What Is Data Center Infrastructure Management?

Investments in AI have fueled a major boost in data center growth, with the global market projected to surge from $340 billion in 2024 to over $600 billion by 2030. 

Industry giants AWS and Azure operate hundreds of data centers in dozens of zones, and many enterprises also use on-prem or hybrid-cloud setups. Effective management of data center resources is vital. But what is data center infrastructure management, and how can it improve your operations?

DATA CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT DEFINED

Data center infrastructure management is the process of designing, monitoring, and controlling data center resources, including physical components and digital systems. DCIM professionals are responsible for administering data center operations:

• Equipment power usage
• Electrical subsystems
• Server loads
• IT maintenance programs
• The facility environment and cooling system performance

Many DCIM teams or administrators use advanced software platforms to improve and streamline facility management tasks, so data center infrastructure management is often synonymous with these tools.

TYPES OF DATA CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE

Modern data centers have countless moving parts, and successful management is a complex undertaking. DCIM processes and tools cover:

• Network components: Routers, load balancers, switches, firewalls, network providers, etc.
• Electrical systems: Electricity supply agreements, electrical circuits, on-site generators, and uninterruptible power supplies
• Cooling systems: Computer room air conditioners, rack layouts, liquid cooling systems, walkways, etc.
• Data storage systems: Servers, HDDs, SSDs, racks, data backup tools, and data handling software
• Virtual compute: Virtualized servers, data processing resources, and software applications
• Physical and cybersecurity systems: Continuous network monitoring, encryption, and other access control measures

DCIM can even touch on a facility’s structural components. The size and design of flooring, walls, and building areas directly impact data center capacity and thermal performance.

APPLICATIONS FOR DCIM PROCESSES AND TOOLS

How your organization uses DCIM depends on the type of data center you use and its size.

Data Center Planning and Audits

DCIM consultants and software can help your organization audit infrastructure and improve data center design from the ground up. This can go beyond blueprints and construction, such as choosing the right location for optimal cooling and power availability.

Power Usage Effectiveness and Load Management

As compute rises, so does the need for power usage efficiency. DCIM platforms can highlight opportunities to improve cooling, reduce power consumption, eliminate waste, and handle loads more effectively.

Platform Uptime and Data Redundancy

Maximizing system uptime is vital for on-prem and multi-cloud infrastructure alike. DCIM helps by:

• Predicting hardware failures
• Optimizing thermal profiles
• Establishing secure-but-efficient data redundancies
• Automating resource allocation

Equipment lifestyle management can prevent hardware breakdowns, strengthen backup systems, and make components last longer, while reducing overall operating costs.

THE BENEFITS OF DATA CENTER MANAGEMENT

DCIM tools provide improved insight into data center operations, assets, performance, and problems. Some tools allow for comprehensive management from a centralized interface, boosting productivity for IT personnel. Workflow automation and real-time monitoring tools can improve data center cybersecurity, resource availability and utilization, energy usage, and even incident response times.

REDEFINING DATA CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

Data center infrastructure management means different things to different organizations. At TSP, our team delivers precision data center services, including onsite hardware and IT support, remote monitoring, stack management, and facility planning services. Contact us to learn more about data center management solutions.