ORANGE, USA: Data centres are not prepared for disasters, finds AFCOM, data centre professional's association, in its latest report, 'The State of the Data Center'.

As per the study, over 15 per cent of respondents said their data centre has no plan for data back-up and recovery. Moreover, 50 per cent have no plan to replace damaged equipment after a disaster; two-thirds of all data centres have no plan or procedure to deal with cyber crime.

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The study also finds that there has been significant growth in the adoption of cloud computing. Last year, only 14.9 percent of all data centres had implemented the technology. Whereas, today, that percentage has grown to 36.6 percent, with another 35.1 percent seriously considering it.

AFCOM believes that cloud computing will continue on this trajectory for the next five years, with 80 to 90 per cent of all data centres adopting some form of the cloud during that period.

While historically one of the most critical elements of any data centre, today, mainframe usage continues to shrink, adds AFCOM. The association predicts that mainframes will exist forever in some capacity, their prevalence has been severely diminished.

In AFCOM’s survey, 86.6 per cent of all respondents reported an increase in the number of web applications they are running today as compared to just three years ago.

Moreover, even in a down economy, data centres have been expanding in size with 44.2 percent occupying more floor space that they did three years ago. Another 49.4 per cent are currently in the process of expanding or are planning to in the near future. Only 16.4 percent have downsized.

While only 3.9 per cent of respondents have implemented solar power in their data centre, AFCOM feels this represents a trend towards integrating renewable energy as part of making more sustainable and energy efficient data centres.

While the industry is certainly concerned with the environment, they look to greening as a great way to save substantial money now and even more as time goes on.

Although, security has always been a top concern for data centres, AFCOM’s survey found the growing use of biometric screening for authorization and access has grown, with a surprising 25 per cent of facilities installing the technology to better protect their data centres.