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Data Center   Disaster Recovery   Latest 0 comments on Is Your Generator Reliable? Do You Have Backup Power?

Is Your Generator Reliable? Do You Have Backup Power?

On Sunday night, November 27th, Houston residents received a boil water notice. A water purification plant in the city had experienced a brief power disruption, causing water pressure to drop below the minimum requirement of 20 PSI. This drop in pressure is what caused officials to give the boil water notice as a precaution for residents.

State and local entities worked with guidance from the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality to lift the boil water notice about 40 hours later. And for that we’re grateful.

A Cautionary Tale…

This article is not intended to put down an organization. (In fact, we commend the quick, safe approach by the Houston authorities and greatly appreciate their efforts.) Instead, this article is a cautionary tale about backup power for all businesses.

We ask these serious questions.

  • Are the generators at your on-premise data center and/or office building reliable?
  • Do you have redundant power?
  • Are there plans in place if you lose power?
  • What service outages would your customers experience if you lost power completely for 2 minutes? 15 minutes? For an hour?
  • How much revenue would you lose? Are lives at stake if you lose power?
  • What damages would your hardware experience with a power loss?

You Don’t Have to Have All of the Answers 

Truthfully, just typing the questions above makes our hearts beat rapidly. The ramifications of an outage for a company without backup power are expensive, time-consuming, and can cost human lives.

Power redundancy (i.e., having multiple sources of power) is a serious consideration for companies. Redundancy means reliability and peace of mind. And it’s for these reasons that clients choose a data center like FIBERTOWN.

It’s our job to have and maintain utility and generator power for your hardware. (We go into more detail about the traits of a top-rated data center in this article).

FIBERTOWN Can Keep You Up and Running

We have two data centers – one in Houston and one in Bryan-College Station. These data centers are fitted with redundant power and cooling systems. Backup generators are on site, and they are manned by IT professionals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

We’ll keep your company’s hardware up and running, even if the world outside is without power.

Ask us how we do this! We’d love to tell you more.

Complete the contact form to begin a conversation.
Data Center   Latest 0 comments on Hybrid Cloud or Multi-Cloud Strategy – What’s Best for Your Organization

Hybrid Cloud or Multi-Cloud Strategy – What’s Best for Your Organization

The cloud is everywhere. Phrases like “cloud first” and “we’re moving everything to the cloud” are common today. A growing company should have a cloud strategy to take full advantage of the possibilities the cloud offers.

A cloud strategy is a designation for the roles the cloud will play in a company’s operations. It should not be confused with a cloud adoption or migration plan. Ideally, those plans are part of a company’s overall cloud strategy.

This article briefly examines the hybrid cloud and multi-cloud strategies. If you have questions about what role FIBERTOWN can play in your cloud strategy, we’d love to speak with you.

A Hybrid Cloud Strategy

The concept of a hybrid cloud strategy is like that of a hybrid car. A hybrid car uses both electricity and gasoline for power. A hybrid cloud strategy uses both private and public clouds to store and retrieve data.

An example of a private cloud would be a company’s on-premise data center or FIBERTOWN’s data center. On the other hand, public clouds like AWS, Google and Microsoft Azure own and manage all of the hardware, software, and infrastructure associated with their cloud services.

The intent of a hybrid cloud strategy is to provide varied cloud providers as a single solution. For example, at FIBERTOWN, we serve as a private cloud provider while giving you easy access to multiple public cloud services. As our client, you can use Megaport, which allows you to connect to public clouds such as Office365, AWS and Google through a single port, optimizing cost and security, plus reducing latency (less lag time).

A Multi-Cloud Strategy

A multi-cloud strategy means utilizing multiple public cloud services to store and retrieve data. While redundancy is strong with this option (just as it is with the hybrid strategy), there are some drawbacks. This solution can be difficult to manage because of the number of vendors involved. Plus, latency can be an issue since multiple providers must “talk” with one another. But this strategy does lessen vendor lock-in. If you’re unhappy with a cloud provider, migrating to another one is easier because you’re already utilizing services from multiple ones.

FIBERTOWN Would Like to be a Part of Your Cloud Strategy

Cloud strategy is more than simply storing and retrieving data in the cloud. It’s a designation for how the cloud will be used for your company’s sustainability and growth. We strongly suggest setting aside time to consider your cloud strategy.

We’d love to tell you more about FIBERTOWN’s data centers (in Houston and Bryan-College Station) and how they can help bolster your cloud strategy.

Start the conversation today.

 

Data Center   Latest 0 comments on 6 Redundancy Measures to Consider When Searching for a Data Center

6 Redundancy Measures to Consider When Searching for a Data Center

The reason companies consider a data center is for a feeling of security – for an assurance that their hardware will be kept at optimal running conditions, no matter the circumstances. Because if this happens, then business continues as usual.

Yet, not all data centers are created equally, and if you contract with a subpar data center, your hardware and business continuity can’t be guaranteed. Below are six standards to consider when searching for a well-prepared, well-equipped data center, one you can count on during weather events, power outages, and more.

For a detailed look at these six standards, click here.

1. Accessibility via Automobile 

Considering the roadways to and from your data center is critical. Determining if there are alternative routes is just as important since roadways may be blocked with debris during inclement weather.

Look for a data center with diverse roadways – major highways, plus smaller roads – leading to it. Employees can access hardware and continue working during catastrophic weather events.

2. Diverse Connectivity

Contracting with a data center that utilizes a variety of internet providers gives you “layers” of internet. If one provider isn’t available (bad weather, equipment issues, etc.), you still have internet access. Seek a data center with multiple, unique carriers and network providers with diverse paths of entry into the facility.

3. Redundant Power

Redundant power, or a power source in case the first source fails, is critical. Without it, equipment troubles, a backhoe digging in the wrong area, or severe weather shuts down power, possibly damaging your hardware and causing downtime. And downtime is expensive. Hardware is too.

Search for a data center with the infrastructure for redundant power. And ask, is the redundant power fully operational, partial, or distributed.

4. Redundant Cooling

Much like connectivity and power, a data center must have multiple ways to ensure cooling. Since the environment inside can never change, a data center’s infrastructure must be designed so a malfunction does not cause fluctuation in humidity or temperature.

Ask about the specifications for the data center’s HVAC system and what processes (for people and equipment) are in place to ensure a steady environment.

5. On-Site Staff Availability

This standard is often overlooked, but it shouldn’t be. With technology taking center stage in a data center, the human beings who staff it are the real superstars. Look for a data center that guarantees a trained on-site staff, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

6. Service Level Agreement (SLA) 

Yes, the infrastructure for redundant power, cooling, and connectivity is vital. But, it’s the 100% uptime SLA that makes these measures the expectation…the norm…the standard for a data center.

Read carefully SLAs. Some data centers rely on insurance policies to provide 100% compensation if downtime occurs. Seek a data center with 100% uptime, even in the fine print.

About FIBERTOWN

We examine each of these six measures in more detail in this PDF. Download it and consider them as you search for a data center.

But know…at FIBERTOWN, we confidently meet – and exceed – these measures at both of our locations (Bryan-College Station and Houston).

We’d love to serve you and your company too.

Data Center   Latest 0 comments on Location, Location, Location – Why Bryan-College Station, Texas is Ideal for Colocation Services

Location, Location, Location – Why Bryan-College Station, Texas is Ideal for Colocation Services

The real estate adage “location, location, location” describes why FIBERTOWN’s Bryan-College Station data center is an ideal site for colocation services. Below, we outline four reasons why your company should consider our data center perfectly situated in the heart of eastern Texas.

Reason 1: Bryan-College Station is Located between Major Cities

FIBERTOWN’s Bryan-College Station data center is located within driving distance of the four biggest cities in Texas. It is about 90 minutes from Houston, two hours from Austin, and three hours from San Antonio and Dallas.

Because we’re near major cities, we’re also located close to major carrier hubs and Internet Carrier Exchanges. For our colocation clients, this proximity means lower latency (i.e., less lag time) and a constant Internet connection. There’s no need to be physically in one of the major cities if you can be there virtually.

Reason 2: Bryan-College Station Provides Safety and Accessibility During Weather Events

Our data center is located outside of the hurricane danger zone, as well as outside of tornado alley. As for accessibility, there are multiple routes from every major city to Bryan-College Station. Take interstates, state roads or, heck, even country roads.

Our proximity to multiple roadways eliminates the “one road in, one road out” scenario. With some prior planning, road construction, ice, downed trees and power lines, and heavy evacuation traffic won’t keep you from getting to our colocation site at Bryan-College Station.

Reason 3: Bryan-College Station is Home to Universities and Diverse Industries (and Less Slowdowns!)

As the home of Texas A&M, Bryan-College Station is rich with research and technology innovations. In fact, Amazon, in conjunction with Texas A&M, will be testing its drone delivery system here.

We’re also home to large healthcare groups and robust manufacturing industries, plus one campus of Blinn College.

Bryan-College Station has become a hub for diverse internet carriers wanting to meet the technology needs of these various entities. For FIBERTOWN customers, this means less slowdowns. 

Reason 4: Bryan-College Station Offers a Small-Town Feel with Big-Town Services

At FIBERTOWN, we want to offer a small-town, personable feel while providing world-class service. A staff member at our Network Operations Center (NOC) is only a phone call away – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

For example, if you need help connecting your office in one of the big cities to our data center in Bryan-College Station, call us. A member of our NOC staff will answer the phone or respond to your email. And within a short time, usually 15 minutes or less, you’ll have an answer or help with your issue.

You are not another number to us. We pride ourselves on customer service by real people, staffed in our centers.

With this small-town feel, we provide big-city services, though. We offer anything from our blended bandwidth product to a diverse transport option from our provider partnerships. And if your office is in Houston, you can ride our Point to Point between our two sites and co-locate in each of our data centers! (We have a data center in Houston too.)

FIBERTOWN Invites You to Visit Bryan-College Station.

We’d love to give you a tour of our data center at Bryan-College Station. With its proximity to major and minor highways, it’s accessible. It’s built to withstand high winds, yet located outside of tornado alley and away from the coast to avoid hurricanes. The area is rich in technology and research so it attracts quality internet and power providers. That’s a win-win for our customers.

And on a personal note, come see what life is like without concrete and pavement everywhere! We boast a lower cost of living and are an easy day trip to any major city to relive your big-city life.

Use the contact form here to start a conversation about our Bryan-College Station data center. We’d like to hear from you.