A surge of innovation

Data center operators (and enterprise IT) are generally cautious adopters of new technologies. Only a few (beyond hyperscale operators) try to gain a competitive advantage through their early use of technology. Rather, they have a strong preference toward technologies that are proven, reliable and well-supported. This reduces risks and costs, even if it means opportunities to jump ahead in efficiency, agility or functionality are missed.

But innovation does occur, and sometimes it comes in waves, perhaps triggered by the opportunity for a significant leap forward in efficiency, the sudden maturing of a technology, or some external catalyst. The threat of having to close critical data centers to move workloads to the public cloud may be one such driver; the need to operate a facility without staff during a weather event, or a pandemic crisis, may be another; the need to operate with far fewer carbon emissions may be yet another. Sometimes one new technology needs another to make it more economic.