The hidden risk to data center safety and data integrity

By Derek Sandahl, Global Product Manager, Engineered Fire Suppression Systems, Johnson Controls

Data centers are heavily relied upon to store and disseminate timely, accurate and protected data to customers. But what if the data center’s hard drive disks (HDDs), the primary means of information storage, failed and couldn’t process information efficiently or lost stored data? While an event of this magnitude is difficult to fathom, it could occur – especially with the most ominous threat to HDDs living within the walls of the data center.

So, what is the hidden risk that poses this threat for data centers? Acoustics.

The Hidden Risk of Acoustics

Acoustics in data centers can be a result of loud alarms, supersonic discharge from fire suppression systems, and even air circulation fans to name a few. These noises, along with other environmental sounds, cause vibrations within data centers and have a damaging effect on HDDs.

Due to recent advancements in IT and electronic equipment technologies – made to keep up with the demand for increased storage capacity and efficiency – HDDs have become more sensitive to acoustics than ever before. Recent testing has revealed that when hard drives are exposed to decibels or frequencies of sound higher than 110dBZ, their ability to process and store data declines at a rapid pace. This means that acoustics and their subsequent vibrations have a significant impact on overall HDD performance. These interruptions not only lead to potential data gaps, compromised data quality and integrity or total data loss, but also put data centers at a greater risk of downtime.

How to Address the Risk of Sound:

Fortunately, there are many ways to mitigate the risk of acoustics and the threat posed to data centers, including:

• Acoustic suppression technologies
• Softer construction materials and sound absorbing panels
• Relocate hard drive disks

To learn more about how you can mitigate the risk of acoustics in your data center, read the full article from CIO Applications here: The Hidden Risk to Data Center Safety and Data Integrity