The institution of the internet infrastructure services together with sprawling Datacentre has proven to be invaluable and an essential element in nowadays government activities, business affairs and human interactions.

In most parts of the world, the lockdown due to the pandemic has seen increased reliance on broadband services for Gaming and movie downloads e.g. via Netflix.

Assorted Cloud computing services, Videoconferencing e.g. Skype, Social Networking platforms like Facebook are currently enjoying a phenomenal rise in usage. Effective Datacentre operations which house and support these services happens to be the unsung heroes enabling these forms of interaction.

The COVID-19 pandemic is putting Datacentre infrastructure around the world to the test, as more users rely on it for remote work. That includes workers that manage their employers’ Datacentre infrastructure inside colocation facilities, many of which are either not allowing customers or vendors in – outside emergency situations – or severely restricting access to prevent having the virus brought inside their facilities.

Amidst the conspiracy theories of 5G weaving into this pandemic concern, I hope our Datacentres will remain blemish-free from links to such anecdotal hogwash.

No doubt, the lockdown has impacted internet services and network connectivity especially in the BFSI sector where online banking is predominant , but other websites like Google.com.ng, Jumia, Konga, myjoyonline, Iroko, Bet9ja I am certain, will also see spikes in Network traffic. Join discussions on the WEST AFRICA DATA CENTRE ALLIANCE group this week and let’s explore crucial elements to Datacentre design and developments which withstands such lockdown situations.

Datacentre preparedness during crisis situations

The economy together with media broadcasting has been partly enabled by a mix of Internet services provision and Datacentre services especially during this pandemic lockdown.

Enormous data flows generated via social networking platforms, online gaming and video streaming will no doubt stretch the infrastructure. Online remote workers will also put the Datacentre to test.

Millions of online users will make the internet feel ‘fairly hot’ if it must maintain a predictable latency for voice and video traffic.

Business continuity practises may be tested at this stage for added assurances. Some organisations have already invoked a site switch which could be their Cloud presence as Primary DC for office workloads and emails.

We usually like to think that our Datacentre Management and Operations practises are full-proof and can withstand any given circumstance. A mare conjecture, but we may use this unprecedented moment to further investigate on the resources, tools and strategies that keeps the light on.

Datacentre client and User experience

So, if you are a client at the Demand-side services, what has been your experience so far and how will you rate your Client satisfaction metrics?

Were technical support contacts available to you?

Were site attendance procedures smooth enough?

Were Remote hands services fluid and seamless?

Information Technology services

Which of these technologies have proven most crucial to your businesses?

Which Video streaming technology?

Which VDI platforms?

Which VPN services?

Which Cloud storage products have proven to be efficient so far ?

What are your recommendations in preparing for a crisis?

Datacentre supply side experience

If you are at the Supply side, where have you been stretched?

Will you consider a virtual NOC?

Is your Electricity supply method adequate in terms of crisis?

Will you re-consider your DC locations to be central for easy access or out of town?

PLEASE BE ANONYMOUS IF MORE COMFORTABLE

Were your facilities SLAs achievable?

What are your recommendations in preparing for a crisis?

Datacentre Cleaning

Datacentre Health and Safety practises will begin to incorporate disinfectant treatments at shared contact points. Biometric enabled security pads will now require having sanitizing gels mounted beside it. It is of paramount importance that your Datacentre policies strictly address this layer of H& S.

It has been said that virus and bacteria do travel via the air inlets too , the ASHRAE committee are looking into this area once again in order to ensure that moist areas of the DC environment do not harbour harmful microorganisms.

Register on www.wadca.com for your free new letters and a DC Cleaning guide will be sent to you .Your name will be drawn internally to win a free DC Cleaning kit provided by our channel suppliers.

God bless

Olakunle Awosusi – CEO , Above Zero Technologies Ltd Nigeria