What is involved in a data centre relocation?
Share
- A data centre relocation involves physically moving IT infrastructure from one location to another while minimising downtime.
- It’s a complicated process often requiring a white-glove delivery service to ensure equipment is transported safely.
- Working with a professional company like SFI can help minimise downtime, reduce the risk of damage, and ensure full data security compliance.
A data centre relocation is one of the highest-risk logistics projects a business will run, where even minor downtime can impact operations, security and revenue.
First, you’ll have to plan your move.
- Assess your inventory
- Create a map of your IT Infrastructure
- Assess the risks of data centre relocation
- Survey your new site
Next, you’ll have to prepare for your move.
- Back up your data and map your cabling
- Decommission with a controlled shutdown (allowing active tasks to be finished and connections closed) to protect your data integrity
- Un-rack and securely pack everything for safe transport.
Finally, after you’ve transported everything to the new location, you’ll have to reinstall, physically reconnect the system, and test everything to make sure it’s working before setting your new data centre live.
A specialist logistics company like SFI can transport your data centre with a white glove delivery service, with professional, hands on support at every stage of the relocation process.
If you’re thinking about a data centre relocation, contact our team to see how we can help.
What type of businesses need data centre relocation?
The types of businesses that need data centre relocation are those that have outgrown their current setup, recently merged or acquired businesses, and businesses chasing cost efficiency or sustainability goals.
If you’re operating at capacity, then moving your data centre to a bigger premises is a must. Alternatively, you may be housing your hardware in an older data centre, and want to move to one that’s more energy efficient to save costs and reduce your carbon footprint.
If you think data centre relocation could be right for your business, get in touch with our team today.
Why is a data centre relocation unique?
Data centre relocation presents a number of unique challenges that make it very different from your typical professional office relocation.
Preventing damage
Since the hardware involved in the move is critical to your business, and every extra bit of downtime costs you money, preventing damage is a key component of data centre relocation.
White glove delivery is essential in making sure all your components arrive at your new data centre in the best possible condition.
Minimising downtime
Every hour your servers are down is costing you money, so a data centre relocation must be structured around having as little downtime as possible.
Preventing damage helps a lot with this, but it also means the shutdown and setup at either end of your relocation need to be done professionally and efficiently.
Avoiding security breaches
Security concerns are a big factor in data centre relocation. You’ll need to remove old, legacy hardware both to reduce the likelihood of security breaches and to get rid of unnecessary, power-hungry infrastructure so your systems are more cost and energy-efficient after the move.
Differences between old and new data centres
There may be some differences that you need to adapt to between your old and new data centre.
Cooling, power densities and network configurations can vary from one location to another, so they need to be factored in by our team of professionals when helping install your new data centre after transporting your hardware.
If you need a partner to help with your data centre relocation, then get in contact with the SFI logistics team today.
Do all logistics companies offer data centre relocation?
Not all logistics companies will offer data centre relocation. It’s a highly specialised and process that requires white glove delivery and very careful transportation.
Because of the risks involved, data centre relocation is only offered by a handful of companies in the UK so picking the right one matters for your move.
You can learn more about white glove delivery here.
How much does a data centre relocation cost?
Data centre relocation costs vary based on the scale of the project. This includes the number of racks that need relocating, the distance travelled, and any new infrastructure that might need to be factored in, as well as the cost of downtime.
If you’re wondering how much a data centre relocation will cost for you, then get in touch with one of our team for a quote.
Or, if you’re interested in how much a general office move costs, you can read about it here.
What are the main risks during a data centre relocation?
The main risks of relocating a data centre are downtime caused by any unexpected delays, data loss or corruption, or security breaches while you shut down all your equipment and move it.
Damaged equipment may also need to be replaced, but all these risks can be massively mitigated by hiring a professional logistics company like SFI to do your data centre relocation for you. Get in touch with our team here to find out how we can help.
Is it worth hiring a professional company when planning a data centre relocation?
Yes, it’s always worth hiring a professional company when planning a data centre relocation. A DIY job may seem tempting, but plenty of hidden costs are waiting to creep up on you. Delays will lose you money, and you might have to pay over the odds to fix any mistakes.
A professional company can help out with:
- Planning to prevent unnecessary downtime
- De-racking and reinstalling your tech
- Working with your IT teams to ensure everything is ready to use as soon as we leave
- Secure, white glove handling throughout the move
The white glove service provided by companies like SFI Logistics ensures your data centre relocation is as seamless as possible, and you aren’t hit with any hidden costs or unexpected, lengthy downtime.
Get in touch today to see how we can help with your data centre relocation.
How can SFI help with data centre relocation?
With data centre relocations, the logistics teams are no longer just transporting your equipment from one location to another. They are actively involved in the shutdown and installation of your data centre on either side of the move.
At SFI, we support businesses that need more than transport alone. From warehousing and storage to specialist handling and last-mile delivery, we help companies deliver products exactly as intended.
If you are exploring data centre relocation as part of your company’s growth, SFI has 30 years of experience to find a solution that works for you.