Each year brings around a new crop of data center trends and a new outlook on the direction of the industry. We are following these trends closely to make sure that we are on the cutting edge of the advancements. In this blog, we will key you in on some of the trends we think will be most prevalent in the data center industry in 2020.

  • Artificial Intelligence: As we continue to consume mass amounts of data, AI will play a starring role in the management of this phenomenon. Consumers will seek out ways to optimize their workloads and continue to be able to support the massive workloads that large applications will create. Machine learning will allow these workloads to become more manageable by intelligently allocating compute power and bandwidth on the fly, to name only a few capabilities we hope to see.
  • Cloud Migrations: Everything is migrating to the cloud. In fact, Gartner predicts that in 2020 the worldwide public cloud market will grow to $266.4 billion. From enterprise virtualization to the use of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, edge-based applications and smart devices, today’s workforce is more on-the-go and mobile than ever before. That means more data is being generated at edge endpoints, overwhelming current enterprise networks. As a result, ultra low latency, local access to multiple cloud options is now a number one priority for many businesses.
  • Liquid Cooling: The rise in AI will in turn cause data centers to handle larger rack densities, which will require more advanced cooling methods. Current-day air cooling methods are expensive and consume up to 40% of the data center’s power. Liquid cooling, while a significant up-front investment, can prove to be more efficient in the long run. The purchasing of non-conductive liquid can be a hefty one, but could lower your power costs as you won’t need to power heavy-duty air cooling.
  • Changes in the Workforce: According to a survey done in 2018, there is a lack of young talent in the data center workforce. Many data center employees are on the older side, and there is a significant lack of female representation. In the survey, respondents recorded less than 6% of female data center employees, and only 5% of employees with less than 5 years of experience. In 2020, we predict a significant push to continue bringing young talent into the data center. If this oversight is not addressed soon, data centers will be in big trouble when a majority of their employees retire and there is a lack of knowledge to be passed down to newer employees.

There are absolutely many more trends and emerging technologies to consider, but we consider these to be the most interesting and the most widespread, affecting all data centers rather than just hyperscalers or edge data centers. In an industry as fast-paced as ours, it is important to be sure we are up to date on these trends. To demonstrate our commitment to keeping our customers informed, we will provide a mid-year update when we reach the beginning of Q3.