Ensuring power resilience through critical infrastructure is vital for businesses, especially those located in areas susceptible to natural disasters like hurricanes. The cost of power outages can be staggering. According to a recent ITIC report, 97% of large businesses reported downtime costs of over $100,000 per hour, with 47% of those businesses reporting their hourly costs in the $1M– 5M range. For companies dependent on uptime, investing in the right infrastructure is crucial to staying operational during extended outages.
Critical infrastructure includes several key elements such as uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), backup generators, and redundant network connections. A well-designed power system ensures that when a primary power source fails, UPS units kick in to keep systems running long enough for backup generators to activate. For example, a typical data center UPS system can provide power for 15-30 minutes, which is crucial for maintaining uptime during a transition to backup generators.
Network connectivity is another critical component. In a disaster scenario, businesses with multiple, redundant internet connections are more likely to maintain communications and continue servicing customers. By using redundant Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and automatic failover systems, businesses can minimize disruption to their online services.
Cooling systems also play a significant role in maintaining uptime during a power outage. Data centers and server rooms generate a tremendous amount of heat, and failure in cooling systems can cause hardware damage. Systems that rely on efficient, low-power cooling, and backup generators can continue to function even during extended outages, reducing the risk of costly hardware failures.
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