BY MICHAEL BOCCARDI
Finding the perfect commercial office space for clients isn”™t easy. Finding the perfect space to house their servers and data is even more daunting. From how much space the servers will occupy to how to install the proper amount of cooling in a server closet, coordinating every detail of a successful data migration can be challenging. A study by Bloor Research places the failure rate for data migration projects at 38 percent. Next time a client makes a move, be sure to address the following if their servers are moving with them.
Before looking at new office space, assess whether or not the client”™s data should remain on-site or be co-located, meaning migrated to an off-site data center. Consider the following before deciding:
Ӣ Can the new location provide uninterrupted power and cooling 24 hours a day, 365 days a year?
Ӣ What is the capital investment to build a resilient server room or data center in the new location?
”¢ Can the new location be secured physically to ensure protection of the client”™s data ”” is there 24-hour on-site monitoring?
”¢ What is the availability of network providers in the new location ”” is there redundant connectivity?
Ӣ Does your client have a disaster recovery plan?
After answering these questions, ask your client how much downtime they can afford. This information will help them decide whether or not to build their own server room or data center or to co-locate their equipment off-site.
Once you”™ve determined the best solution, there”™s still a little more diligence due to inform your decision.
Locating equipment in a third-party location is a major decision, especially for clients who have never done so. Companies of all sizes, however, have concluded that building, staffing and managing their own server rooms and data centers isn”™t the best use of their human and financial resources. If co-locating, it”™s critical that businesses understand exactly what they are buying and have a handle on the provider”™s capabilities. Be sure to answer the following before making a move.
Ӣ What services are or are not included in the proposed data center package?
Ӣ How will the relocated office and the co-located servers communicate?
Ӣ Who will handle data backup and monitoring?
Ӣ Is the facility fully redundant (power, cooling and connectivity)?
Ӣ Is there around-the-clock staff on-site (security and information technology)?
Ӣ What is the specific expertise of the management supporting the platform and company?
Some data center firms strictly sell space ”” similar to a real estate lease; others sell space plus IT support and services. This important distinction is clarified by answers to the questions above. If finding the right data center is an unfamiliar, overwhelming process, premier data center providers are often willing to assess your client”™s co-location needs.
If a client finds that keeping data on-site is better aligned with their business needs, look for the following building attributes: on-site generators (for power and cooling) and the availability of proper cooling inside the server closet(s), to name a couple.
Beyond finding space with the right physical structure, commercial brokers should advise clients to develop a project plan for the big data move. Fully back up data before moving, and carefully document procedures for shutting down and restarting in the new location. Have a fallback plan should there be a glitch in the transition, and know how your client will define a successful office and data move.
Migrating servers and data is complex, with many potential pitfalls, so plan for any scenario. Counsel clients to be candid about their downtime tolerance and to be realistic about the magnitude of the move. Ensure they understand the costs associated with both co-locating servers and keeping them on-site.
Understanding where a client”™s critical information will live and ensuring that data environment is built to meet their needs are essential to a successful migration. In the end, this type of move is as much an intricate IT project as it is a traditional real estate transaction.
Michael Boccardi is president, CEO and a co-founder of Cervalis, a Connecticut-based provider of technology and IT infrastructure solutions.
