DCM – the operating platform for your data centre
We view Data Center Management (DCM) as the evolution from infrastructure management to an integrated operating platform for the data centre. The established term Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) describes the connection of IT and building infrastructure for visibility, monitoring and capacity planning. Our DCM approach builds on this and connects these tasks with operational processes, responsibilities, interfaces and a consistent basis for decisions.
We plan the right platform together with your IT and technical operations teams: what data is needed, which systems provide it and which decisions should it inform? We use these requirements to define interfaces and a structured implementation.
From monitoring to integrated operations management
Modern DCM connects infrastructure and IT data with data centre workflows. This includes condition monitoring, alarm management, capacity planning, energy analysis and change documentation. Data is prepared so that operations teams can assess events and prioritise action.
As the data centre's operating platform, it provides a shared working foundation across disciplines. Appropriate automation depends on available interfaces, data quality and operational approvals. We define roles, responsibilities and handovers early and plan implementation in manageable stages.
Connect design and operations through the digital twin
BIM describes planned and installed equipment, spaces and technical relationships. DCM adds the operational perspective: conditions, consumption, occupancy, capacities and changes. Together, they can provide a reliable foundation for the data centre's digital twin.
Objects, identifiers and interfaces must be aligned. We account for this during planning and define which information is transferred and maintained at acceptance, commissioning and subsequent modifications.
What a DCM platform should deliver
- All activities related to designing, building, delivering, supporting, and managing the lifecycle of IT services
- Includes all activities and processes that support a service, from service management, change management, and problem and incident management to asset management and knowledge management
- Monitors all IT assets of the company (servers in the Data Center, PCs, laptops, tablets, etc.) as logical objects and their configuration (configuration items), centralized in a configuration management database (CMDB)
- Provides Service Desk Change Management for all changes and optimized workflows within IT
- Monitors and maintains building heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning
- Controls all major energy consuming devices
- Enables error detection and alerts
- Automatic regular checks of the infrastructure components
- Manages Data Center physical infrastructure assets, relationships, and capacities:
- Locations of racks, blades/servers, and networking and storage components
- Management of resources supporting IT equipment such as power, space, and cooling
- Physical relationships and connectivity between devices down to the port level
- Monitors, trend and triggers alerts on IT equipment and resources supporting mission-critical facilities.
- Automates visual documentation such as rack mounts and rack units used by providing 3D visualization and providing full-fidelity front and back images, exact mounting position, and information on dimensions, weight, data, and power connections
- Tracks the workflow within the Data Center for physical asset changes, such as added components or changes in server and network devices
- Tracks and monitors environmental conditions, energy efficiency, availability, and utilization of key resources (space, power, cooling, and network/power connections)
We organise requirements around your operational tasks: documenting assets and dependencies, assessing power and cooling capacity, prioritising alarms, tracking changes and reporting to operations and management.
Integration with building management, IT service management and existing monitoring creates shared data flows. DCM consolidates this information to support decisions without indiscriminately replacing specialised systems. Usable data, clear processes and an operations team able to work with the solution are essential.