As data centres face growing demands and rising costs, Peter Miller, Sales Manager at ETB Technologies, explains how refurbished technology can offer a sustainable, cost-effective means of staying competitive in a rapidly changing digital world.

Remembering a time without the internet is like trying to remember what it was like before you could read. It’s really difficult because both things have become so deeply woven into the fabric of daily life.

Living in the digital age, it’s easy to take connectivity for granted. And it’s easy to forget that, until the 1980s, computers had no built-in network connection. What’s more, the early stages of the web were dominated by reasonably straightforward functions – who else remembers Ask Jeeves, MSN Messenger or Friends Reunited?

The rapid growth of cloud computing, combined with the explosion of AI and machine learning applications, has dramatically transformed the demands placed on data centres. The spike in growth has meant businesses are having to be nimble in order to adapt and scale up quickly. But, with a bit of forward planning and strategic thought, there’s no need for this to be prohibitively expensive. In fact, in times of budget constraints and economic turbulence, refurbished technology could be the tool data centres need to stay ahead of the curve.

With the vast increase in storage needs and the necessity for much faster network speeds, the requirement for physical space within facilities has surged. This has fueled the massive expansion in geographical space, bringing with it a whole range of power, security and planning challenges.

Beyond that though, the demand for specialised support has grown as businesses look to maximise the efficiency and performance of their digital operations by using the latest tools available. This growing demand has created significant opportunities for service providers, particularly for those who specialise in critical areas such as AI optimisation, cybersecurity and advanced data analytics.

The rapid growth of digital demands

As managing modern data centres becomes more complex, the reliance on external expertise continues to rise. Companies are increasingly turning to third-party specialists to manage various aspects of their data centre operations, from infrastructure maintenance to strategic planning. By leaving the intricacies of data centre management to the experts, organisations can focus their attention on the other, more important areas of their operations, ensuring they remain competitive in an ever-evolving landscape.

While the opportunities are abundant, the evolving data centre landscape also presents significant challenges. One of the most pressing issues is, of course, energy consumption and sustainability. As naturally energy-hungry facilities, the expansion of data centres to accommodate growing storage and processing needs means energy requirements are skyrocketing.

Additionally, as data centres become more integral to the world’s digital infrastructure, the need for robust, cutting-edge technology is essential. However, ensuring all components – from servers and networking equipment to cooling systems – are reliable and up to date is a constant challenge. And as we know, any disruption in the supply chain can lead to significant downtime, impacting businesses and services worldwide.

Cost management is also a key area of concern. While the demand for more space and advanced technology drives growth, it also increases operational costs. And as competition in the data centre market intensifies, providing value for customers becomes increasingly challenging. Companies must ensure their products are not only cost-effective but also deliver the performance, reliability, and support that customers expect. That’s where refurbished technology comes in.

The benefits of refurbished technology

While it’s not a silver bullet solution, folding refurbished technology into a data centre’s tech stack can help address a number of these challenges. As a sustainable alternative to new tech, opting for refurbished will help extend the lifecycle of IT equipment. Naturally, this helps prolong the use of existing equipment meaning less energy consumption and waste overall.

Contrary to what many might believe, refurbished technology is actually just as reliable as buying new. While the devices may be pre-owned, they are restored to like-new condition – we’re not talking about buy and sell websites here. Technology sellers typically ensure the equipment undergoes stringent quality and assurance checks, as well as testing, to make sure it looks and performs as it should.

Incorporating refurbished tech may not solve every challenge, but it will allow data centres to take advantage of the growing demand and stay one step ahead of the changing landscape. As a cost-effective alternative to buying new, data centres can maintain high standards of quality and performance without sacrificing reliability. As the world continues to evolve, refurbished technology will be key to keeping pace with the changing face of data centres.