In today’s digital era, where technology advances at a dizzying pace, companies must adapt quickly to avoid falling behind the competition. A data centerA data center or data processing center (DPC) … with high performance, offering scalability, reliability, and sustainability, is essential for maintaining business growth and efficiency.
The Obsolescence of Traditional Data Centers
Many companies still rely on legacy on-premises data centers that have proven to be inefficient and inflexible over time. These systems are often limited by infrastructures that cannot scale quickly, creating bottlenecks that slow down the adoption of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) or the Internet of Things (IoT). Additionally, the increasing energy demand from these systems conflicts with organizations’ sustainability commitments.
This is where high-performance colocationHousing facilities are a type of data center … data centers present an effective solution. These centers allow companies to move away from their outdated on-premises data centers and adopt modern infrastructures that better meet current needs. As a result, companies can focus more on innovation and less on managing inefficient infrastructure.
Key Features of a High-Performance Colocation Data Center
Not all data centers are created equal. Data centers specifically designed to meet modern digital demands stand out by providing value throughout their lifecycle. Key features include:
- Strategic Location Selection: These centers are located in optimal places to maximize performance and global connectivity.
- Innovative Design: They incorporate advanced technologies that enhance energy efficiency and processing capacity.
- Continuous Investment: They maintain a constant upgrade cycle to add new digital capabilities and services.
Thanks to these features, companies that choose a colocation data center can ensure that their digital infrastructures not only meet current needs but are also prepared for future challenges.
AI-Ready Infrastructure
The rise of artificial intelligence has made it clear that local data centers are no longer sufficient. Implementing high-power infrastructure for AI requires not only an increase in processing capacity but also advanced cooling systems. Housing providers, such as Equinix, have invested in infrastructures designed to support AI-ready equipment and services, enabling them to serve companies that increasingly depend on these technologies.
Low Latency Connectivity
Today, many companies operate with hybrid multicloud architectures, which means their workloads are distributed across multiple clouds. However, one of the biggest challenges of these architectures is preventing on-premises data centers from becoming bottlenecks that degrade network performance.
High-performance colocation data centers offer low latency connectivity, ensuring that companies can quickly access cloud service providers worldwide. This is key to optimizing the performance of critical applications that generate enormous data volumes.
Sustainability in Data Centers
In a global context where companies must meet strict sustainability goals, the energy efficiency of data centers is crucial. Colocation or housing providers, such as Equinix, have made significant investments in technologies that improve efficiency and enable operations using renewable energy sources. This way, companies can reduce their carbon footprint without compromising the performance of their energy-intensive workloads.
The Case of Stadler and Its Digital Transformation with Equinix
A clear example of how colocation data centers can drive digital transformation is the case of Stadler, a global manufacturer of custom trains. Stadler consolidated its on-premises data centers into two Equinix colocation centers in Zurich, allowing them to double their hardware infrastructure capacity.
Furthermore, the Equinix data centers host Stadler’s critical applications, such as Microsoft and SAP collaboration and management tools, enabling the company’s approximately 14,500 employees to access them efficiently and securely. The network density at Equinix centers ensures reliable connectivity for all users and guarantees that Stadler can meet its production and collaboration needs on a global scale.
Prepared for the Future
Thanks to its collaboration with Equinix, Stadler is well-positioned to meet its future digital infrastructure needs. The company plans to implement advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, and digital twins, and with Equinix’s low-latency network, they can ensure that data flows freely between cloud applications.
Additionally, Stadler has established clear sustainability goals, including a target to reduce its emissions by 20%. Equinix, with its commitment to achieving 100% renewable energy coverage by 2030, is a key ally in helping Stadler meet these objectives.
In summary, in a rapidly evolving digital environment, traditional data centers are no longer sufficient. High-performance colocation data centers provide companies with a platform prepared to face current and future challenges, with AI-ready infrastructure, low latency connectivity, and a focus on sustainability.
Source: Equinix Blog