We welcome your questions and strive to help you better understand our processes to collaborate to solve your most complex IT challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use internal resources to move our data center?
You can. However, utilizing internal resources for physical migration tasks can have an adverse impact on your organization:
- Reduced employee morale from burnout
- Increased opportunity and liability from personal injury
- Lost revenue from overtime hours or added insurance costs
- Lost productivity due to distractions from employees' regular job functions
Using misdirected resources for different aspects of a data center migration can cause downstream issues as the project progresses. For example, if network engineers are tasked with the physical installation (i.e., rack and cable) of the network equipment, they are removed and distracted from their core responsibilities of configuration, turn up, and testing of the new environment. If later tasked with their core function, network engineers will not be at peak performance.
Additionally, most corporate insurance programs cover physical assets only when physically located on the premises, not in transit. Additional insurance is available; however, it is often quite expensive. Using a third party to manage and execute the transit portion of migration allows their transit insurance, typically at a much lower rate.
How Long does it take to relocate a data center?
The architecture of the environment impacts the length of time it takes for relocation. Environments with fully redundant components and services can be migrated in a phased approach with minimal or no downtime.
For environments without full redundancy, ArcLight Solutions works with our clients to develop the most effective plan based on the environment architecture.
What are the top 5 things to consider when planning a data center relocation?
Below are the top 5 things often overlooked during the planning process. There can be many other steps skipped or tasks missed in the process. ArcLight’s team can save you valuable time and money from years of experience and fine-tuning the process.
Contact us for a free, no-obligation data center migration plan review and learn how to plan and execute a flawless data center migration today.
1. Shipping Method – This can vary based on time in transit, equipment required, and suspension type.
2. Packing Requirements – Does your equipment require the use of OEM packing materials for warranty preservation? Packing materials and methods can vary based on distance traveled, time in transit, climate variations, static sensitivity, and shipping method.
3. Facility Access – Who has access to the old facility? Does the migration team need to be escorted? Are the loading dock hours limited?
4. Additional Outside Personnel – Does the facility require additional security staff to maintain security during migration activities?
5. Data Center Audit Documentation – Do you have current documentation for your environment? Is the new environment a replica or a complete redesign? Who has copies of this documentation? How are in-flight changes being recorded and documented?
What is an asset audit?
A data center audit involves collecting and organizing a documented inventory of assets to create a library of accurate, up-to-date information about all of the equipment in your data center – from servers and cabinets to storage devices.
The information documented in an asset audit may include:
- Manufacturer
- Model number
- RU position
- Equipment age
- Maintenance service contracts
What is the cost of a 3rd party assisting with data migration?
We recommend reaching out to the ArcLight team to discuss your current data center environment. Each migration is unique and has different requirements. We can assist you in developing a custom plan and provide a quote based on your organization’s specific needs.
How often should an asset audit be conducted?
The frequency of an asset audit depends on your IT organization's current processes and the objectives you are trying to meet. Typically, an asset audit is needed when establishing a baseline during the planning phase of a large event or project, such as a data center relocation, consolidation, or migration.
What can be done with out-of-date or unneeded IT equipment?
Arclight Solutions can eCycle your unwanted IT assets in compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations. Our process includes magnetic degaussing, physically crushing or DOD-grade software, and wiping hard drives and solid-state media. At the end of this process, you are provided a Certificate of Data Destruction and a detailed report of all items destroyed. This report includes make, model, and serial numbers.