The Uptime Institute released its new standard for rating data center reliability based on operation policies and processes used, as well as building type and site location. The new Operational Sustainability standard goes beyond the institute’s existing Tier Classification System, a rating system that evaluates reliability of the electrical infrastructure.
The system, rating Operational Sustainability on three levels, was the institute’s response to the need to define data center reliability based on management behaviors, since it is the way a facility is managed that determines its uptime more than anything else. The four-level Tier rating system for electrical topologies often came under criticism because of its use by many to describe reliability of a mission-critical facility while the actual rating focused only on one part of the uptime equation.
“The Institute’s Tier Classification System ensures a data center facility is designed and built to deliver uptime in accordance with its business requirements; Operational Sustainability ensures the site is managed to sustain that level of availability over the long-term,” Uptime Institute VP Julian Kudritzki said in a statement.” Another benefit of the Operational Sustainability Standard is that the risks and behaviors are prioritized to help owners and operators maximize staffing and budget resources.”
Operational Sustainability levels – Gold, Silver and Bronze – are meant to be used in tandem with the Tier levels. Examples would look like Tier III Gold or Tier IV Silver.
In determining a site’s Operational Sustainability level, management and operations play the biggest role. These considerations include staffing and organization, maintenance processes and procedures, training, planning, coordination and management.
Building characteristics that are taken in to accound include condition, age, structure type, design principles and operational conditions of equipment. Site location considerations include possibility of natural or man-made disasters and mitigation plans.
The institute (now part of 451 Group) first announced the Operational Sustainability standard in May. The new standard is available for download on the organization’s Web site free of charge.
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Keywords: Uptime Institute, Operational Sustainability, Tier Classification System, data center uptime, data center management, data center reliability, downtime | |
