F E A T U R E

On-premise data centres

The current demand for digital services leaves organisations grappling with the imperative of keeping pace and strategically managing the storage and accessibility of their data and applications . Herman Chan , President of Sunbird Software , a leader in second-generation DCIM for remote data centre management , outlines the trajectory of hosting solutions , ranging from traditional on-premise infrastructure to colocation , cloud and hybrid deployments . He presents a spectrum of choices , the advantages and disadvantages of each hosting option and insights for making well-informed decisions .

An on-premise data centre is owned and operated by an organisation and located within its own facilities . It can range from one or two servers in a closet to a dedicated server room or multiple data centre facilities .

Top three advantages of on-premise data centres

• Complete control . Organisations own their buildings and equipment which allows them to customise their IT and facilities to meet their specific needs .

• Long-term cost-effectiveness . Although building a data centre requires a significant initial investment , the on-going expenses are typically lower than alternatives and the ability to optimise infrastructure utilisation can result in cost savings over time .

• High visibility . Direct oversight and access to infrastructure facilitates quicker detection and response to issues and vulnerabilities .

Top three disadvantages of on-premise data centres

• Large upfront costs . The investment in facilities , hardware , software and personnel may not be feasible for all organisations .

• Facilities management . Dedicated facilities staff with specialised skills are necessary to maintain the building and troubleshoot issues . Regular investment in new infrastructure and technology is often required .

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