BUILDING A MODERN GREEN DATA CENTER Mark Klett
BUILDING A MODERN & GREEN DATA CENTER
Mark Klett • President and CEO of Klett Consulting Group, Inc. RADM Gary Jones • Strategic Business Consultant for Klett Consulting Group, Inc.
Core Learning Objectives What is a data center & how do we build them green? Human safety & wellness practices in data center development Environmental factors & landscapes to consider Importance of "baked-in" cybersecurity for data centers
1. WHAT IS A DATA CENTER & HOW DO WE BUILD THEM "GREEN"?
Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) & Data Centers • While LEED certified homes, commercial buildings & even neighborhoods are present worldwide, LEED data centers are surprisingly rare. • Very few data centers in the US have a LEED certification. Due to growing awareness of environmental issues & desire to go “green", the trend is improving… & at a steady rate.
Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) & Data Centers • Some characteristics of a LEED certified data center as well as “green” initiatives: �Advanced cooling system to reduce energy consumption �Improved cooling efficiency. Using chilled water storage system, for instance, has the potential to transfer up to 10, 400 k. Wh of electricity consumption from peak to off-peak hours daily &, therefore, improves cooling efficiency. �Reduced energy consumption �Using a clean backup power system. Using renewable energy. Extensive use of renewable energy, such as solar power, to reduce dependence on the grid & fossil fuels is a characteristic of all green data centers, more so when aspiring for LEED certification �Green construction that includes intelligent design, such as modular structure to help contain cooling requirements
So, what is a data center? • A facility that houses computing equipment like servers, routers, & network switches, as well as supporting components & backup equipment. Collection of computers & storage. • Main purpose of this centralized location includes collecting, storing, processing, distributing &/or allowing access to enormous amounts of data. • HUGE energy user – Fortune cites that in 2014 US data centers consumed 70 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity which equals the power that 6. 4 million American homes used that year. It is estimated that in 2019, data centers consumed between 2% - 20% of electricity worldwide.
The Business of Data Centers • Data centers & the associated data processing service sector is a very capitalintensive industry. • Vast amounts of money are at stake if a data center fails to fulfill its business efficiently. It's as much mission impossible as it is mission critical for 24/7 ops, & as such, the industry is looking to green technology to better sustain operations. • Monitoring power usage in real-time/leveraging analytics helps to judiciously allocate power…& saves $$. Distributing power at higher voltages reduces power loss, & eliminating energy-draining transformers helps to convert power to the appropriate voltage while reducing heat generation. The goal is to maintain low power usage effectiveness (PUE). • One innovative approach for a clean backup power source is replacing the football field sized room of batteries that powers the uninterrupted power supply with mechanical fly wheels & a diesel engine. This reduces emissions, noise pollution & fuel consumption…& saves $$ as well as the environment.
Power Usage Efficiency (PUE) • PUE is used to measure a data center’s efficiency & is based on the total amount of energy used & the energy delivered to computing equipment • Servers – low power standby mode • Cold Aisle/Hot Aisle Layout • Growing trend is to use air-cooling and ready sources of water that can be recycled • Thousands of servers continually running generate significant amounts of heat. That makes HVAC an essential system in keeping data centers running. If equipment gets hot or is subject to any rapid temperature change, it can fail without warning
Power Usage Efficiency (PUE) continued
Data Center/Facility Sizes 11 Million sq. Feet
Boutique Data Centers • Meant for smaller customers • Known as “boutique” for their size & convenience offered to customers • Personalized customer service with more flexibility • Typically single room - <100 k. W • “Own/rent own server as well as other networking Devices & place them within the provider’s premises” Mid-sized Data Centers • Sphere of control – control of the DC • They have dedicated service teams • Open to a wide range of technical options Large Data Centers • A large data center has a capacity to use as much electricity as a small town in United States • Store data for larger companies – technical specialists • Driven by modularity and the economy of scale
Data Centers in No. VA • Loudoun County in No. Va is home to more than 3, 400 technology companies. • Loudoun County’s “Data Center Alley” is the world’s largest concentration of data centers, with nearly 13. 5 million square feet currently in operation, & another 4. 5 million square feet being planned or developed (2018). • 70+ percent of the world’s internet traffic passes through Loudoun’s digital infrastructure. • While No. Va has the largest concentration of data centers, South Hill in Mecklenburg County is home to Microsoft’s $1. 3 B data center & Microsoft’s east coast hub for online services. It is currently being expanded to a $1. 7 billion facility. • Data centers and the associated data processing service sector is a very capital-intensive industry.
Issues Faced By Data Centers • Operate 24/7 – & demand is for peak efficiency • Equipment failure can be costly & catastrophic, to include power outages/disruptions • Connectivity - constant/relentless monitoring to ensure no anomalous data event can create a bigger problem • Requirement for systems to monitor, quickly respond, & notify staff of any issues that can impact efficient operations – Federal critical infrastructure must be considered • Cyber threats & network attacks – constant & growing danger from inside/outside of USA. National security issue of growing importance - cyber attacks may be an Act of War.
Not your average office building or warehouse • Small occupancy • Re-enforced floors for heavy equipment • Unique interior requirements: high ceilings, raised floors & extensive cable runs (in ceiling & below floor) • Extensive (& multi-layer) physical & network security • Robust precautions to prevent fire • Innocuous looking for security reasons
Data Center Infrastructure • Employ multiple power sources to ensure a continual, uninterrupted supply, no matter what. • Uninterruptable power supplies (UPS) ensures that power can be seamlessly switched to a secondary supply (batteries, diesel generators) if the primary fails. • Complex environmental controls (cooling & ventilation) are of paramount importance to servers & their associated systems. • Hundreds of miles of underfloor network cables; meticulously labeled & documented.
Components • Rack Internals �Inside: servers, storage, cables, power distribution units (PDUs), fans & switches • Routers, security devices (cameras, biometrics, keypad, locks), storage systems, servers, application delivery controllers, & management software (SSH)
Cabling • Type impacts speed �Fiber vs. Copper �Un-Shielded/Shielded based on the RFI interference with other devices • Meticulously labeled & documented. Hundreds of miles in each facility. In overhead & underfloor trays, underneath raised floor with removal tiles • Data signals normally amplified using switching equipment that allows data to travel considerable distances in the facility.
Connectivity • Cybersecurity is a critical feature in this area!! • Data centers connect to the Internet in one form or another, so there's little point in their existence if external connectivity isn't top-notch. • Networking & external communication equipment must maintain reliable, high-speed bandwidth connectivity with the outside world. • How external connectivity enters a data center is carefully considered. Multiple points of access are usually designated to better facilitate internet providers & ensure problems on one side of the facility do not create an outage everywhere.
Flexible & Modular • Modular design - helps contain cooling to only essential areas vice cooling the entire facility. • Adopting an in-row design for servers confines heat generation to smaller areas, reducing cooling demands & electricity consumption considerably • Modular allows data centers to expand, deploy & support new services & equipment configurations in minimal time • With modularity, there is flexibility to remove/add equipment plus capabilities as current/future demand dictates. • Build with a cyber security plan in mind
BUILDING GREEN MATERIALS ENERGY - Long-lasting - Recycled plastic - Renewable materials - Locally sourced materials - Solar energy - Wind energy - Energy credits, storage & transmission - Ventilation systems optimal for natural cooling WINDOWS CONSTRUCTION - Build data centers with windows in human centered areas to allow natural sunlight to come in - Windows built with green practices & technology - Roofing considerations for energy efficiency - Biodegradable materials - Create plan to minimize use of chemicals
BUILDING GREEN
2. HUMAN SAFETY & WELLNESS PRACTICES IN DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT
Human Safety & Risk • Electrical & physical hazards must be addressed • Physical Security – higher risk of threats due to the information data centers store. • Maintain office place safety standards • High-stress environment due to critical nature of 24/7 operational requirements.
Physical Security • Data center’s authorized staff limited to certain areas, & a variety of procedures split the building into distinct sectors for personal & cyber protection. • 24/7 security personnel help ensure strict access control throughout the facility.
Electrical Hazards SAFETY HAZARDS Serious injuries can occur from electrocution & arc-flash incidents. Workers need to be properly trained & prepared when working near electrical circuits & performing energized electrical work. Emergency Back-Up Batteries/Systems Workers can be exposed to exposed electrical connections & chemicals when working with the back-up systems in a data center. Workers need proper handling & response training. Risk of Falling From Elevated Heights Data center employees may find themselves changing lights & managing equipment from elevated places, such as roofs & ladders. It is important to assess the risks & have the proper equipment. Fires & Explosions Due to the nature of a data center, there are increased risks for fires & explosions from electrical currents, hot work, & overheated machinery. Workers should be educated on the fire suppression systems & trained on how to react to emergencies.
WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT EMOTIONAL CONCERNS HIGH STRESS Data centers are extremely valuable & important, which can potentially cause stress to data center workers LOW HUMAN CONTACT - ISOLATION Data centers do not contain a large number of employees which can cause workers to feel lonely & emotionally distressed. HIGH CONCENTRATION OF MACHINERY Noise & electrical shock hazards throughout the facility.
Planning for Emergencies • Evacuation Plans • Fire Protection �Fire alarms �Sprinklers �Fire suppression systems �Dry agent fire protection systems �Back-up sprinkler systems & exterior hydrants • Power Outages �Back up generators �COOP – Continuity Of Operations Plan �Redundancy & resiliency
Green Trends For Human Occupation • Eco-friendly toilets • Hand dryers • Water efficient sinks • Motion detection lights in less inhabited areas • Implementation of solar panel usage for human energy consumption (i. e. : plugs for phones, laptops, lamps)
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS & LANDSCAPES TO CONSIDER
Site Selection • Right location is crucial • Avoid location with high risks �Natural disasters • Access to reliable & constant power source • Ensure data center does not disturb the surrounding environment or community in a negative way
Climate Control • Cooling is essential for data centers �Cool Air from HVAC • Ventilation systems, fans, filters, sensors, air conditioners, water pipes/tanks, chillers, chimney server cabinets • No temperatures too high or low, humidity or moisture • Redundancy is key
Consider the Surrounding Environment • If you build a data center in a more extreme climate, then you will have to put more work into maintaining temperature & moisture • Humidity can have a significant negative impact on green data center technology • Consider plant & animal life around your facility - will they be damaged in a significant way by the data center?
Environmental Trends in Green Data Centers • Consider recycling or repurposing tech • Reducing total energy consumption �Build data center to be energy friendly • Green technology investment • PUE of data center
4. IMPORTANCE OF “BAKED-IN” CYBERSECURITY FOR DATA CENTERS
Data Centers offer a "target rich“ cyber environment • Risk contributor: enormous amounts of information (financial, medical, personal, etc. …) handle & stored on the thousands of servers in each center. Constant flow of data offer tempting targets to cyber criminals • Essential that everyone/everything that touches a data center recognizes the increasing cyber threat. Cybersecurity can not be an “add-on/after thought”; must be baked-in with dynamic, constant vigilance.
How To Increase Cybersecurity • Relevant & frequent cyber awareness training for all employees. • Baked-in cybersecurity must be included in every aspect of data center daily operations. • Cybersecurity is a critical design element for a data center: it ensure critical cybersecurity elements can be plugged-in/replaced as cybersecurity solutions evolve. Cyber criminals are constantly adapting their attack methods…& the frequency is increasing • $2 billion; premiums paid by US business’ for cybersecurity insurance in 2018
“…we’re entering an epidemic stage of cyberattacks… and no one is immune…. ” - FBI and DHS officials • Cities of all sizes have been targeted of cyber attacks in recent years, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Newark, New Jersey & Savannah, Georgia • Cyberattacks in early August crippled nearly two dozen Texas communities offering the latest evidence that cyber criminals can halt routine operations by locking up computers/public records & demanding steep ransoms. One communities’ police department’s phone/computer network was held hostage for a ransom demand of $5 M. • Atlanta officials refused cyber criminal’s ransom demand of $51, 000 in bitcoin to restore access to the city’s public network after it was hacked in 2018. The attack ended up costing the city more than $45 million to restore its systems, replace equipment, & enhance cybersecurity. It is estimated that over 6 million people’s personal information was also compromised as a result of the attack.
Test & Patch Your Cyber Defense Network "The best way for a data center manager to understand what is vulnerable to a cyberattack is to test their data center. Run the cybersecurity breach process as a live exercise & see what happens”. - Laurence Pitt, security strategy director at Juniper Networks You must be committed to long-term cybersecurity, which includes regular evaluation, updates, & innovation.
Our Contact Info Website • KCG-inc. net Mark Klett • Mark. Klett@kcg-inc. net Gary R. Jones • Gary. Jones@kcg-inc. net
Questions?
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