10 Key Elements for Any Server Room
It is the most important room in your home or business that you should take care of. Server rooms might get a facelift occasionally from new products. But what you really need in your server rooms will generally remain a part of one of the 10 categories.
A server room’s purpose is to provide a place where your servers can work. Your data and all your information are safe and secure. While there are many laws that companies must comply with regarding data storage and protection, small data rooms may have less consistency. Consider this list of essentials if you’re just starting out.
Apart from servers, routers switches, and cabling, there are a few things you should have in your server room if it is going to be supported by anyone else. You should choose products that best suit your business.
Top 10 Key Elements for Any Server Room
1. Physical Security and Controlled Access
One of the purposes of a server room is to lock down access to servers and their contents. You will always need a lockable door that allows controlled access to your server rooms.
It is not a good idea to share your server room with an admin office. Not only is it a risk to data access but also humans and their contamination can pose a problem for equipment. It is important to keep your server room physically safe and secure.
Notice: You should be concerned about emergency access. Create a procedure to allow emergency access for off-hours and when key holders are not present. Train anyone who uses the building.
2. Environmental Monitoring and Controls
To protect your equipment from destruction or damage, it is important to monitor the environment. Equipment can be damaged by natural hazards, which can lead to costly repairs. Monitoring your server room can alert you or prevent an environmental problem from becoming a bigger issue. Monitoring could include:
- Temperature monitoring and A/C for that room only (so nobody changes the temperature)
- Monitors for humidity
- Moisture detectors to detect water leakage, burst pipes, and flooding
- Low oxygen safety monitor or alarm for oxygen depletion
- Before entering, check the room with cameras.
3. Ventilation and Airflow
Proper ventilation and airflow are essential for server room cooling. This will ensure that your equipment does not overheat and keeps it running as intended. Server room temperatures that are too high could cause equipment failure due to simple things like epoxy melting in heat beyond its rated limit. Keep your equipment functional by keeping the air moving.
Originally Published on The Tech Trend
