If your data center is not thinking about transitioning to next-generation technology, then you might find yourself trapped in one of those “life comes at you fast” commercials because today’s “data explosion” is just a glimpse of what’s on the digital horizon.
“The amount of data being generated and consumed is nothing short of extraordinary,” wrote Sean Klimczak, global head of infrastructure for Blackstone. “Data usage has increased 100 times over the past 15 years, and even more striking, more data has been created in the past three years than in all of history. As AI continues to gain momentum, this trend will only accelerate. Global cloud migration is still in its early stages, and with revenues from cloud services expected to more than triple in the next five years, data growth will be astronomical.”
Pace of Technology Innovation Has Been Remarkable
Artificial intelligence (AI) alone has put a strain on legacy data centers and emerging tech such as quantum computing, edge AI (merging of AI and IoT), and Web3, the next iteration of the internet, will only put more demand on infrastructure.
“The pace of technology innovation has been remarkable,” said the McKinsey Technology Trends Outlook 2024 report. “Over the course of 2023 and 2024, the size of the prompts that large language models (LLMs) can process, known as “context windows,” spiked from 100,000 to two million tokens. This is roughly the difference between adding one research paper to a model prompt and adding about 20 novels to it.
Transitioning to next-generation technology in this data-hungry world is no longer optional, it's essential for staying competitive.
“The surging proliferation of AI, particularly generative AI applications, has ushered in an unprecedented demand for data center capacity,” Data Center Frontier’s Matt Vincent wrote.
At Hexatronic Data Center, experience has taught us how organizations can make a smooth transition to next-generation technology. Let’s take a closer look:
Understanding Next-Generation Data Center Technology
Next-generation data centers represent a significant evolution from traditional facilities. They feature:
- Automation and Software-Defined Infrastructure: Enhanced agility through automated provisioning and software-defined networking/storage.
- High-Density Computing: Advanced hardware solutions such as blade servers, hyper-converged infrastructure, and accelerated computing tailored for AI workloads.
- Energy-Efficient Design: Modern cooling solutions like liquid cooling and optimized power management significantly reduce energy consumption.
- Enhanced Reliability & Security: Built-in fault tolerance, disaster recovery mechanisms, and state-of-the-art cybersecurity measures.
Unlike traditional data centers that rely heavily on hardware-centric designs with limited scalability, next-generation facilities offer virtualized environments that are flexible, scalable, and resilient.
And the next-generation data center is integrating AI into all phases.
“Hyperscalers are integrating AI at every level of the data center, from managing energy efficiency and predictive maintenance to building specialized AI infrastructure for machine learning workloads,” wrote Vincent. “As we expect AI to become integral to data center operations, enhancing efficiency through predictive maintenance, workload optimization, and energy management, the increasing demand for user AI capabilities is of course also driving the development of specialized infrastructure within data centers for serving users and customers.”
Why Upgrade Your Data Center?
Legacy infrastructures often struggle under today's high-performance computing requirements. They consume excessive power, incur higher operational costs, and lack the agility needed to scale rapidly.
Upgrading addresses these challenges directly by offering:
- Enhanced Performance: Next-gen hardware delivers faster processing speeds and lower latency. This translates directly into better application performance and improved user experience.
- Increased Efficiency: Advanced cooling methods significantly reduce energy consumption compared to traditional air conditioning units. This not only saves money but also aligns with sustainability goals by reducing carbon emissions.
- Improved Scalability: Modern architectures provide built-in flexibility allowing seamless scaling without extensive downtime or disruptions typically associated with expanding traditional data centers.
- Strengthened Security: Advanced security features embedded within newer platforms ensure compliance with regulatory standards. They protect sensitive information against emerging cyber threats effectively safeguarding organizational assets.
- Cost Savings: Reduced energy consumption, lower maintenance costs, and minimized downtime collectively translate into substantial long-term financial savings.
Strategic Steps for Transitioning Successfully
Transitioning smoothly to next-generation technology requires strategic planning and execution. Here are the key steps to guide your upgrade process:
- Assessment & Planning: Start by evaluating your existing infrastructure thoroughly. Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, outdated components, or potential risks in your current setup. A comprehensive assessment provides clarity on where upgrades are most urgently needed.
- Structured Cabling: Structured cabling is crucial for high-speed data transfer capabilities required by next-generation technologies. Quality structured cabling solutions, like those offered by Hexatronic Data Center, are specifically engineered to handle future scalability demands. It’s important that your cabling infrastructure remains robust as your business evolves.
- Infrastructure Design: Effective infrastructure design minimizes complexity and maximizes reliability. Architects should collaborate closely with you to design end-to-end cabling infrastructures that lower link-loss budgets by reducing connection points—saving time and minimizing human error during future moves or expansions.
- Implementation & Installation: Proper installation is critical for successful upgrades. Find a partner such as Hexatronic Data Center's expert teams which can transform empty white space into fully operational environments through colocation installation services. Compatibility between legacy systems and new technologies during implementation phases is paramount.
- Relocation & Migration: Migrating equipment safely is a major concern when upgrading data centers. Partnering with a reliable company like Hexatronic can mitigate risks while safeguarding valuable IT assets from initial de-racking through secure transportation to final reinstallation. The goal is to minimize downtime throughout the entire migration process.
- Managed Services & Ongoing Support: Post-upgrade support ensures continuous optimal performance levels for your new infrastructure. Find flexible managed services tailored specifically around your needs, whether requiring constant onsite presence or occasional support—to keep operations running smoothly long after initial implementation concludes.
Future-Proofing Your Data Center
An essential aspect of upgrading involves preparing for future technological advancements such as AI-driven automation tools, quantum computing capabilities, and generative AI workloads.
Modular architectures offer composable infrastructures providing maximum flexibility when scaling capacity quickly without unnecessary disruptions typically associated with legacy setups—ensuring readiness against whatever tomorrow brings.
Other strategies to data center futureproofing coalesce around scalable designs, AI automation strategies, hybrid cloud integration solutions, and advanced cooling technologies.
Partnering with Hexatronic Data Center
Hexatronic Data Center offers comprehensive solutions designed specifically around transitioning smoothly toward next-gen technologies from structured cabling to colocation installation services to on-site managed services.
With collective expertise spanning multiple niche companies under one umbrella organization, we support every step along this transformative journey—from initial assessment through fully operational upgraded facilities seamlessly integrated within existing ecosystems already present internally today.
The Path Forward: Embracing Next-Gen Technology
The digital landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. With AI workloads, quantum computing on the horizon, and data volumes growing exponentially, legacy data centers face increasing pressure to adapt or fall behind.
Upgrading to next-generation technology isn't just about keeping up—it's about positioning your organization for enhanced performance, improved scalability, greater efficiency, and strengthened security while achieving significant long-term cost savings.
Take the first step by conducting a thorough assessment of your current infrastructure. Identify your most pressing challenges and opportunities for improvement, then explore partnerships with experienced providers like Hexatronic Data Center who can guide you through the transition process.
Whether you're planning a complete overhaul or a gradual migration, the time to begin is now. Your organization's digital future depends on the infrastructure decisions you make today.
Contact Hexatronic Data Center to discuss your specific needs and discover how our comprehensive solutions can help transform your data center for tomorrow's challenges.
