This document outlines 10 key criteria to analyze when planning a new data center: 1) required availability and uptime levels, 2) anticipated initial and growth loads, 3) location impacts, 4) design and construction consulting and vendor selection, 5) lifecycle cost modeling, 6) evaluating green certifications, 7) modular scalability, 8) staffing capabilities, 9) budget analysis of capital vs operating costs, and 10) regulatory compliance requirements. Analyzing these 10 criteria thoroughly from the start will help avoid oversizing, overdesigning, and ensure all costs and needs are properly planned for.

1. TOP 10 CRITERIA TO
ANALYZE YOUR
DATA CENTER NEEDS

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1. Required Availability: Commonly Known as the
Uptime Institute’s Tier Level
THE MORE AVAILABLE
YOUR SITE,
THE LARGER THE EXPENSE
Have you carefully evaluated your availability needs to avoid
oversizing and over-designing your data center?

3. 2. Anticipated Day One Loads and
Incremental Growth
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Track your IT
EQUIPMENT PATTERNS
Do you know the power profile of your existing equipment "
and its longevity?

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DECIDE ON THE MOST
IMPORTANT FACTORS
3. Location Impacts
Can you rank what is most critical: close to headquarters,
DR site, energy rates, power/cooling, carrier diversity?

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SELECTING THE CORRECT
TEAM CAN MAKE OR
BREAK YOUR PROJECT
4. Design and Construction Consulting and
Vendor Selection
How will you go about choosing a vendor/partner?

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DATA CENTER LIFECYCLES
INCLUDE MANY COMPONENTS
5. Lifecycle Cost Modeling
Have you considered your variables for computing, facility "
and financial impacts?

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IT ISN’T EASY
BEING GREEN
6. Green Evaluation to PUE
Have you quantified the costs associated with going green?
What are your business requirements for this certification?

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BUILD WITH THE FUTURE
IN MIND AND ALLOW FOR
EASY TRANSACTIONS
7. Modular Approach
What are your sizing needs now and later?

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BUILDING A DATA CENTER
IS COMPLEX
8. Staffing Capabilities
Do you have the personnel needed to operate your facility?

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CORPORATE EXPECTATIONS
AND GOALS NEED
TO BE ALIGNED
9. Budget Analysis
Who makes these decisions?
What about CAPEX vs. OPEX?

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COSTS AND TIME
INCREASE WITH SPECIFIC
REGULATORY SPECIFICATIONS
Do you need to meet industry compliance requirements such
as HIPAA or data center-specific needs such as SOC?
10. Regulatory Impact

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HAVE A CLEAR GOAL
But be flexible in how you achieve it

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