Eventually, your business will reach the point where it needs a substantial data center to process its data. But the question arises: where do you begin? Before you pick up the hammer and get to work building a location equipped for your needs, you need to know the right questions to ask. Here are a few essential questions to ask when going through the process of data center construction.

Should You Buy or Build?

Not very long ago, this would not have been a consideration. Big names in the data center business did not exist — you were forced to create something in-house. Nowadays, with widespread knowledge about the way information is processed and data speeds increasing, you have the option to outsource this work. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are about three million data centers in the country. Whether outsourcing will be beneficial for your business will depend on numerous factors.

Investigate whether external providers can meet the needs of your operation. Do the math to determine if it would make more fiscal sense to build in-house or to outsource. You might find that your business would find it helpful to employ an Edge data center. They run close to the end-users that they support, which reduces latency. If you find yourself stuck between a couple of options, then reach out to a professional company like LDP Associates to help you make the right decision.

Who Are You Hiring to Build It?

There are a few people you will definitely have to bring in, like a construction contractor, an engineering firm, and sub-contractors. It is critical that you define who is in charge of what early on and ensure your contractors are in frequent communication so that nobody gets their wires crossed. Who will manage each aspect of your construction project?

Additionally, you should inquire as to whether the contractors you are considering have worked on data centers before. There could be regulations, requirements, and best practices surrounding data center construction that they should be aware of. Do not be afraid to ask around for positive recommendations.

What Size Should It Be?

Defining structural boundaries for your data center can be tough. You have to be able to fulfill the needs of today while anticipating the needs of tomorrow. That being said, you do not want to allocate too large of a budget for operations that will not need to be expanded upon. Consider data center cooling, power necessities, and other important aspects of a proper data center.

For more information on data center construction and data center management, be sure to get in contact with the team at LDP Associates. We can account for your business’ specific data center needs and provide the answers that you have been looking for.