North Texas data centers provide cutting-edge tech to meet high demand

Dallas-Fort Worth is home to more than 50 data centers across the region and growing as the demand for secure storage space and high-speed computing power continues to skyrocket. But in order for these data centers to continue their growth, they have to stay on the cutting edge to ensure the highest quality technology, security and power of each facility.

“What we’re seeing is data centers of tomorrow are getting bigger, more resilient and more powerful,” said John Sheputis, president of the Dallas Infomart Data Centers. “An average data center costs $10 million a megawatt to build. And that’s just the building with power and cooling.”

Every data center requires three major elements: processing power, large levels of storage and network switches made possible by cables, said Franklin Flint, chief technology officer of the Telecommunications Industry Association. Data centers compete by offering the newest processors, which often have new versions every 12 to 18 months, high-speed connectivity and dense storage space.

But that’s not all data centers have to consider. They also invest in cooling systems that could range from fans tocirculate air from the outside to heavy-duty air conditioning systems, and numerous generators to ensure a reliable energy source.

The Dallas Infomart Data Centers has 52 generators at its property, with more coming in every year.

“Sometimes they even generate their own (energy),” Flint said. “Sometimes they plug into multiple providers, in case one fails. But they all have backup systems in place so that things don’t go down.”

And, of course, data centers have physical and cyber-security issues to consider at all times.

The physical isn’t so hard to manage, Flint said, as data centers often have high-tech security systems, some that include biometric scanning, and hired staff to restrict access. But the threat in cyberspace is the bigger issue.

“The more important the network gets the more important security and compliance is,” Sheputis said. “It costs millions of dollars to fix and cure a breach, so the stakes keep getting raised higher and higher.”

To combat cyber threats, data center companies use sophisticated encryption and firewalls along with user authentication processes to store sensitive data. Even then, data center clients often opt for an additional layer of security by hiring a third party to protect their data.

But as data centers continue to evolve in their ability to serve an ever-growing demand of processing power, companies will continue to explore innovations that will make their facilities more efficient.

For example, cooling methods such as using radiators with cold water dripping through them to keep servers cool are being used at some facilities.

Other cooling methods being tested include immersing systems in oil, which serves as a better medium for conducting heat.

Another trend on the rise, according to Flint, is container-based data centers, which are built in portable containers that can be easily carted off when the company needs to replace or update its equipment.

And with Dallas serving as a major hub of connectivity for the southern U.S., data centers are challenged with meeting the demand from companies across the world, Sheputis said.

“The Dallas market has been growing by 20 megawatts a year,” he said, adding that hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent on building Dallas data centers every year. “We think Dallas is one of the most important markets in the country, if not in the world.”