With over six billion internet users in 2022, there are trillions of gigabytes of data stored all over the world. As for where it all goes, that’s where data centres come in.
Read on to discover what data centres are, why they’re vital in the information age, and how they’re constructed.
What Is A Data Centre?
Data centres are what they say on the tin: a centralised location that houses infrastructure for storing and managing data. This data may be related to specific apps and services, or it may involve client information and work.
With so much sensitive data requiring storage, data centres are highly secure to repel any would-be hackers or cyber criminals looking to get into the information they host.
Why Are Data Centres Important?
Data centres form the backbone of the digital world: without them and the essential equipment they house, businesses wouldn’t be able to operate.
Currently, data centres play a vital part in the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), housing vast amounts of servers that allow Large Language Models (LLMs) such as Chat-GPT and Perplexity to run efficiently.
Modern Data Centres: An Essential Investment
Humans have been generating data ever since the first computers were invented in the 1940s – and dedicated data centres have existed alongside them. Where at first these data centres were gigantic rooms to host both the machines and the data they processed, as the industry progressed, they became more efficient, storing more data in a smaller space.
As we continue to process and work with data, building new data centres and upgrading older ones is vital. According to McKinsey, the global spending on building new facilities will reach $49 billion by 2030.
Older centres lack the vital capabilities of newer builds, such as scalability, which is essential as new data continues to be generated and processed at rapid rates. It’s also vital that they are equipped with full backup power, to ensure no data is lost in the event of power failures in the local area.
Plus, more and more companies are opting for modular data centres, which come already equipped with cooling equipment to maintain the servers and maintain the centre. These upgrades all ensure that data for companies and clients alike is safe, secure, and protected in every eventuality.
Data Centres And Sustainability
Sustainability is more than just a buzzword here at Sweet Projects – it’s a key part in how we construct and upgrade data centres. Data centre power demand is only growing, and is estimated to grow by 160% by 2030.
Energy efficiency is key for both sustainability and scalability of our data centres, enabling our clients to host more data for a fraction of the energy. Alongside being good for the environment, it’s also good for our clients, reducing their energy costs and waste produced.
Types of Data Centres
There are multiple types of data centres that Sweet Projects are experts in constructing:
Enterprise Data Centres
These data centres are typically owned and operated by one specific company to house their own data. Companies have greater control over their information security, and can ensure they are fully GDPR compliant without having to outsource it.
Colocation Data Centres
Colocation data centres are operated by independent providers, and are used by multiple organisations to store their IT infrastructure. This can make the IT process for companies much more efficient, and reduce costs.
Hyperscale Data Centres
For bigger companies such as Microsoft or Meta, hyperscale data centres are ideal for their needs. Hyperscale centres are much larger than standard data centres to house the massive amounts of information these companies work with, and often require specialist construction.
Data Centre Construction For The Modern Age
Sweet Projects are leading the way in data centre construction. With end-to-end project management, state-of-the-art technology, and years of proven experience, we’re constantly innovating to create data centres that are future-proofed and ready to scale up at a moment’s notice.
As leading turnkey construction specialists, we partner with experienced suppliers and work closely with you to ensure your data centre is exactly what you need. When completing upgrades, we build around live work to make sure your data is always accessible, so there is never any doubt about being able to deliver.
Take a look at some of our previous data centre projects here, or get in touch with us today to discuss your project requirements.
