Small versus large data center: what operational safety really means
Tier certificates matter, but day-to-day safety is made of simpler things.
When people talk about data center safety they usually mean the Tier level, the number of feeds and the size of the generators. That matters. But day-to-day operational safety is made of small things, and here a small site wins.
Who knows your server
In a large data center your ticket is handled by a duty technician who sees the rack for the first time. Here it is the same engineer who mounted it, and he remembers that your second power supply is on the other feed.
How many people are in the hall
Dozens of clients and contractors in a large facility versus two or three McLaut engineers. Fewer people, fewer accidents.
One generator for everything
A compact site runs on one diesel unit, and its fuel stock is easier to control than a fleet of multi-megawatt generators.
Low profile
A few racks on an ISP’s closed premises do not look like a target. A large concentration of equipment does.
