Find CapacityCurrent and Future Data Center Capacity

When purchasing data center capacity, consider the following factors:

• Power and Cooling Capacity: Ensure sufficient power density per rack (e.g., 5-30 kW/rack).
• Scalability: Ability to expand as your business grows.
• Location: Proximity to your customers, regulatory considerations, and latency requirements.
• Connectivity: Access to multiple network providers and cloud on-ramps.
• Compliance and Security: Ensure the datacenter meets industry-specific regulations (e.g., HIPAA, SOC 2).

Data center capacity solutions include:

• Retail Colocation: Smaller-scale deployments with shared resources.
• Wholesale Colocation: Large-scale deployments with dedicated power and space.
• Hyperscale Data Centers: Massive facilities designed for cloud providers and global enterprises.
• Edge Data Centers: Smaller, distributed facilities located near end-users for ultra-low latency.

Power requirements are critical for data center capacity planning. Businesses should calculate current and future power needs based on equipment specifications and workload demand. Factors to consider:

• Power Density: High-density deployments may require specialized cooling.
• Redundancy: Ensure power is backed by UPS and generators for reliability.
• Energy Efficiency: Look for data centers with a low Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE).

High-density capacity refers to server racks with power consumption greater than 10 kW per rack, often needed for AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. High-density environments require advanced cooling methods such as liquid cooling to manage heat effectively and prevent equipment failures.

Location is a key factor for latency, compliance, and disaster recovery planning. Consider these points:

• Proximity to Key Markets: Reduces latency for end-users.
• Disaster Risk: Avoid areas prone to natural disasters (e.g., floods, earthquakes).
• Energy Costs and Availability: Some regions offer lower energy costs and renewable energy options.

The amount of data center capacity you need depends on:

• Number of Servers: Total rack units required.
• Power Demand: Measured in kilowatts per rack.
• Network Bandwidth: Ensure sufficient connectivity for current and future requirements.
• Growth Projections: Plan for at least 20-30% future growth.

• Retail Colocation: Suitable for small to medium-sized businesses. Offers shared space, power, and cooling with flexible contracts.
• Wholesale Colocation: Designed for large-scale deployments. Provides dedicated power and space at lower costs per kW, but typically requires long-term commitments and higher initial investment.

SLAs define the level of service you can expect from the data center provider, including:

• Uptime Guarantees: Typically 99.99% or higher.
• Power and Cooling Availability: Ensure adequate redundancy (N+1, 2N configurations).
• Support and Response Times: Clarify expectations for technical support and issue resolution.

Reviewing SLAs carefully ensures you receive the reliability and support you need.

Connectivity is essential for reliable operations and scalability. Key considerations include:

• Carrier Diversity: Access to multiple network providers for redundancy.
• Cloud On-Ramps: Direct connections to public cloud providers (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
• Latency Requirements: Critical for real-time applications like financial trading and AI processing.

Sustainability is increasingly important in data center capacity planning. Businesses should seek datacenters that offer:

• Green Energy Options: Solar, wind, or hydroelectric power.
• Energy-Efficient Design: Lower PUE and advanced cooling technologies.
• Carbon Neutrality Goals: Many providers are committing to carbon-neutral operations.

These choices help reduce operational costs and meet corporate sustainability goals.

Costs can vary significantly based on several factors:

• Location: Urban centers typically have higher prices.
• Power Density: High-density racks are more expensive due to cooling requirements.
• Connectivity: Premium bandwidth and direct cloud connections may increase costs.
• Contract Terms: Longer contracts often offer lower rates.