Infrastructure, so data centers play a vital role in ensuring that the business operations run smoothly, efficiently and with low costs. Infrastructure systems constitute the basis of many activities performed by a large bank, including the retail operations. In this context, no matter how stable the existing infrastructure is, it shall also adapt to ambient conditions that are constantly changing and developing with the effect of digitalization.

Research shows that almost a third of the largest financial institutions operating in the UK have problems preparing the infrastructure they are currently using for new technology.

With the growth of businesses and the increase in their technical requirements in parallel with this growth, the improvement of the old system becomes costly for companies. On the other hand, the inadequacy of the existing system as a result of the increase in technical requirements in terms of infrastructure causes an increase in costs.

5 features that the infrastructure system shall have in order to provide advantages for the companies are:

• Improved Functionality

More than a third of the UK’s largest finance companies that lead the industry in terms of information technology believe that artificial intelligence is the next big technological revolution.

With the artificial intelligence technologies that are expected to revolutionize every aspect of the sector, it is expected that businesses will perform their activities faster and with less costs, and that these developments will provide a contribution of 12 Trillion Euros to the global economy by 2030.

This increase in the use of artificial intelligence will bring along many new demands on the usage of data. Businesses will have to have high computing capacity in order to process the complex data and to comprehend this process that arises with the artificial intelligence. To ensure that the existing infrastructure systems can realize this new processing style, their standards shall be raised, however this shall reflect on companies as an extra cost. On the other hand, redesigning the existing infrastructure with each new development shall cause more damage to the process and cost management of the companies.

• Low Operation Costs

To ensure that the existing infrastructure can respond to the changing requirements, its capacity shall be continuously increased. While this makes the process management of businesses more difficult, the maintenance of the applications also becomes more expensive.

On the other hand, working with data centers that provide services such as a public cloud or server hosting services is another way to keep your infrastructure up-to-date and available without the cost of the initial investment. Thanks to the use of a cloud-based system, companies may benefit from new technological applications such as APIs while saving the costs arising from the need to improve their existing infrastructure systems.

• Scalability

If existing systems do not have the ability to scale, and this is true for many legacy systems, the company shall not keep up with the development of new business models and shall face problems in reaching its full potential. This brings up the “scalability” issue. On the other hand, if the main partners in a business’ network upgrade the infrastructure of their system, a misalignment of the systems that could cause harm to the overall results may occur.

However, working with the data center allows businesses to focus on their core competencies and business processes. Scaling should be performed by experts who can correctly manage the availability demand and the resources. In this way, companies shall minimize the failures that may arise from the inadequacy of infrastructure at the most critical times.

• High Security

Another negative aspect of legacy infrastructure systems is that it takes a long time to identify the security vulnerabilities in the system. When the legacy infrastructure systems were created, the security issue was pushed to the background while keeping functionality in the foreground. This renders company data vulnerable to malicious use.

Moreover, outsourcing providers such as data centers are designed to prevent both physical and digital security breaches.  It is known that providing legacy infrastructure systems the capability to protect data against security attacks causes very high costs per unit. In such a case, data centers with high security measures provide very low costs while they provide this service.

• Central Integration Platform

The infrastructure service received from data centers enables this operation to be carried out from a single point, unlike the legacy infrastructure systems that hosted many servers and networks. The most important benefit of this is real-time monitoring of data transactions and the convenience of end-to-end management. Especially companies trading or performing transactions on the stock exchange shall prefer to benefit from this service in order to provide better and faster service for their customers.

So What Are the Advantages of Data Center Solutions?

With the rapid growth of the use of artificial intelligence, companies began to face difficulties in meeting the new process, business process and consumer demands brought about by this new technological development. With these increasing demands, many companies started to turn to low-cost, fast and solution-oriented data centers.

Data centers are considered as a simple and secure solution that allows moving of in-house applications and processes to the cloud environment without facing high financial costs. In the next 2 years, it is expected that 48% of large companies, especially those providing financial services, shall manage their business processes through cloud technology. Data center providers provide a low-cost, purpose-built, secure and maintained infrastructure service through server hosting or public cloud services. Thus, all companies, regardless of their industry, may easily get support from data centers for the next big technological revolution called the “artificial intelligence”.

Right at this point, Teknetol Telekom comes into play with the professional Data Center services it offers. Teknotel produces the right solutions by providing a professional Cloud service for healthcare services that shall work securely and without interruption. Teknotel’s Telehouse Istanbul Data Center, which has made it a tradition to provide quality and professional service at global standards, renders business processes smart while providing business continuity and no interruption guarantee with Cloud Services based on strong references.

In today’s world where most industries take shape around technology, only those companies that use the technology in the best way possible get the chance to succeed in these new sectors. The recent wave of digital transformation efforts not only improved systems but also drove IT infrastructures into a rapid change. Hence, cloud and data center technologies have become one of the most important agenda items for companies. This brings the question of what matters to take into account when selecting which data center to utilize. In the last chapter of our trilogy we will mention the elements which play critical roles in companies’ selection processes for a data center, and why Telehouse İstanbul should be the first choice for data center services.

6 – Cloud Backup Service

Backing up is critically important to protect applications and data stored in data centers. In short, data center service means storing your files in an external source, thanks to which any case where your data accidentally becomes unavailable will not pose a problem since you can access your externally stored backup in a very short amount of time. This gets cloud backup services into the list of criteria which you need to take note of when selecting your data center. At Telehouse İstanbul, your Cloud Backed-up data goes through daily encryption. Your hosts can be backed up daily, weekly or monthly according to your preference.

7 – Hosts Used for Cloud Services

Standards of the products used at the data center of your preference, and the data center company’s reactions to technological advances are indicatives to whether you can actually acquire services at global standards. Meanwhile, host equipment brand or warranty expiration dates also play critical roles in terms of service quality in cloud services. Teknotel’s Telehouse İstanbul Data Center closely monitors innovations in the cloud solutions area, and the Center’s HP Blade Server and 3Par Storage hardware infrastructure is constantly improved based on latest available technologies. It offers professional, reliable and uninterrupted Data Center and Cloud services thanks to its experienced engineers with Microsoft SPLA and VMware DCV (Professional – Data Center Virtualization) certifications and its Cisco, VMware Enterprise Solution Provider and Veeam Cloud Provider partnerships. With its Carrier Neutral infrastructure, Telehouse Istanbul Data Center takes these highly qualified system features to a corporate level through its fiber optic and dark fiber connections.

8 – A Data Center Alive 24/7

Data centers have to make sure that air conditioning, energy management and security systems, which constitute the infrastructure of a data center, work flawlessly and in the right conditions. This necessitates constant monitoring and maintenance on these systems. For uninterrupted internet access and fast response to corporate client needs all components of the network backbone must be monitored 24/7 and in real time. Precautions might be taken against every possible problem, but “monitoring” is of crucial importance in terms of fast response to issues. This is only made possible by data centers which work and live 24/7. At Teknotel’s Telehouse İstanbul Data Center, all of our services are monitored by CISCO certified engineers who are experts in their respective fields. Potential problems are instantly responded to through technical support.

Therefore…

Having set out on its journey with the goal of offering the latest and most accurate technologies in this rapidly-changing world of technology, Teknotel Telekom guarantees a productive and uninterrupted service manner for your company with the right service and solution components to cater to your technological needs. Its broad service network and solutions enable one single place to meet your IT infrastructure needs with help from a team of technical experts. Through its collaboration with Telehouse, Teknotel guarantees your business continuity at all times with solutions at global standards such as Data Center, Colocation (Server Hosting) and Cloud. Moreover, Telehouse Istanbul Data Center also boasts ‘Carrier Neutral’ access opportunities which not only provide your company with an independent infrastructure but also offer top level security, energy management and climatization conditions just as all other Telehouse enterprises in the world.

In order to utilize an information technology infrastructure which works effectively and without interruption against any threat, data center solutions must be outsourced to a professional solution provider working at global standards. In the first chapter of our trilogy of articles, we mentioned Strong Network Structure, High Uptime and Energy Capacity as the elements to take into account when selecting a data center, and the benefits of Telehouse Istanbul in this area. In the second chapter, we will focus on Air Conditioning Systems and Physical Security Measures.

4 – Modern Air Conditioning Systems

Data centers must be areas where temperature and humidity are under constant control and the source of electricity is stable and uninterrupted. This is because IT equipment such as storage devices, backup devices, network components and hosts in data centers come with requirements in terms of cooling, humidity flow and air cleaning to manufacturer specifications. In other words, the expanding work load of these devices, which work 24/7, the heat that they produce and their increasing numbers makes it a necessity to sensitively regulate the air conditions of their environment. Telehouse Istanbul provides data services in an ideally regulated environment in this regard. Telehouse Istanbul Data Center uses cutting edge air conditioning systems beside conventional, where all systems work without interruption and with 2N+1 backup solution. Therefore your work remains unaffected and uninterrupted in case of any crises or shortages. This also decreases your annual energy utilization costs, while increasing hardware performance.

Why You Should Outsource Data Center Services to Telehouse Istanbul

5 – Physical Security Measures

The integrity, accessibility and security of the data center are ensured by uninterrupted security checks in addition to administrative and technical measures. Physical security measures necessary in a data center, which carry crucial importance for the security of your data, encompass many factors such as the physical location of the facility where the data center is located, prediction of potential threats, access control systems, measures against natural disasters such as fire, earthquake and flood, and also compliance to regulations.

Certified with ISO 27001 Information Security Management System Standard, Teknotel’s Telehouse Istanbul Data Center knows what problems the 7/24 online companies in every part of the globe might encounter and produces tailored solutions. Providing Tier3+ level data center assurance, which includes backed up electricity, energy and cooling measures, Telehouse Istanbul can resist 72 hours long of interruptions without any need of external intervention, at the same time providing 99.999% usability.

Uninterrupted Access with Cutting Edge Security Measures

Located in Kozyatağı, one of the more important and busier commercial centers in İstanbul, right at the metro exit, Teknotel’s Telehouse Istanbul Data Center provides uninterrupted access with cutting edge security measures and is a pioneer in the industry with high-level measures in terms of physical security.

At Telehouse Istanbul, where data center services are provided along with many privileged services such as Cloud and Corporate Internet, power, AC, fire/flood, earthquake protection and electronic/physical security infrastructures are provided to the highest level possible, just as with all other Telehouse establishments around the world. Your data and IT infrastructure are securely stored in our Telehouse Istanbul Data Center, while you enjoy cutting down on your electricity costs.

In the last chapter of our trilogy we will continue to explain the elements which you should look for in a company which you consider to outsource data center services and which are closely related to corporate operations in your company. We will also mention the unique advantages of the world-standard professional services of Teknotel’s Telehouse Istanbul Data Center.

Data and protecting it (especially by Disaster Recovery) are becoming more important than ever. Experts predict that data will change the very nature of many economic activities. Data is being used in many commercial areas from demand forecasting to marketing, which makes it crucially important to securely store it, as loss of data can lead to many kinds of irremediable damage, such as loss of income, reputation, productivity and even customers.

It is almost impossible to predict when a catastrophe will happen, or the extent of the damage it will create. On the other hand, the measures you take against such events or your company’s approach to them is entirely in your hands. Hence, maybe you should prioritize creating a new Disaster Recovery Plan or review it if you have one.

First of all, you should know that a Disaster Recovery Plan might not work for every company. While creating a DR Plan for your company, you need to take into account many factors such as protection of your systems, data and personnel, together with the continuity of your business systems. Whether you have decided to create a viable Disaster Recovery Plan that is also in line with your needs, or review your existing plan, here are the factors you will need to pay attention to…

1- Documentation for Your DR Plan

It is crucially important to define and document in a Disaster Recovery Plan the personnel, who will play active roles, and their duties, so that in case of an emergency senior management or relevant departments know the exact course of actions they have to follow. A good DR strategy plan should encompass many details such as your objectives, tactics and emergency phone numbers, together with the persons assigned to manage the process and their roles, responsibilities, etc. In addition, you should rigorously prioritize your applications and hardware, and include the communication details of persons who can provide you with technical support for each application and hardware. Hence you can minimize or completely eliminate any setbacks which might occur during the management of an emergency.

2-Risk Evaluation and Business Impact Analysis

Re-Evaluate Your Disaster Recovery Plan

The most successful strategies in the business world start with “risk evaluation”. This is the same for a Disaster Recovery Plan. In cloud computing, the first step to an effective Disaster Recovery Plan is to evaluate your company’s infrastructure and specify possible threats and risk factors. Risk evaluation will help you determine the security vulnerabilities of your current IT infrastructure and significance levels of the functions and components of your business. In addition, you will be able to predict the extent of possible impact on your business and specify remedies beforehand.

On the other hand, you can use these predictions to calculate your financial and non-financial costs related to Disaster Recovery, and your RTO (Recovery Time Objective) and RPO (Recovery Point Object) values. RTO indicates the time needed to re-engage the system in case of a possible disaster. RPO indicates acceptable data loss. In today’s business world, understanding RTO and RPO, which carry great importance specifically for corporate companies, will help you decide which data and applications to protect, how many resources you need to invest in to have an effective DR plan and which DR strategies that you need to implement.

3- Drill Management and Updating Your Disaster Recovery Plan

An Effective DR (Disaster Recovery) Strategy needs regular and periodical drills in order to ensure that every process and system work as expected. In order to have a successful Disaster Recovery Plan, you need to make sure that this plan will really work when the worst happens.

4- Be Prepared Against Various Disaster Levels

There are many types and levels of disasters. Companies which fail to take required measures and plan ahead are likely to experience longer shortages and suffer more loss, regardless of the level of disaster. A good DR Planning must encompass different response levels of different levels of disasters and emergencies. A correct team of people and an accurate strategy must be specified for every level of planning.

Re-Evaluate Your Disaster Recovery Plan

5- Define Your Priorities

Disaster Recovery is among the IT expenses which companies hope to never resort to harvest. Therefore it is important to improve your abilities of flexibility into a guiding element in your IT infrastructure. Forming a flexible infrastructure is a combination of good practices and technologies which support your business and minimize your risk. At this level, the best choice is the Cloud-based, New Generation Disaster Recovery Solution. With this solution

• You won’t be needing a second physical storage area, therefore cutting down on costs for additional hardware and software
• You can easily scale your business in line with your current business demands
• You will be able to back up your data and carry out other management processes whenever and wherever you have access to the Internet.
• You will have the chance to store your data in more than one medium and thus minimize your risk of failure following a disaster.

At this point, Teknotel’s Telehouse Istanbul can help you with professional Data Center services. Telehouse Istanbul produces the right solution for all institutions that need to work uninterruptedly and securely, offering them a professional Disaster Recovery service. In line with its tradition of offering quality and professional services to world standards, Teknotel and its data center called as Telehouse Istanbul Data Center makes business processes smart while providing companies with uninterrupted business continuity through the Cloud Services that are based on strong references.