Data Centre Consultancy

Audits

Migration Solutions has carried out data centre and computer room audits for companies and government bodies of all sizes including councils and NHS Primary Care Trust Hospitals (PCTs). Whether the computer room has 4 or 400 racks Migration Solutions has the expertise to carry out a full or partial audit to meet your requirements.

Helicopter View

If you are looking for an overall assessment of your facility, Migration Solutions will carry out a facility audit reviewing areas such as power and cooling, room layout, room suitability and protection. This report is ideal if the organisation is considering the best way of managing the IT estate whether it be considering moving to a co-lo facility, a refurbishment or a new build.  The findings, in report or presentation style, is ideal for presentation to board members or senior managers enabling the IT Manager or Director to present an unbiased view of the existing facility. The report will include an action plan and some recommendations that will be able to be implemented for little or no cost, whereas others will be recommendations for longer term planning.

Standard View

For a more detailed understanding of your computer room or data centre, Migration Solutions can carry out a more in depth audit. The audit will include the above, but in more detail, producing a more comprehensive report. The audit also includes examining technologies, operations and policies.

Low Level View

For the most comprehensive audit, Migration Solutions can carry out an audit of the assets held within the facility, effectively creating a CMDB (Configuration Management Database). A thorough review of plant, facility location, operational practices, housekeeping and other aspects relating to the facility.

Mini Audit

If you just want someone to walk around your facility and chat about the current data centre and computer room best practice we can do that too! Just give us a call and arrange a meeting.

ERA - Environmental Report and Assessment

Data centres and computer rooms are extraordinary environments. Compared to equivalent work space, data centres and computer rooms can consume up to 50 times as much power.

As a direct result of their disproportionate power consumption, the environmental impact of the data centre is being scrutinised more closely than ever before by the Board, by organisations’ customers and by their employees looking at energy saving - and cost saving. In response to these growing concerns about energy use Migration Solutions has developed and launched the new Environmental Report and Assessment - the first industry-standard tool to provide a 360o view of the environmental impact of a data centre. Migration Solutions’ new Environmental Report and Assessment thoroughly examines every aspect of the data centre which contributes to its environmental impact, provides a Balanced Score Card for easy benchmarking with UK data centre average performances and, crucially, a Prioritised Action Plan which enables computer room and data centre managers to make meaningful and cost effective changes to the environmental performance of their computer room or data centre leading to energy saving, maximise resources and cost saving.

Migration Solutions’ new ERA examines the 10 Key Areas of a computer room or data centre’s infrastructure which contribute its overall environmental impact.

Section 1: Building - The building and infrastructure which contains the computer room or data centre has a fundamental impact on its environmental performance. In this Section ERA reports on:

  • The building's aspect and geographic location
  • The construction of the main building, which may differ from the data centre of computer room facility
  • Fenestration including the window frame quantities and type of glass
  • Access and egress points, including fire exits, portals and doors

Section 2: The Computer Room or Data Centre - The construction of the computer room or data centre itself clearly has a direct impact on how successfully it manages power consumption and the cooling required. This Section of the ERA reports on:

  • The computer room or data centre’s aspect in relation to the main building and the storey on which it is located
  • The computer room or data centre’s construction including the roof, slab, external and internal walls
  • Ceiling and flooring type – these determine dust levels which can impair efficiency and increase power consumption
  • Noise level, with measurements taken from both inside and outside of the facility

Section 3: Power - The use of renewable resources is just one element of how power determines a computer room's or data centre’s environmental impact. How the power is transmitted and deployed are equally important. This Section of the ERA will report on:

  • Grid supply source
  • The generator and the fuel it uses
  • UPS, including its type, size and batteries
  • Types of power strips employed, and their management and monitoring
  • Lighting design, fittings and types of bulbs and tubes

Section 4: Efficiency Index - The ERA applies all industry standard power efficiency measures to the data centre and assimilates them into an integrated overall evaluation. This Efficiency Index Section includes metrics recommended by The Green Grid, including Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and Data Centre Infrastructure Efficiency (DCiE), as well as the Energy Star rating system.

Section 5: Cooling - A computer room or data centre’s air conditioning system has a crucial impact, often being responsible for 40% of the overall power consumed. This can be reduced by increasing the efficiency of the IT and decreasing its heat output. The Cooling Section of the ERA report not only examines the system but also how the computer room or data centre affects its performance, including air flow in the main chamber and under floor.

Section 6: Protection - With ERA the computer room or data centre’s protection systems are assessed for their potential environmental impact – the ERA examines fire detection and suppression systems as well as protection systems including leak detection both sub-floor and in condensate trays.

Section 7: Layout - The layout of the facility has a huge impact on its efficiency and in this Section, ERA reports on the environmental impact of Cabling Infrastructure, Cabinets, Devices and Technologies.

  • Cabling Infrastructure – including whether the cabling is loose laid or in cable trays
  • Cabinets – including doors, blanking plates, side panels, gland plates, fan trays cable management types of cabinets, doors, and airflows
  • Devices – including cabinet loading and balancing, suitable airflow front to rear, side to side and bottom to top cooling, and the suitability of the cabinets for the devices installed
  • Technologies – including high density, blade servers, SAN, tape and the use of energy efficient technologies

Section 8: Operation - The Operation Section of ERA examines maintenance, monitoring and capacity planning. Maintenance and cleaning are essential in the running of an efficient facility and ERA looks at the cleaning schedule, tak-mats, and a commitment to Planned Preventative Maintenance.

An integrated monitoring solution gives early warning of potential problems and ERA rates temperature, humidity and Power Usage Effectiveness monitoring as well as temperature & humidity logging and integrated BMS. Capacity planning is also examined and ERA looks for use of tools to maximise the resources available to the facility such as workload scheduling, application sizing, demand forecasting and the monitoring of powering up/down schedules.

Section 9: Service Operation - In the Service Operation section ERA looks at the reporting methods used in the data centre and the availability of environmental impact awareness training.

Section 10: Policies - ERA examines the Policies of data centre and how its management contributes to the environmental credentials of the facility. These may be reflected in a certification such as ISO 14001 or voluntary schemes like Carbon Offsetting. In this Section ERA also looks at technology and application management including a commitment to data purging, virtualisation and how hardware is disposed of.

What does Migration Solutions’ ERA include?

During the ERA Site Visit by Migration Solutions’ expert consultants over 150 separate data points are examined, these are rated, prioritised and presented in a report of meaningful and actionable recommendations.

The ERA Balanced Score Card shows your computer room or data centre’s environmental impact and its performance so that future improvements can be measured.

The ERA Prioritised Action Plan enables you to take meaningful action and implement a cost effective change programme that will enhance the environmental performance of your computer room or data centre.

What are the benefits of Migration Solutions’ ERA?

ERA will reduce the environmental impact of your computer room or data centre, enhance your corporate reputation, saving energy and associated costs, and reduce system inefficiencies. 

If your business is looking for a more bespoke audit, we also offer this.  From an informal walk-around to more detailed computer room and data centre audits.

To request your ERA brochure email: info@migrationsolutions.com