FEATURE
online threats are equally as important . Implementing cybersecurity software and architecture is crucial to preventing data breaches . IT managers need to make sure that they ring fence the data . Having a company-wide Zero Trust policy is said to be one of the only ways to reduce data breaches . This model recognises that trust is a vulnerability , therefore the architecture of the IT system should be set up in a way that access to certain data is only granted on an individual basis .
By creating software-enabled security perimeters around data means that employees can ’ t have access to all of the company ’ s online assets . Firewalls and virus scanners are also necessary elements of a secure IT infrastructure that every IT manager should put in place across all devices that have access to the company server . Regularly monitoring how these are performing and checking if there are any holes in the online security perimeter is essential to ensure that the company isn ’ t left vulnerable to data breaches or that any data is compromised .
Keeping the lights on
Power supply and power consumption are among the key issues in data centre
operations . First and foremost , the power supply for IT and facilities must be guaranteed at all times . Power failures lead to massive outages , SLAs ( Service Level Agreements ) are violated , enormous costs are incurred . To compensate for power outages , data centres usually have two emergency systems :
UPS devices
• The Uninterruptible Power Supply ( UPS ) is usually provided by battery-powered devices that can bridge short local power failures or compensate for local voltage fluctuations . In case of failure of the general power supply , UPS devices bridge the start-up time of the generator of an AEV system . With UPS devices , it is important to monitor the battery charge and / or the possible bridging time .
SPS
• Standby Power Systems ( SPS ), also known as Emergency Power Systems , often consist of generators . They take over the power supply in the event of normal power loss . Depending on the technology used , tank levels have to be monitored , but the operating temperature can also play a role if the generator is constantly kept at a certain temperature in order to be ready for operation more quickly in case of an emergency .
Powering the data centre is fundamental and keeping the lights on requires constant attention . Managers can rest assured with the help of a single monitoring tool that can monitor all relevant parameters of UPS devices and SPS , via SNMP , Modbus TCP , OPC UA or via API , depending on the device in use , thus ensuring the power supply even in case of malfunctions or failures .
Managing the full view of the data centre can sometimes cause those in charge to feel overwhelmed , especially when data is sprawled across teams and reported back in various ways . To overcome this issue , businesses should consider investing in a monitoring tool that can not only ensure the data centre is running , but is also protected from any online attacks . With all the key information coming into a central IT system , IT and facility managers can focus on the wider business priorities and be assured that they have the full view of the data centre with the click of a button . ◊
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