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A major power outage can mean big trouble for tech datacenters. Here’s a look at what can happen when the power goes out.
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Introduction
In the event of a widespread power outage, datacenters are among the first places to go dark. These structures house the computer servers that power the internet and store massive amounts of data. When they lose power, the internet grinds to a halt.
The loss of datacenters would be devastating to our economy and way of life. This is why many companies have backup generators and other contingency plans in place to keep their datacenters running in the event of a power outage.
However, even the best-laid plans can fail. In 2012, Superstorm Sandy knocked out power to 25 percent of datacenters in the New York area. And in 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria caused major damage to datacenters in Florida and Puerto Rico, respectively.
When datacenters go dark, the impacts are felt far beyond just the loss of internet access. Here are some of the other ways that a widespread power outage would affect our lives:
ATMs would stop working: Most ATM machines get their power from banks’ datacenters. So if those centers lose power, the ATMs will too. This could cause major disruptions for businesses and individuals who rely on cash for transactions.
Cell phone service would be interrupted: Cell phone service depends on towers that get their power from nearby datacenters. So if those centers lose electricity, so will the cell towers. This could make it difficult for people to communicate during an emergency situation.
Transportation would be disrupted: Traffic lights, train schedules, and flight information are all controlled by systems that get their power from datacenters. So if those centers go dark, transportation systems would be disrupted as well. This could cause major problems for first responders and others who need to get around during an emergency situation
The Importance of Datacenters
The term “datacenter” is used a lot in the tech industry but what are they really, and why are they so important? A datacenter is a large and expensive facility used to store, distribute, or create electronic data. They come in all shapes and sizes, but most have one thing in common: they use a lot of electricity.
Datacenters are the backbone of the internet. They store our data, power our apps, and keep our online world running. When they go dark, we feel it. We lose access to our favorite websites and apps, we can’t connect with friends and family online, and businesses grind to a halt. In short, datacenters keep the digital world running, and we rely on them more than we realize.
The Dangers of Datacenter Outages
The Dangers of Datacenter Outages
An estimated 85% of the world’s population now lives in areas where night falls for at least 12 hours each day, and with the growing popularity of artificial lighting, the majority of people are now exposed to less natural light than ever before. This shift has been associated with a number of negative health effects, including an increased risk for obesity, cancer, and mood disorders.
But what happens when our technology datacenters go dark?
These massive facilities require enormous amounts of electricity to keep their millions of servers and other electronic components running around the clock, and when they lose power, the results can be catastrophic. Here are just a few examples of datacenter outages that have made headlines in recent years:
In 2012, a power outage at Amazon’s Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) central united states region took down websites and services for some of the world’s biggest companies, including Netflix, Pinterest, and Instagram.
In 2013, a software bug brought down Microsoft’s Azure cloud service for nearly 13 hours. The outage affected major customers such as Adobe and McDonald’s.
In 2015, a power outage at an Equinix datacenter in Virginia caused major internet disruptions across the eastern United States. The problem was traced to a damaged transformer that had been hit by lightning.
These are just a few examples of datacenter outages that have caused widespread problems in recent years. As our dependency on digital technologies continues to grow, it’s important to understand the risks associated with these massive structures and take steps to protect ourselves from their potential failures.
The Causes of Datacenter Outages
There are many potential causes of datacenter outages, ranging from natural disasters and power failures to human error and cyberattacks.
Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes, can cause extensive damage to datacenters, knocking out power and resulting in extended downtime.
Power failures can also be a major cause of datacenter outages. In some cases, datacenters may have backup generators that can keep critical systems up and running for a limited period of time. However, if the power failure is prolonged, or if the generator fails, the datacenter will eventually go dark.
Human error is another common cause of datacenter outages. From accidentally unplugging equipment to incorrectly configuring systems, human error can lead to serious disruptions in service.
Cyberattacks are a growing concern for datacenters, as they can potentially disable systems and prevent access to data. Cybercriminals may target datacenters in an attempt to blackmail the owners or disrupt operations.
The Consequences of Datacenter Outages
No one can predict when a datacenter outage will occur, but when it does, the consequences can be significant. Datacenter outages can cause businesses to lose revenue, customers, and even employees. In some cases, outages can even lead to legal action.
There are many possible causes of datacenter outages, including natural disasters, power failures, equipment failures, and human error. Outages can also be caused by cyberattacks, as was the case with the 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack that brought down several UK hospitals’ IT systems.
While the causes of datacenter outages may be different, the consequences are often similar. Businesses may lose money due to lost productivity or downtime, customers may go to competitors, and employees may become frustrated and look for other jobs. In some cases, datacenter outages can even lead to legal action.
To avoid the consequences of datacenter outages, businesses must have a plan in place to keep their operations running in the event of an outage. This plan should include backup systems and redundancy plans to ensure that data and applications are still accessible during an outage.
How to Prevent Datacenter Outages
Disasters can strike anywhere, at any time. That’s why it’s important for businesses to have a plan in place in case their primary datacenter goes down.
There are a number of steps that businesses can take to prevent datacenter outages, or at least minimize the impact of an outage should one occur. Here are a few of the most important:
– Dual power supplies: Use two independent power supplies to power your datacenter. This way, if one goes down, the other can keep the datacenter running until the first is fixed.
– Backup generators: In case of a power outage, backup generators can keep the datacenter running until power is restored.
– Redundant systems: Use redundant systems wherever possible so that if one system fails, another can take its place.
– Offsite backups: Keep backups of all critical data offsite so that if the primary datacenter is destroyed, you still have access to your data.
Taking these steps will help reduce the chance of an outage and minimize the impact if one does occur.
