I recorded this video during our winter apocalypse when we were freezing and dealing with power outages. However, we are heading into summer when we can have weather extremes in the other direction. In past summers we have had power issues due to extreme heat. We can also lose power from severe storms.

If you have a room with multiple servers, you want to be sure you can maintain an ideal temperature around 69 degrees. Heat is the number one enemy for servers. Every three degrees above 69 will give you 3% more in electric consumption. For example, if your room is at 75 degrees, you will pay around 6% more on your electric bill. Temperature can make a huge difference.

How can you protect your IT equipment from power outages and spikes? One option would be a UPS, uninterrupted power supply. These units will provide battery-based power in the event of an outage. Higher end units also regulate the currency to protect from spikes. Generally these provide battery power long enough for you to properly shut down your servers.

If you are a larger organization or have critical functions that cannot go down, like hospitals, police departments, etc., a generator would be more appropriate. These are usually powered by gasoline or kerosene and kick in the moment the power goes down. You want to be sure you have the right generator for your business, with the right output and input for the power you need. Also, schedule to power up the generator at least once/month to make sure it is functioning properly.

We are here to help you determine the best options to keep your IT equipment protected during extreme weather. Reach out to us to schedule a consultation.