By Adamines | November 25, 2021 | Category: IT news
As the data center industry matures, its focus is shifting beyond power, cooling, and efficiency to new areas of growth and technological evolution. Recent research by Jones Lang LaSalle highlights several key trends shaping the future of data centers:
- Enterprises are increasingly seeking add-on services and outsourcing data center expertise.
- Hybrid models are becoming the norm.
- Data centers are growing more complex in all aspects: facilities, hardware, user requirements, and solutions.
- There's a rising demand for remote monitoring, cloud-based management, and customized deliverables.
- Growth in smaller satellite markets is expected as enterprises aim to be closer to end-users.
- "Edge" markets are playing a more significant role in data center strategies.
The Rise of Edge Computing
According to the AFCOM State of the Data Center Industry study, 81% of respondents indicated that the primary purpose for edge compute capacity was to support and enable IoT. Moreover, four in ten respondents have either deployed or plan to implement edge compute capacity in the near future.
Current Status of Data Center Services
The AFCOM study also revealed the top solutions data center leaders are leveraging to improve efficiency and deliver new capabilities:
- Data Analytics (52% already using)
- Big Data (42% already using)
- Machine Learning and AI (about 50% either using or planning to use in the next three years)
This trend aligns with the increasing volume of data center traffic. Cisco's Cloud Index report predicts that annual global data center IP traffic will reach 20.6 Zettabytes (ZB) by the end of 2021, up from 6.8 ZB per year in 2016.
Key Technologies Supporting Big Data and AI Initiatives
1. High-Performance Computing (HPC)
Hyperion Research forecasts that the worldwide HPC server-based AI market will expand at a 29.5% CAGR to reach more than $1.26 billion in 2021. This growth indicates that data center leaders are investing in technologies that can support AI and data analytics workloads.
2. Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI)
HCI is becoming one of the hottest infrastructure solutions, capable of supporting AI, data analytics, virtual desktops, and apps. IDC reports that the worldwide converged systems market revenue increased 9.1% year over year to $3.6 billion during Q4 2017, with full-year sales surpassing $12.5 billion.
Benefits of HCI for data centers include:
- Increased efficiency
- Reduced infrastructure space
- Improved overall data center performance
The Path Forward for Data Center Leaders
To stay competitive in this rapidly evolving landscape, data center leaders should consider:
- Partnering with cloud vendors
- Providing specific 'as-a-Service' offerings to differentiate from competitors
- Involving all teams to understand user experience, access methodologies, and market impact
- Developing a clear vision and strategy to maximize the potential of new technologies
- Positioning the data center as an engine for innovation, not just an infrastructure provider
- Working with high-quality partners and solutions to enable innovation
As organizations in both enterprise and mid-market spaces look to their data centers for innovation, it's crucial for data center leaders to stay ahead of the curve. By embracing these new technologies and approaches, data centers can continue to drive growth and meet the evolving needs of their clients in the age of big data, analytics, and AI.
