Tips for taking data center optimization to the next level

A survey performed by TeamQuest noted that data center optimization is always a top priority among IT decision makers, said FierceCIO. Nearly all respondents reported that their companies rely on optimization strategies to keep their data centers up to speed with the demands of their business. There are multiple ways to make data center operations more efficient, and the strategy that works best will depend on your facility's size and setup. Keep these big picture ideas in mind when drafting your own optimization strategy.

Plan with scalability in mind
Never forget that optimization is an ongoing process. With greater demand from clients comes the need to expand the data center, and companies must be prepared to handle that growth as it occurs organically. That's why scalability considerations are so important when it comes to optimization updates - these upgrades could actually hinder growth if the efficiency solutions are difficult to duplicate or expand.

Don't neglect personnel optimization
Sometimes the most costly breakdowns in a data center are those of communication. Be sure to keep employees up to date on the latest expectations when it comes to the company's optimization strategies. Confusion about what moves your business needs to make in order to make its operations more efficient and less costly can actually slow down your company instead of speeding it up.

Take advantage of all your resources
Data Center Knowledge noted that there are tons of resources available for data centers looking to optimize, both in-house opportunities and chances to outsource. For companies keeping their plan internal, the resource recommended deploying a data center infrastructure management tool to keep logistics under better control. Businesses willing to do their work in the cloud can ease the burden of optimization by passing the buck to an IaaS or SaaS provider.

Consider upgrades for legacy infrastructure
Sometimes companies must depend on outdated data center infrastructure because the task of replacing one of the company's most vital resources has proved to be too costly and expensive. However, IT decision makers should always be on the look out for ways to help old technology run smoother. Fiber-to-Ethernet connectors can be used to expand the usefulness of a existing copper wires in the building.

Perle has an extensive range of Managed and Unmanaged Fiber Media Converters to extended copper-based Ethernet equipment over a fiber optic link, multimode to multimode and multimode to single mode fiber up to 160 km.