Data Center Handbook

36Lessons Learned from Natural Disasters and Preparedness of Data Centers

Hwaiyu Geng¹ and Masatoshi Kajimoto²

¹ Amica Association, Palo Alto, CA, USA

² ISACA, TokyoJapan

36.1 Introduction

“Keys to reducing the deadly effect of natural disasters are: anticipation, education and information. Unfortunately not enough priority have been given to these” [1]. The goal of this chapter is to widen the awareness, prevention, and preparedness of data center stakeholders toward natural disaster.

Human errors such as improperly executed procedures or maintenance have been shown to have brought down over 70% of all data centers. In addition to natural disasters, terrorist attack to the physical infrastructure could be devastating. Thus, it is imperative to have a plan for business continuity (BC) and disaster recovery (DR). The more we learn from past experience and augment BC and DR, the more we will be prepared for the inevitable.

36.2 Design for Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Data centers infrastructure should be built robustly with consideration of BC and DR requirements that are beyond jurisdictional building codes and standards. The International Building Code (IBC) or California Building Code generally addresses life safety of occupants. The codes provide little regard to property or functional losses and BC. To sustain data center operations after a natural or man-made disaster, design of a data center must consider ...