Datacenter : The different classifications
On the surface, a data center looks like a simple warehouse. In reality, a data center is an extremely complex infrastructure. That's why they are classified according to different criteria and certifications, to guarantee a high level of performance, availability and security.
A datacenter brings together a wide variety of equipment: servers, storage systems, network switches, routers, firewalls, cables, physical racks... But also essential systems such as power distribution, backup generators, permanent cooling and electrical switches.
A datacenter is therefore a highly technical piece of machinery. For companies investing in this type of project, it is essential to ensure that the infrastructure meets business requirements in terms of availability, data security and return on investment.
This applies to IT giants and smaller organizations alike, who often rely on regional data centers for greater proximity. Yet over 80% of data centers are still concentrated in the Paris region.
Data center classifications
Whatever their format, data centers must meet strict standards. Several organizations offer benchmarks (Syska Hennessy, TIA 942, BICSI 002), but only the Uptime Institute issues official certifications. Since 2015, it has certified over 1,000 data centers worldwide.
See the map of certifications : Uptime Institute - Tier Certifications
The 4 classification levels (Tiers)
The Uptime Institute classifies data centers into four levels: TIER I to TIER IV. Each level incorporates the requirements of the previous one, with the addition of further redundancies or improvements.
Tier I - Basic
- One power supply, no redundancy
- Availability: 99.671
- Scheduled annual downtime: approx. 28.8 h
Tier II - Partial redundancy
- Redundant electrical components, but unduplicated distribution
- Availability: 99.741
- Average annual interruption: 22 h
Tier III - Concurrent maintenance
- Full component redundancy, active/passive distribution
- Dual power supply for all equipment
- Availability: 99.982
- Average annual interruption: 1.6 h
Tier IV - Fault tolerance
- Fully redundant, compartmentalized power supply and systems
- Continuous cooling system, even in the event of power failure
- Supports unexpected component shutdown without impact
- Availability: 99.995
- Average annual interruption: 0.8 h
Essential data center certifications
Document certification
Checks that technical and architectural plans are properly aligned with performance and availability targets
Certification of the plant built
Validates that the datacenter has been built to specifications (including real-life testing)
Sustainability certification
Evaluates site management, team training and internal procedures to ensure long-term operational sustainability. This includes implementing solutions such as an IAM (Identity & Access Management) solution to control access
Other certifications to know
LEED: for data centers with reduced environmental impact
PCI DSS: essential for hosting payment card data
ISO 27001: cybersecurity reference standard for information systems
At Scalair, these requirements go hand in hand with a secure infrastructure and 24/7 monitoring via our managed SOC, thanks to the SecureWAN
Conclusion
Understanding datacenter classifications and certifications is essential to making the right choices when it comes to IT hosting. These criteria have a direct impact on the performance, security and regulatory compliance of your infrastructures.
By using a certified service provider and an architecture tailored to your business challenges, you can guarantee a cloud environment that is both secure and scalable.
