Filip Olujić (DataBox): We are focused on delivering services without downtime for users

The increasing volume of data and the demands for its security are driving companies to store it in data centers. However, technology, primarily artificial intelligence (AI), is also changing data centers. How the market is changing is explained by Filip Olujić, CEO of DataBox.

Do you notice that companies have new requirements for data storage, what trends are we talking about?

– User needs are directing the development of data storage technology. The amount of data that users create and collect is rapidly increasing. An increasing number of devices, sensors, and applications connected to the internet produce vast amounts of data, which requires greater storage capacities. Regardless of the amount of data, one of the main user requirements is also high-speed access to data as it is fundamental for real-time decision-making. This has accelerated the development of new data storage technologies, such as flash memory and NVMe (non-volatile memory express) protocol. With the increasing amount of data to be stored, users are also exposed to a greater risk of data theft and other security threats as we are witnessing a significant rise in cyber crime. This has led to the development of new security technologies such as data encryption and advanced authentication techniques. The growth of data volume, the need for fast access to data, and their increased security are key trends and user requirements.

How does the development of artificial intelligence (AI) affect DataBox services and data centers in general?

– AI is having an increasing impact on data centers through faster and more efficient data processing and analysis, as well as the automation and optimization of the operation of individual infrastructural components of the data center. Given that data center consumption is estimated at two percent of total global electricity consumption, a significant focus on the application of AI technologies is placed on monitoring and managing energy consumption. Based on faster and more efficient processing and analysis of data obtained from infrastructural systems, real-time optimization results in reduced energy consumption, and consequently costs. Additionally, AI can be used to predict user needs, optimize network operations, and identify and resolve issues in real-time. On the other hand, the computing infrastructure for AI systems consumes significantly more electricity than the average traditional computing infrastructure, so the energy capacities of data centers per square meter will grow exponentially.

Many companies are considering moving their IT infrastructure from their own server rooms to data centers. What advantages does this bring them?

– Building and maintaining one’s own server room, or one’s own data center, is more expensive than renting colocation services in a commercial data center. The infrastructure of an external data center is significantly higher quality; more reliable and secure than one’s own implementation. Data centers allow companies to reduce initial costs and pay only for the services they need, providing them with the flexibility to easily scale their infrastructure up or down as needed. This is especially important for companies experiencing seasonal or occasional spikes in demand. Data centers employ technical experts with extensive experience, who are available to users in a 24 x 7 x 365 model. Data centers offer many advantages to companies that need reliable, scalable, and secure IT infrastructure.

How much will traditional data centers need to change and what is DataBox doing about it?

– Gartner predicts that by 2025, fifty percent of global companies will migrate to serverless platforms. Many users want to reduce their own computing infrastructure and are turning to cloud service providers, but traditional data centers will not disappear as a result. DataBox will continue to focus on delivering services without downtime for users. Users are constantly changing their requirements, and higher quality service delivery pushes us towards more complex and powerful computing systems. The European Union has announced that by 2025 it will certify data centers based on energy efficiency, similar to how the energy class of household appliances is marked. Regardless of this trend, users will still need highly available and secure data centers as they are fundamental for cloud service providers.