Hybrid Data Centers Push Cloud and IT Solutions

Schneider Electric has simplified and aligned its data center solutions for the new hybrid IT world with the introduction of EcoStruxure Data Center Solutions, unveiled at Innovation Summit Barcelona last year and we talked with Jernej Urbas, sales director for Adriatic region, secure power Schneider Electric. Secure Power is a high-performing and industry-leading division of Schneider Electric, providing complete physical infrastructure solutions for data centers, distributed IT environments, and industrial application.

According to Urbas the latest evolution of Schneider Electric’s integrated systems, EcoStruxure Data Center Solutions bring together power, cooling, racks, and management to support deployment of distributed IT networks in all environments from small edge applications to hyperscale cloud data centers.

What is the key difference between hybrid data centers and others?

Over the last several years, the move to the cloud was mainly driven by increased needs stabilized as the for applications that could be easily and cost effectively outsourced, they were moved to the cloud. The applications left on premise are simply too integrated into local operations or too expensive to move. This forced a change to the way data center staffs manage their assets with some assets outsourced and others still on-premise/at “the edge“.

The new “hybrid“ data centers architecture can consist of a combination of - a centralized cloud characterized by massive compute and storage, regional edge data centers that consist of large compute and storage located closer to the user, and local edge with smaller compute and storage assets very near to where the data is being consumed like a branch office or retail store

So, in essence there is hard to talk about key differences, but rather an evolution of the usage of existing resources driven by customer requirments and technology enablers.
How to arrange a hybrid data center?

To meet the needs of the new digital world, we must transform how we deploy and manage IT.  While cloud computing drove the creation of mega data centers, edge computing brings distributed IT with an exponential number of micro data centers.  Gartner estimates “By 2025, 75% of enterprise data is expected to be created & processed at the Edge.“

As we mentioned before a hybrid data center is an evolution. As such a hybrid data center does not exist, it is rather a combination of Cloud and local edge data centers. That being said, a number of hybrid data center characteristics are beginning to emerge that diverge from well-worn traditional approaches such as Application suitability - Legacy applications are typically unsuited to run off-premise, which is driving more enterprises to modernize existing workloads wherever possible and develop net new applications built for the cloud.

Also, workload management is key because workloads are analyzed on a case-by-case basis.

Risk, cost and IT service performance are the variables that determine which of different With advanced software tools companies managing hybrid environments are investing in software tools that provide greater visibility into each of the three data center environments prove most efficient for the particular workload.

Advanced software tools enable companies managing hybrid environments are investing in software tools that provide greater visibility into each of the three data center iterations

Who are the data centers for and how do you see their development in the future?

Hybrid data center is orchestration of local edge, local or regional DCs and cloud DCs and as such this is a reality for majority of companies and/or businesess. There are simply some applications that need to run on local edge or in other words close to the actuall user, part of it can be transfered to the cloud as it is simply more efficient. So we definetely believe there will be a major switch, which as a matter of fact is already happening.

Schneider Electric has a legacy in driving data center efficiency and the industry has made tremendous progress in the past decade. From 10 years until now we have increased efficiency to 80% in data centers.

We are well-positioned to continue to lead the industry with disruptive innovation. Stepping into this new role, my focus is on by operating with the highest energy efficiency possible, nurturing a growth mindset, and continuing to embrace a global and diverse team approach.

Do you expect there to be enough market for hybrid data centers?

When we talk about Hybrid DC or hybrid cloud, the market is going to increase, simply based on the fact that the needs are emerging on the markets, mainly driven by the users. 
What technologies are hybrid data centers based on?

At Schneider Electric we are of course at the heart of this switch. Our solutions act as enablers for hybrid DC to work. Specialized tools and techniques can simplify the task of managing hybrid environments. In the case of local edge data centers, for example, micro data centers, are emerging as key approaches that act as enablers of the local edge applications and are ideal for broadband-consuming high bandwidth delivery, latency sensitive applications, and IoT applications involving data gathering and processing.