Three Simple Steps to a Safe, Reliable Onsite Server Room
As Computer Weekly writes, while many businesses are turning to structured IT services in hopes of off-loading the burden of managing their own IT solutions, many more are actually reverting back to hosting their own servers onsite. Increased control over security systems, upgrades at a moment’s notice, greater control of costs — all of these are seen as huge benefits of buying server rack enclosures and a few systems and making a go of IT on your own.
However, even with the benefits of setting up your own servers onsite, there is a serious consideration for you to keep in mind: the safety of your business and your employees. Consider, according to eWeek.com, 73% of all IT downtime is caused by human error, and the most common instance of human error is the improper installation and setup of your server rack cases and your systems. If you want to avoid fire, injury, and the downtime that comes with both, here are three things you need to keep in mind.
Three Simple Tips for Keeping Your Onsite IT Solutions Safe and Fire-free
- Pay Close Attention to Your Rack Enclosures’ Power Ratings
- Stick to Sensible Server Safety Standards
- Invest in the Proper Supplementary Safety Technology
Every rack enclosure has a power rating. This power rating will determine how much energy the rack puts out and thereby, the type of systems you can safely run and house on each rack enclosure. It’s okay to use rack enclosures with more output than you need, but underpowered components can and will burn out. In extreme situations, they will light on fire, putting your whole operation at risk.
The University of California San Diego maintains a guideline for standards in computer server rooms. These standards outline the type of systems and server rack shelves you should use, how you should use them, and any steps you need to take to ensure safety. Using these guidelines, you can greatly reduce your chances of having any issues.
For the Data Rescue Center, few things are as important to keeping your huge investment in technology, not to mention your employees, safe as installing supplementary safety technology. Emergency power switches will turn off your servers when temperatures reach dangerous levels. Air conditioning systems will keep your servers at the proper running temperature, and a fire suppression system will remove oxygen from your clean room, replacing it with inert gases that fires can’t use for fuel.
Setting up your own in-house IT can revolutionize your business. That being said, if not done with the proper care, it can also jeopardize your company. Put these tips to use to make sure you only reap the benefits of bringing your IT onsite. Continue reading here.