We often take power for granted. But when there’s a power failure, a planned outage, or a natural disaster, we’re reminded that power is such a necessity. In today’s digital world, data loss and downtime for IT can lead to long-term financial and reputational damage for organizations. The risks are even greater for healthcare and critical infrastructure industries. Listen in on our latest podcast to hear how simple it is to prevent data loss and power failure before it’s too late.
Host: James Hilliard
Guests:
- Hillary Watkins, Product Marketing Specialist for Single Phase UPS at Vertiv
- Joe Doherty, Power and Cooling Business Development Specialist at Connection
You can also hear this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
Show Notes:
[3:26] Do most organizations have the appropriate power backup in place? Many offices and facilities have backup generators, but there’s typically a delay from the moment the power interruption or outage occurs and the generator kicking in. Data can be lost during this time—in addition to impairing business operations. Having a UPS in place can mitigate this risk.
[5:00] How has the remote and hybrid working environment of today impacted the approach to power and battery backups? Many IT professionals are now working from home where it isn’t possible to physically hear the maintenance beeps and alarms. Remote IT teams are now reliant on setting up systems to be able to receive remote notifications, but many are not set up that way. Instead, IT and facility teams are trying to keep up with the alarms rather than being proactive on the maintenance and replacement schedules.
[6:23] How can teams plan for business continuity? Preventative measures are key. Gartner has reported that the cost of downtime is estimated at $5,600 per minute. Many of us are too busy tackling the next problem, but teams should plan for the worst-case scenario instead of constantly chasing it. The cost of a UPS or battery backup is minimal compared to what could be lost in an event where power is disrupted by a hurricane, power outage, or even vibration from nearby construction.
[12:54] Some teams may be thinking whether investing in UPSs makes sense. What is your perspective? The key question is: “Do you want to save dollars or do you want to save your data?” Downtime can lead to major losses. There are a wide variety of UPSs available. There are units that feature lithium-ion batteries—which deliver 8-10 years of performance instead of the average 3-5 years—leading to a lower total cost of ownership.
[17:00] Who should be involved when it comes to business continuity planning? Facility planning staff should be involved in the discussions as they are typically responsible for the overall infrastructure and disaster recovery plans. IT is responsible for protecting data and managing the servers and networks. From the budgeting and ROI perspective, finance plays a vital role in the final decision-making process.
[20:00] What about remote employees and their backup needs? We’ve all experienced power outages at home. A UPS is certainly a best practice, but it requires finding the right fit based on user needs and effective communications. You certainly don’t want people plugging in heaters and extraneous devices that will overload their UPS. You’re also relying on employees to notify IT or facility teams of issues and having them replace units. Regular communications about appropriate and proactive maintenance practices are necessary.
[24:13] What is the value Vertiv can bring? Vertiv is a newer name in the industry, but it really is the make-up of the former Liebert and Emerson power product lines that have been around since the 1960s. These power and cooling products are performance leaders in the industry.
To learn more, please reach out to a Connection Account Manager, or visit connection.com/vertiv.
