What is a data centre?

Imagine a giant warehouse, but instead of physical products, it stores everything digital: your photos, videos, games, music, and files.   

This warehouse is called a data centre. In this article, we’ll answer the big question, “What is a data centre?”. We’ll find out what data centres look like inside, and why they’re so important in our everyday lives. 

Contents

• What is a data centre?
• What do data centres do?

What is a data centre?

A data centre is a large building that holds thousands of servers storing ‘the internet’. Servers are essentially powerful computers that store, manage, and deliver data to other computers. 

In a data centre, servers get stacked on top of each other in big cupboards called racks. Every data centre has thousands of these racks, all lined up in rows. Servers in racks get very hot and need to be cooled down, so data centres always have complex cooling systems to make sure that nothing over heats. 

Read more: What is a server?

What do data centres do?

Without data centres, you wouldn’t be able to video call, play online games, send emails, or search on Google. Everything from watching the weather forecast to buying a gift online involves data centres in one way or another.  

Read more: Why Do We Need Data Centres?

Servers in a rack

Data centre jobs

There are many different jobs involved in building and running a data centre, spanning every stage of its lifecycle.

In the early phases, construction professionals including quantity surveyors, construction managers, planners, architects, and project managers design and build the facility.

Once it’s up and running, operations teams -including data centre engineers, technicians, supervisors, and security staff – keep everything working safely and efficiently.

There are also IT specialists who manage the servers and systems, as well as sustainability and HSE experts who help reduce environmental impact and keep everyone safe on site.

From start to finish, data centres rely on a wide range of skilled people to keep the digital world connected.

If you’re looking for a new opportunity in data centres, whether in construction or operations, drop us an email ([email protected]) or submit your CV and we’ll get in touch.

Looking for other roles in critical infrastructure? Visit our sister site, Highfield Professional Solutions.

Data centres are the essential infrastructure powering our digital world, operating behind the scenes to support everything from online communication and entertainment to education and healthcare.

They store, manage, and protect the vast amounts of information we depend on daily. Whether it’s sending a message, purchasing an item online, or supporting emergency services, data centres play a vital role in making it all possible. With their advanced technology and powerful servers, they ensure our digital systems continue to run efficiently and reliably.