With data centres expected to aim for 99.999% uptime – equivalent to just over five minutes outage a year – any operator can attest to the fact that even a minor outage can prove extremely damaging. Moreover, with data centres’ surging energy demands straining the entire grid, many nations are looking to introduce legislation that limits supply to these facilities to ease the load. For example, in Ireland, national supplier EirGrid has forecasted that data centres could account for as much as 25% of the country’s electrical demand by 2030. As such, section 4.2.4 of the organisation’s 2019 Connection Offer Process and Policy has specified that EirGrid will only provide “Firm Capacity” if the data centre will make available dispatchable on-site generation. Otherwise, the supply will be “Flexible Demand”, meaning that supply will be reduced when the grid is constrained. The situation in Ireland reached a boiling point at the end of 2021, with EirGrid stating that they would not be accepting any new applications for data centre connections in Dublin until 2028, effectively acting as a de-facto moratorium on data centre construction. Outside of the capital, connections will only be considered on a case-by-case basis. Here, Ireland may serve as a warning as to what legislative changes may follow in wider Europe, particularly the strained FLAP markets. Amsterdam has already imposed a temporary moratorium on data centre construction from 2019, with the province of Flevoland following in 2021, suggesting this may be the beginning of a growing trend. Securing Supply With the effects of a blackout and possible legislative changes considered, it is clear that a grid connection simply cannot be considered as reliable as it once was. For this reason, it may be sensible to consider integrating decentralised energy solutions on-site to bridge the energy gap. To protect against blackouts, data centre operators may find incorporating gensets in spinning reserves to be of benefit. Here, should the grid be unable to meet the power demands of the facility, frequency-responsive generators will begin to top up supply in as little as 10 seconds, allowing an outage to be avoided. Crucially, this approach also demonstrates the site’s ability to make available dispatchable on-site generation, enabling access to firm capacity as per EirGrid’s Connection Offer Process and Policy. Integrating contingency solutions not only allows operators to secure current supply but also to future- proof against any legislative shifts that may occur. With the FLAP market predicted to continue growing at record rates, it is a matter of when, not if, legislation surrounding data centre connections in these countries begins to tighten. For this reason, there has never been a greater need to incorporate decentralised energy solutions on site. Here, data centre operators may find enlisting a specialist partner to be of benefit. A modular approach to design allows load demand to be flexed, with megawatts added or subtracted as needed. Crucially, this not only equips facility managers with the equipment they need to effectively secure their supply, but the expertise of an entire network of industry professionals, which will no doubt prove an invaluable asset in the turbulent years to come. Billy Durie, Global Sector Head for Data Centres at Aggreko grid strain www.networkseuropemagazine.com 27Why Your Business Success is in the Hands of Development and Operations Alex Lane, Revenue Growth Manager, zsah dev ops www.networkseuropemagazine.com 28One of the biggest headaches of any IT leader today is managing cross-functional teams to develop and deploy software in good time. Not only does their work have to be continuously operational to stay productive, but it also needs to save the business money and time, all while fixing a never-ending cycle of bugs. This is why, without a robust DevOps process in place, which is to the benefit of the entire organisation, IT management leaders often feel like they are chasing the impossible. What is DevOps? DevOps (development and operations) practices help you plan how both teams can work cohesively to deliver your company’s products and services, meet customer needs and stay ahead of your competitors. In short, it is a set of tools that enables safer, faster handling of any IT software delivery. Yet, according to Gartner, 75% of DevOps initiatives have not been able to meet expectations by the beginning of this year due to inefficient collaboration, lack of buy-in from employees, trying to do too much too quickly, and unrealistic expectations. So, why is it still a process which puts businesses into a flurry of uncertainty when they cannot do without it? To answer that, we must look at the resounding benefits DevOps brings: Improving the security of your software Your IT security team is involved in the software development cycle from the start rather than at the deployment stage. They are there from the beginning, where the foundation of your product development and its security should be a collaborative process. DevOps makes this possible so that outdated security practices do not have to be integrated into the infrastructure independently, cutting out lengthy back and forth communications and glitches interfering with the peaks of customer demand. In other words, it is the go-between to improve collaboration efficiency throughout the business. A subset of DevOps is DevSecOps which combines development, security and operations across products and services, and improve capabilities for delivering quality and meeting client expectations. Building security through a seamless system in which bugs and other issues can be addressed almost unnoticed to the untrained eye, makes sense. Therefore, managers should first identify these roadblocks and address them before applying DevOps practices in their organisations. Addressing the bugs Because detecting and addressing the bugs are the priority of any IT department, disruptions need to be handled quickly and efficiently. This can only be done through immediate action where all departments involved can act fast. Yet the beauty of this is that the process can be continuous rather than reactive and thus improve the quality of your software when deploying new features allowing you to make changes rapidly. Without a system in place that enables the smooth path of communication between workforces, productivity is slowed to an uncomfortable halt which leads to an often-damaging customer experience. Improving the customer satisfaction ratings A significant benefit of adopting DevOps practices is that it lowers the failure rates of new features while improving recovery time. The continuous deployment, testing and feedback loop ensures faster service delivery and happier customers. The development team can focus on creating superior products by automating the software pipeline while the operations team can improve business delivery. Faster delivery of your products and services should not be a pipe dream only fit for those who understand DevOps and are willing to do the homework for successful implementation. Businesses should feel confident in grasping the nettle if they want to stay ahead of the field and embrace the cloud with all its complexity. So, if increasing your customer satisfaction and positively impacting your bottom line is on your business priority list, then implementing a DevOps process that works can not only save the IT headache but brighten your business horizons in the process. ss Hands nd Alex Lane, Revenue Growth Manager at zsah discusses why it is crucial to implement DevOps into your business not only to survive but to thrive. dev ops www.networkseuropemagazine.com 29Next >