8 WAYS TO SAVE ON DATA CENTER COSTS
If you’re a small hosting firm or an organization seeking to improve its data center, these leading suggestions can assist in reducing costs.
IMPROVE THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING
Cooling equipment is the most expensive aspect of a data center. Large data center companies solve this issue by placing centers near the Arctic or underwater, which is not feasible for most. Improving building design can make cooling more efficient, such as elevating the floor, raising ceilings, and reorganizing rack placement to create hot and cold aisles.
DECREASE IT HARDWARE THROUGH VIRTUALIZATION AND SOFTWARE-BASED ARCHITECTURE
This approach utilizes software to address hardware challenges. SDS enables the system to operate more efficiently and manage usage through data replication across multiple servers. SDN facilitates traffic control and management for better provisioning and security. Virtualization also enables efficient data storage within a single server, optimizing performance, and space, and allowing for quick scaling of resources.
ADOPT A HYBRID MODEL
Using cloud storage services from a provider is a cost-effective alternative to purchasing data center hardware. However, renting cloud storage also entails the loss of control over the data and potential security risks for crucial information. A combination of data center and cloud storage can lower costs while ensuring important data is secure.
BE VENDOR AGNOSTIC
Choosing a single brand limits your ability to tailor your systems to the solutions offered by the vendor and restricts you to the supported applications. Procuring servers from multiple vendors grants more control over selecting the best-suited technologies and applications. It expands your options for functionality and, in some cases, enables the use of various technologies on a single server rack.
LOOK AT THIRD-PARTY/WHITE-LABEL OPTIONS
Third-party products, which are manufactured by one company and sold under the seller’s label, are more common than perceived. A 2017 report by IT research firm Gartner stated that transceivers have become a commoditized product, with most OEMs using rebranded transceivers from white-label manufacturers.
The report also showed that the same components can be obtained from secondary hardware providers such as Ref Group at much lower prices than those offered by OEMs. Gartner estimates that transceivers make up 10-20% of data center network product expenses, making the savings proportionally significant.
CONSIDER REFURBISHED
Refurbished IT hardware offers a wider range of options at a much lower cost. As older models are available, refurbished products offer more features at a lower cost compared to their original price. For the cost of two new servers, you can get five refurbished options with better storage and stronger memory than new ones in the same price range.
Recent research conducted by us in collaboration with the University of East London showed that refurbished servers have equivalent performance to new ones. The study also showed that optimally configured refurbished servers from an earlier generation can outperform current-generation servers. Thus, selecting refurbished servers is a cost-efficient and quality choice for businesses today.
A reputable supplier like Ref Group typically offers comprehensive warranties and the option to sell back old equipment. Additionally, they offer a custom configuration service, thorough recertification of all parts, strong data protection measures, and compliance certificates for data erasure if required. This last item is especially important in light of current GDPR regulations.
FIND A GOOD PARTNER
To maximize value in data center costs, it’s crucial to only purchase what’s necessary. For example, a gaming company might require the newest server memory, but a law firm mainly needing file storage may not.
Consulting a knowledgeable professional can help determine which technologies best meet your organization’s specific needs. Choose a company that offers impartial, straightforward advice and make your decision based on their guidance.
USE IT CONSULTANCY SERVICES
There’s a common concern in the tech industry about a shortage of skilled workers. This is understandable given the rapid advancements across various IT fields. IT specialists may have expertise in only one or two areas and have general knowledge of other subjects, but cannot be experts in everything.
When planning your data center, it’s wise to invest in consulting services for installation and configuration as they can provide valuable advice during the process.
REF Group offers a range of high-quality new and refurbished technology products, including servers, storage, networking equipment, laptops, desktops, and components, from more than 150 top brands like HPE, Dell, and Cisco. With over 15 years of expertise in helping clients meet our specific technology needs, just tell us your challenges and we’ll work together to find the perfect solution.