Data center businesses need a variety of factors to stay ahead of their competitors. One of those factors is having the right technology in place and keeping it updated.
This is especially true for data centers that handle high-performance computing and other cutting-edge technologies. Constraints within legacy systems can become increasingly harmful the longer the problem is left unaddressed.
There are signs when your business is well-positioned for growth, but it’s equally important to recognize when technology is hindering your growth.
It can be difficult to let go of legacy systems if they have served your business well, but a seamless growth process based on the right technology for your business needs requires knowing when legacy systems introduce inefficiencies. It is important to know when to start waking up.
What are the signs that your data center is ready for modernization?
One of the major challenges for data centers is reducing their environmental impact. Not paying attention to legacy systems can conflict with these goals.
When technology no longer serves your business goals, it’s time to consider modernizing. This is an important reason to upgrade.
The three main parameters of a data center are power, space, and cooling. By leveraging new technologies in these areas, we are more likely to achieve our environmental goals as well.
process inefficiency
Legacy systems can lead to business inefficiencies. Considering one of the parameters mentioned above, such as cooling, an example of inefficiency could be in older servers that are no longer in use but are still powered on. This puts unnecessary strain on cooling and can impact your environmental footprint.
As new technologies emerge that offer more efficient ways to produce the same or better results, legacy systems may no longer be the best fit for your business. Ignoring this technology can give your competitors an advantage and cost your business a lot of money.
Increased security risk
IT Governance has released a report stating that 8.2 billion records will be compromised in 2023. This indicates that businesses in all sectors need to consider modernizing their technology to limit the risk of cyber threats.
According to one report, a cyberattack occurs every 39 seconds. This puts businesses at risk of losing or compromising not only intellectual property and assets, but also customer data. This risks reputational damage and even regulatory fines.
One of the biggest reasons to invest in digital transformation is business security. Systems that no longer receive updates become targets for cyberattacks and can act as vulnerabilities within the technology infrastructure. Modernizing your technology and systems can help prevent malware, data corruption, and other forms of malicious attacks.
Considerations when upgrading your technology stack
persuade the people involved
Inside the data center, customers are looking for businesses that align with their environmental goals. However, any changes to technology or his IT infrastructure require the participation of all internal stakeholders. They will want to know that their investments are being put to good use, but digital transformation often takes time to see results.
This requires planning ahead and smoothly guiding stakeholders through a large-scale transition. Also, highlight how new technology or software will benefit future business goals, and make sure stakeholders understand that results won’t be immediately apparent.
provisional technology
You should also consider whether you need interim or immediate technology during the transition. These are systems that serve as a contingency measure during a transition when your infrastructure is not yet ready to implement a particular system or process. With careful planning and working with a trusted digital transformation partner, you can ensure a seamless transition between different technologies.
planned downtime
As with any technology update, a period of downtime may be required to modernize your system. Planning this in advance will minimize disruption to you, your customers, and your stakeholders. Give plenty of warning about downtime.
Adopt an evergreen approach
When planning your modernization, you should consider taking an evergreen approach. This means choosing systems and technologies that scale with your business and give you the flexibility you need to keep working. This eliminates the need for further modernization in the future and helps avoid technical debt.
Modernization may be necessary, especially if the technology limits data center requirements or poses security risks. You should consider how your current legacy systems are being used, how they are inappropriate for your business, and how your business objectives have changed since you last implemented these technologies.
