Black Box is your ideal partner if you are looking for hyperscale data center companies to build cutting-edge infrastructure across a wide geographic footprint. The ability and capacity to build these infrastructures across a nation, across cities, and even beyond borders make Black Box a premium choice. At the core of putting all of these together is the availability and access to trained professionals. Black Box solves this for you. You can now rest assured that we will be there in small towns or urban territories across countries and continents to provide you with customized support.
Global IT managers very well know that data center construction companies around the world with aggressive go-live deadlines require thousands of potentially seasoned technicians. IT leaders face significant questions like: How do you find, train, and retain the right resources in the right places at the right times? Moreover, how do we maintain consistent processes and outcomes at every site? Black Box data center services attends to this human aspect of data center builds on a local level with proven, globally tested processes and methodologies, such as:
Enterprises are moving from the traditional patchwork of local teams to global strategy standardization requirements and methodologies for repeatable, predictable services.
View FlyerCultivating talent for the long haul requires a cyclical approach to recruiting, training, and retaining talent to reallocate resources (and knowledge) from one project to the next.
A skilled partner can orchestrate builds, retrofits, and maintenance, giving you the ability to go to market quickly through strategic planning and rapid mobilization and enhancing the Customer Experience.
View FlyerHaving a global data-center strategy as a Div 27 Telecom Data Center Provider means anticipating (demand) requirements and putting consistent methodologies and mechanisms in place for hiring, retention, and redeployment from one site to another. We are investing in long-term, program-level training and reallocating resources to the next project for full-circle, repeatable, predictable services — and results — across all sites.
A working knowledge of each location's legal, financial, technical, and cultural laws, standards, and customs keeps each project running smoothly.
Black Box owns and operates strategically located authorized data center services training facilities that serve Europe and the United States, with more on the way.See more.
To ensure talent is ready when and where it's needed, Black Box follows a proven 10-step Talent Acquisition & Retention plan. See More
Our data center services extend far beyond builds and retrofits to include day-to-day operations, building automation, and wireless networking. See more
A core project management and logistics team positively impacts the success of the project and team member satisfaction. See more
As an IT services provider dedicated to the hyperscale space, see how Black Box attends to the human aspect of data center builds on a local level with proven, globally tested processes and methodologies.
Get the White PaperBlack Box partners with leading technology providers and global network distributors to plan, design, and build out hyperscale-class DCs around the globe.
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The data center industry is experiencing a profound transformation, driven by the surging demand for computing power and infrastructure to support AI development. This expansion is changing market dynamics and design specifications, affecting all industries and types of data centers. Key trends include the expansion of data center numbers and the construction of new facilities, driven by AI requirements and high-power-density server clusters.
As AI applications proliferate, data centers adjust to meet the increasing rack load demands. These are not only passing fads; they also represent a profound shift in how businesses use data, with ramifications for the planning, building, and maintenance of data centers.
Let's examine a few significant developments and insights in this detailed blog.
As we look ahead to 2024, data center infrastructure trends indicate a continued surge in computing power demand, a rapid expansion in the number of data centers, and a rise in infrastructure driven by AI. Let’s have a detailed look at those:
There is a significant surge in computing power demand fueled by the rapid growth of AI applications. Data center operators are adapting their infrastructure to accommodate high-power-density server clusters required for AI workloads. This shift is driven by major companies like Meta, Google, and Amazon, as well as AI-focused firms seeking extensive power availability from a single location.
There's been a significant surge in new data center construction, with the average number of new data centers per respondent expected to increase sixfold over the next three years, indicating strong growth in new data center spaces.
Source: AFCOM 2024 State of the Data Center Report
Also, 42% of respondents prefer a hybrid approach to data center construction, combining traditional and prefabricated modular facilities. 78% of respondents will likely explore prefabricated power modules in new data center builds.
AI is greatly impacting the design and architecture of data centers, as these facilities are changing to meet the increased rack load needs of AI applications. The necessity for infrastructure designed for new processors and software frameworks intended for generative AI and other cutting-edge technologies is driving this shift.
Specialized high-density colocation services increasingly demand new processors and software frameworks designed for advanced technologies like generative AI. This trend underscores the criticality of efficient and sustainable architecture in shaping future data center construction.
To meet changing cooling needs, businesses are turning to liquid cooling solutions; 32% of them want to do so in the next 12 to 24 months. This trend highlights how quickly the industry is adjusting to market needs and technological advancements, highlighting the significance of efficient and sustainable design for data center building in the future.
Concerns about rising costs and a better understanding of which workloads are more appropriate for on-premises or cloud environments have led to a discernible trend of cloud workload migration back to on-premise infrastructure. This pattern shows how some workloads split up among various infrastructure settings are becoming more sophisticated.
Source: AFCOM 2024 State of the Data Center Report
Data center leaders are increasingly focusing on edge data center solutions due to the growing demand for AI, LLM, and generative AI workloads, driving the adoption of GPU and high-density computing hardware. A significant trend is the implementation of on-premises cloud services, edge computing, and OCP platforms, with 49% of businesses planning to deploy OCP within the next 12 months.
The highest priority is ensuring the data center infrastructure is secure and resilient against physical and cyber-attacks. The emergence of new threats against physical infrastructure and the rising cost of outages highlight the need to invest in resilience and training to reduce risks.
The data center industry is experiencing shifts in budget allocation and personnel requirements. Rising energy costs, equipment service costs, and personnel expenses largely drove increased operational expenditures in 2023. Capital expenditures have also increased, with investments focused on existing infrastructure and the expansion of new facilities. Despite these increases, supply chain challenges have led to equipment outages for a few businesses.
To satisfy the increasing demands of AI and high-density computing, the data center sector is experiencing a tremendous transition due to bolstering AI demands and power design requirements. Amidst these changes, Black Box plays a crucial role in providing innovative data center services and solutions, ensuring efficient and effective operations for businesses adapting to this evolving landscape.
Black Box's Data Center of Excellence (DCoE) is the culmination of decades of experience in technology solutions, reflecting our dedicated commitment to innovation and delivering unparalleled services to our clients. From cutting-edge networking solutions to AI-driven optimizations, the DCoE is equipped to tackle the most complex challenges facing modern data centers.
We recognize that the success of data centers hinges on agility, scalability, and reliability. The DCoE embodies these principles, offering comprehensive services tailored to support organizations' growth and success. As the data center sector undergoes a significant transformation driven by the escalating demands of AI and high-density computing, Black Box stands at the forefront, providing innovative solutions to ensure the efficient and effective operation of businesses adapting to this evolving landscape.
Leading the way in the data center industry's revolution, Black Box Data Center is developing cutting-edge solutions to satisfy the growing demands of artificial intelligence and high-density computing.
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Author:
Scott Davis
Vice President of Sales - Global Solution Business
AFCOM 2024 State of the Data Center Report
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Black Box® is a trusted IT solutions provider delivering cutting-edge technology solutions and world-class consulting services to businesses around the globe. The breadth of our global reach and depth of our expertise accelerate customer success by bringing people, ideas, and technology together to solve real-world business problems. Our IT infrastructure solutions, services, and products enable secure, flawless connectivity and meaningful collaboration for businesses in every major market sector on six continents.
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