Avoiding the High Cost of Downtime

There’s no doubt about it; IT downtime is expensive. According to some estimates, downtime costs can range from $84,000 [1] an hour on the low end to $5 million an hour [2] for big organizations.

And downtime resulting from a power failure is doubly frustrating because it’s often avoidable with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) solution. That is when such solutions actually work.

The rate of power-related downtime is steadily falling. But it still occurs. And the number-one cause of power supply interruption: UPS failure.[3] Fortunately, IT managers can do something about it.

The UPS Challenge

Organizations face a critical challenge around power management, explains Greg Johnson, head of sales in North America for Schneider Electric. “Most of the personas responsible for closets really know IT. They know less about power.”

In the days when conventional data centers dominated the IT landscape, facilities people specialized in power, and IT people kept their focus on the racks and servers in their purview, according to Johnson.

Now, with the rise of edge computing environments putting compute, storage, networking, and the power they all need to function closer to where they’re needed, it’s up to IT professionals to get up to speed on power.

That’s because, unlike traditional, big data centers with built-in IT redundancy, generators, and even multiple power grids, smaller-scale edge computing sites often lack the backup options of their big brethren. That includes such niceties as on-site facilities staff well-versed in the ins and outs of keeping power flowing to servers and coolers no matter what.

Consequently, mini data centers supporting edge infrastructure depend on UPS and IT staff. “It’s left up to the IT folks to really understand a battery life cycle,” Johnson says.

Not exactly what they signed up for. And that’s why the right UPS solutions can make all the difference between keeping the lights on and costly power failures.

Getting Control of Power

A modern UPS system can help organizations avoid downtime through advanced battery technology, automation, and remote monitoring capabilities.

For example, APC’s Smart UPS-Ultra, powered by lithium-ion batteries, offers three times the duration and twice the recharge speed as UPS systems with lead-acid batteries. It also comes in a smaller, lighter form factor that makes room for more servers and other equipment in cramped spaces.

Remote monitoring paired with UPS systems can also make a crucial difference for stretched IT staff in charge of edge infrastructure.

EcoStruxure IT from Schneider Electric lets administrators set alerts and uses data analytics to schedule predictive maintenance such as battery replacement. All to ensure that teams have time to head power issues off at the pass before they wreak havoc on mini data centers and the businesses that depend on them.

Johnson sees his job as helping beleaguered IT professionals cope with new, facilities-related responsibilities. “There can be a lot of mystery around UPS,” he says. “Our job is to provide a tool that removes that veil.”

[1] Veeam Data Protection Report 2021

[2] https://techchannel.com/IT-Strategy/09/2021/cost-enterprise-downtime

[3] IBID