datacentre

A datacentre, or data centre, is a facility that houses computer systems and associated components used for storing, processing, and distributing data and applications. Datacentres support enterprise IT, cloud services, and internet-scale services, and may be operated in-house or by third-party providers as colocation or managed services.

Key components include computing hardware (servers and storage arrays), networking gear (switches, routers, firewalls), power infrastructure (uninterruptible power supplies, generators, distribution units), and cooling systems (air handling units, chillers, containment). Facilities also employ monitoring, environmental sensors, physical security, and centralized management software.

Operational design emphasizes reliability and scalability. Redundant power and cooling, modular construction, and sophisticated monitoring reduce risk of outages. Uptime targets are commonly described by tier classifications, while virtualization, storage tiering, and software-defined networking improve efficiency and flexibility.

Datacentres come in several models. Enterprise datacentres are owned by single organizations; colocation facilities rent space to customers; hyperscale datacentres are built by large providers to support vast workloads; and edge datacentres are smaller facilities positioned closer to users to reduce latency.

Efficiency and standards guide modern datacentres. Energy use is commonly measured by the power usage effectiveness (PUE) ratio. Standards and frameworks, including ISO 27001 for information security and ISO 50001 for energy management, help align operations with best practices and regulatory requirements. Environmental considerations, such as liquid cooling and renewable energy, are increasingly adopted.