Eight Ways Hyperscale Data Centers are Transforming the World of IT

Data centers have come a long way in terms of functionality and architecture. The recent decade has seen them shift from being a back-office information storage system jettisoned in a closet to becoming a more shared facility no longer hidden from the public eye. Back then, not many were concerned with what went down in an enterprise’s storage facility, but the IT infrastructure has taken a sharp turn since then.

A hyperscale data center (HDC) is like a distribution hub, much like a fulfillment center in a retail facility instead of a warehouse. To understand the workings behind a hyperscale facility, imagine an acreage of farmland modularized in small areas measured in feet. Each module was so optimized that it multiplied the yield so that your overall acreage yield would increase exponentially. Hyperscale facilities work similarly. They have become immensely granular, resulting in data storage of the most detailed kind. This has allowed businesses to store big data and make informed decisions.

Futurists can already see a new paradigm opening with the growing demand for hyperscale computing. The hyperscale companies are now the largest customers renting wholesale and custom-fitted data center spaces. For this reason, hyperscale customers now hold the reins of the industry, and these data centers are also quickly adapting to the design changes required by these customers.

Below, we have examined some critical ways hyperscale data centers have transformed the IT ecosystem.

Growing Shift Towards Video Streaming

The uninterrupted interconnectivity provided by the hyperscale facilities has paved the way for the global distribution of HD video streaming and the exponential growth of esports. Social Media platforms have also learned to successfully leverage hyperscaling to help users connect with distributed networks of family and friends. It is the same powerful hyperscale resources that are responsible for turning social media into one of the most effective marketing and lead-generating tools.

Rise of Cloud Computing

Hyperscale data centers house both the data and application that can be run from an app or a browser allowing users to shift most IT operations to a service model, otherwise known as cloud computing. To host any application in the cloud, users must employ the resources offered by the cloud providers. Data on a cloud is less likely to be affected by onsite disasters or malicious intentions. Overall, scalability and security are the major advantages offered by cloud computing.

Increasing Investments in the Data Center Market

Hyperscale data center industry is attracting enormous investment because their operators have mastered the art of optimizing almost every component of the network for a ripple effect across huge facilities. The hyperscale data center market by investment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.02% during the period 2021-2026. Digital mammoths such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook have even introduced in-house R&D programs to modify their equipment with customized silicon designs. The infrastructure continues to become more efficient, functional, and affordable.

Leveling up Cyber Resilience and Business Continuity

One remarkable effect of the pandemic was a complete and comprehensive shift to remote working, which reemphasized the need for resilience and business continuity. Hyperscale services have helped businesses with sustainability and security, especially where business-critical missions and solutions were involved. Microsoft Teams, for example, and similar collaborative platforms made sure to sustain connectivity in a secure environment. Many more organizations are now assessing the service level agreements provided by third-party facilities, especially where downtime can prove increasingly costly.

The E-Commerce Industry Offers More Customizable Shopping Experiences

E-commerce is another industry that has been completely revamped thanks to the power of hyperscale. Online stores do not have to worry about losing customers anymore with uninterrupted connectivity. Customers are able to view price comparisons, predictive-analytics based recommendations, curated content driven by behavioral patterns. Tapping into the resources offered by hyperscale data centers, businesses have rid themselves of slow loading times and glitches in the virtual sale experience.

Modern Power Sourcing and Utilization techniques

An increasing number of hyperscale data centers rely on renewable energy sources to power their equipment as tenants shift focus to greener sources like solar, wind and hydro-electric power generation. Data centers operators create teams of experts who can guide them through energy market complexities. Several tax incentives are also associated with this derive.

Power distribution techniques are also evolving to curtail energy losses. For example, such efficient designs are encouraged that reduce the number of conversions between AC and DC or voltage step-up/down. 30% energy usage is reduced by bringing 48 volts directly to server motherboards instead of the usual 12 volts. Moreover, the use of lithium-ion and nickel-zinc batteries for data center UPS systems are also getting rapid adoption.

Heightened Demand for Data Center Cooling Systems

Cooling is another area that hyperscale innovated in its stride. Heat can take a toll on computing efficiency and reliability. Datacenter facilities have developed ways of minimizing cooling costs by locating data centers in areas with moderately cool temperatures. This helps the facilities to take advantage of the natural and fresh air cooling. Other cooling trends have also become popular among data center operators, such as membrane-based adaptive cooling and in-server chilling units.

Hyperscaling Firms are Calling the Shots

Hyperscale Data centers have become trusted partners for the 'Big Tech' as they rely on their expertise in optimizing the IT infrastructure for more efficiency.

Such large-scale digital enterprises and hyperscaling firms with the highest purchasing power, like Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, are now calling the shots by introducing guidelines on what a data center must offer businesses. Facebook’s recent secretive push to build Holland’s largest data center is one such example.

Bottomline

With these hyperscaling trends, companies can automate many aspects of their businesses that remained neglected from the start. Such automation has allowed firms to seize newer opportunities and maximize process efficiency. However, it is not just for the technological giants in the industry such as Baidu, AliBaba, Facebook, AWS, and Microsoft. For optimal effect, the benefits of hyperscaling have to reach smaller industries, such as pharmaceutical companies, education sector, telecom providers, and financial service organizations.

Once the smaller sectors start adopting the unlimited resources of these data centers, we will see the lasting effects of scalability. In a way, data centers have already begun achieving that for most sectors, and what we’re seeing today is the power of resources encompassing large scales to accomplish small-scale routine tasks.