By: Regis Malloy

The data center industry has been facing major shifts and expedited growth to meet connectivity demands. Having grown and adapted to meet increasing capacity and connectivity requirements over the years, data center providers stand ready to meet 2022 head-on. As expected, the demand for data center services will continue to rise (predicted to reach $227 billion in spend this year), and industry trends will continue to evolve.

Data center businesses must be flexible, adaptable, and agile in an industry defined by rapid growth and change. From infrastructure efficiencies to higher server requirements, technological advances continue to redefine data center design, operation, and maintenance. If your IT infrastructure plans include leasing data center space, it's essential to be aware of these significant trends so you can meet your organization's needs today and in the future.

The rise of hybrid data centers

Hybrid IT is a computing model that uses a combination of on-premises and cloud-based systems. The data center industry was already responding to the hybrid IT trend when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Suddenly, every business began to reconsider its reliance on on-premises systems, and the cloud became an increasingly critical part of enterprise operations. As a result, spending on public cloud services is predicted to exceed $480 billion in 2022.

As companies continue to jump on the hybrid bandwagon accelerated by the recent pandemic, the industry is shifting to meet the demand of new cloud computing trends and adjust for the needs of its users and future growth. Many companies adopt hybrid IT for heightened security, storage flexibility, and cost efficiencies.

Agile frameworks to support business flexibility

For businesses, 2020 brought into focus their barriers to resiliency and agility. Adequate preparation for change—composability—would be required to survive disruptive and tumultuous changes. Leaders must be ready to make changes, even daily, to orchestrate favorable outcomes for their business.

Composable business flexibility requires agile frameworks, which allow for quick changes in design and implementation. Like construction blocks, a flexible model begins with each piece placed where it is needed to support the final structure. Then, leaders seamlessly move individual blocks to support stronger, more efficient designs as desired without affecting the structure's integrity. This framework is a considerable departure from the traditional waterfall model, wherein each step must be completed before moving on to the next. Agile frameworks are perfect for data centers because they allow for quick changes in design and implementation to meet customer needs. With composable business flexibility, data centers can quickly adapt to evolving needs and stay ahead of the competition.

Regional cloud ecosystems reduce latency

Regional cloud ecosystems are becoming more critical as companies seek to reduce latency and protect their resources. By 2025, it's predicted that 85 percent of infrastructure strategies will integrate colocation, cloud, on-premises, or edge delivery options, compared to 20 percent in 2020. By replicating services across multiple geographic locations, administrators can avoid any potential single points of failure. For example, if there was a power outage, resources are quickly moved to another regional zone, thus reducing downtime and saving revenue.

This trend is significant as more businesses look to move to the cloud. And with more companies moving to the cloud, providers must continue to invest in their infrastructure to meet growing demand by offering scalable solutions. By creating regional cloud ecosystems, providers can ensure that their clients have the best possible experience.

As more companies move to the cloud, providers must invest in their infrastructure to meet the growing demand by offering scalable solutions in multiple regions. By connecting these into regional cloud ecosystems, providers ensure that their clients have the most seamless experience.