Relocation

What is Data Centre Relocation?

Data centre relocation involves physically moving an entire data centre, including servers, networking equipment, storage devices, and other critical IT infrastructure, from one location to another. This process is often undertaken when a company needs to upgrade its facilities, reduce costs, improve disaster recovery capabilities, or accommodate business growth by moving to a larger or more strategically located facility.

Relocating a data centre is a complex, high-stakes operation that requires careful planning, risk management, and coordination to minimise downtime and ensure a smooth transition.

What is the difference between Data Centre Migration & Relocation?

Though the terms “”data centre migration”” and “”data centre relocation”” are sometimes used interchangeably, they refer to different processes with distinct goals:

Data Centre Relocation:

Physical move: Relocation involves the physical movement of IT infrastructure from one location to another.
Focus on hardware: The primary concern is the safe transportation of physical hardware, ensuring that all systems are operational in the new location with minimal downtime.
Logistical challenges: The process includes dismantling, packing, transporting, reassembling, and testing the hardware in the new facility.

Data Centre Migration:

Digital transition: Migration refers to the process of transferring data, applications, and workloads from one environment to another, which can be within the same data centre, between data centres, or from on-premises to the cloud.
Focus on software: Migration focuses on the digital aspects, such as moving virtual machines, databases, and applications, often with the goal of upgrading systems or improving performance.
Technical challenges: The main challenges include data integrity, compatibility, and minimising service interruptions during the transition.

What are the things to consider before relocating your Data Centre?

Relocating a data centre is a major undertaking that requires careful consideration of several factors to ensure a successful transition:

Detailed planning:

Assessment: Begin with a thorough assessment of your current infrastructure, including an inventory of all equipment, applications, and services. Understand the dependencies between systems to avoid disruptions.
Timeline: Establish a realistic timeline that considers potential challenges and includes buffer periods for unexpected delays.

Risk management:

Contingency planning: Develop a comprehensive risk management plan that addresses potential issues like hardware damage, data loss, or extended downtime. Identify critical systems that require special attention.
Backup and Recovery: Ensure that all data is backed up before the move. Have a disaster recovery plan in place in case something goes wrong during the relocation.

Minimising downtime:

Phased Approach: Consider relocating non-critical systems first to reduce the impact on business operations. Plan the move during off-peak hours or over a weekend to minimize disruptions.
Testing: Perform thorough testing before, during, and after the relocation to ensure that all systems are functioning correctly and that no data has been lost or corrupted.

Budget considerations:

Cost analysis: Relocating a data centre can be expensive. Prepare a detailed budget that includes costs for transportation, new infrastructure, professional services, and any potential downtime.
Cost-benefit analysis: Evaluate the long-term benefits of the relocation, such as improved efficiency, better security, or reduced operational costs, against the immediate expenses.

Choosing the right facility:

Location: The new data centre location should be strategically chosen based on factors like proximity to business operations, connectivity options, and geographical stability.
Infrastructure: Ensure that the new facility meets your current and future needs in terms of space, power, cooling, and connectivity.
Security: Evaluate the physical and cyber security measures in place at the new location to protect your infrastructure.

Compliance and Legal considerations:

Regulatory compliance: Ensure that the relocation complies with all relevant regulations, including data protection laws and industry-specific requirements.
Contracts and SLAs: Review any existing contracts or service level agreements (SLAs) with your current providers. Determine if new agreements are needed for the new location.

Coordination and Communication:

Stakeholder involvement: Keep all stakeholders, including IT teams, management, and third-party vendors, informed throughout the process. Clear communication is essential for coordination.
Vendor support: Engage with professional services or vendors who specialize in data centre relocations to assist with planning, execution, and troubleshooting.

Post-Relocation monitoring:

Ongoing support: After the relocation, closely monitor the performance of all systems to identify and address any issues that arise. Ensure that all services are fully operational and meet performance expectations.
Documentation: Update all documentation, including infrastructure maps, inventory lists, and configuration settings, to reflect the changes made during the relocation.