The evolution of data centres is transforming data center infrastructure management (DCIM) strategy
In this blog, we discuss the evolution of Data Centres and IT infrastructure in response to increased connectivity and digital transformation.
“Today’s data centre exists without clear boundaries, creating growing complexity.” -CIO.com
The rapid evolution of hybrid IT, including data centres, cloud, and edge computing installations, is driving the need to monitor and manage a more complex and evolving data center infrastructure. APC’s DCIM software was created to meet this need with sophisticated software used to monitor, measure, and manage data centres and IT equipment, as well as support infrastructure such as power and cooling systems.
DCIM software has evolved and improved through the years to respond to the rapid growth of data usage and the server consolidation that occurred within data centres. Important features were added to facilitate factors such as IT space planning, as well as power and cooling requirements. Concerns about data centre efficiency spawned a new metric in the form of Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) that expanded the capabilities of DCIM from a monitoring and management tool to include planning and modeling.
Now, with today’s hybrid work environments, every endpoint that is on the network is mission-critical. The world is more dependent on IT than it was 20 years ago, which has changed the dynamics. We call this trend DCIM 3.0. To meet the evolving requirements requires a new tool to manage this effectively, and that tool is EcoStruxure IT.
The need to evolve to DCIM 3.0
The modern data centre is no longer contained within a single facility but is a hybrid environment that extends to cloud providers, colocation facilities, and edge computing. These hybrid environments increase complexity and are much harder to operate as required levels of performance, reliability, compliance, and security increase. To meet the challenge of managing data centres without boundaries, DCIM software must support on-premise and cloud-based solutions for distributed IT environments that range from a few sites to thousands of sites globally. And, it must seamlessly integrate with other systems to meet the challenges of resiliency, security, and sustainability that operators are facing.
IT industry trends driving the need to improve DCIM strategy
The sprawling hybrid IT environment is challenging even the most sophisticated IT organisations in maintaining the resiliency, security, and sustainability of their IT systems. DCIM 3.0 is positioned to address these challenges.
The three categories of EcoStruxure IT
Whether it is deployed on a single IT rack, hyperscale IT, on-premise, in the cloud, or at the edge, Schneider Electric’s comprehensive DCIM solution, EcoStruxure IT, ensures business continuity by enabling secure monitoring, management, insights, planning, and modeling.
EcoStruxure IT Portfolio: A comprehensive and tested DCIM 3.0 solution
EcoStruxure IT is the DCIM solution that ensures business continuity by enabling secure monitoring, management, insights, planning, and modeling. The solution is vendor-neutral to maximise customer flexibility and ROI.
Monitoring and management
Data Centre Expert
An efficient way for organisations to monitor their company-wide, multi-vendor physical infrastructure, such as power, cooling, security, and environment. Real-time monitoring, user-defined reports and graphs, and instant fault notification and escalation enable quick assessment and resolution of critical infrastructure events that can adversely affect IT system availability. This centralised repository of critical information can be accessed by multiple users from anywhere on the network, creating a consolidated view of the physical data centre infrastructure.
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IT Expert
A cloud-based, advanced remote monitoring tool for wherever-you-go visibility and alarms, preventative management, and data-driven recommendations to mitigate security and failure risks of the data centre and distributed IT infrastructures.
PowerChute™ Network Shutdown
Protects server and hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) systems. PowerChute Network Shutdown works in conjunction with the APC UPS Network Management Card to protect physical and virtual IT environments from threats to IT availability.
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NetBotz™
The solution consists of rack-mount and wall-mount appliances, sensor pods, and sensors, designed to provide a wide range of integrated environmental monitoring, surveillance, and access control for sensitive equipment.
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Planning and modeling
IT Advisor – A data center infrastructure planning and modeling solution makes daily data center infrastructure management simple and more efficient with full insights into the data center or colocation infrastructure from the overall system down to individual devices. It delivers operational excellence through proper asset tracking, risk management, and capacity optimisation.
Start Your Free 30-Day Trial of EcoStruxure IT Expert
Ready to proactively monitor, manage and optimise your IT equipment a the edge, on-premises and in the cloud with secure, wherever-you-go access for full visibility and control of your network? Get started now by following these three easy steps:
- Create your EcoStruxure IT account
- Download the EcoStruxure IT App and set up 2-factor authentication for increased account security.
- Download the Gateway Software – Discover your devices and get insights into your devices right away.
