Five questions we get asked about data centres using refurbished technology

By Paul Logan, New Business Development Representative at ETB Technologies

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In the 21st century, data has become a central part of absolutely every aspect of day-to-day life. From allowing businesses to track, record and better understand their consumers, to hassle-free online banking, the sheer volume of data processed every day is unimaginable.

As data sets continue to grow, demand for data centres is higher than ever, and only likely to increase. But to securely and effectively collect, manage and send such exceptional volumes of data, fast, reliable and high-powered equipment is essential. And that’s exactly what we help our customers with.

With hundreds of our customers operating in the hosting and data centre sector, we know the industry pretty well. We’ve helped dozens of data centres, within the UK, Europe and further afield, introduce refurbished technology into their business operations. And, in almost every case, doing so has improved their in-house capabilities and helped achieve maximum value from their technology infrastructure.

Whether a smaller operator, or one of the biggest businesses in the sector, the right technology can be transformational. However, no matter their size or background, every customer journey starts with a challenge that needs solved. And that challenge normally brings questions around why refurbished technology is the right option.

Here’s the top five questions we get from our data centre customers, and how we answer them.

How reliable is refurbished technology compared to new?

When it comes to securing reliable equipment, refurbished is just as good as buying new – in fact, sometimes it’s better. Every item that enters our warehouse is stripped back to its core parts before being thoroughly checked and cleaned to ensure it’s in top condition. Any parts we believe aren’t fit for purpose will be rejected during our quality control process – it’s that simple. And to give customers even more confidence in the robustness of our products, we also offer worldwide warranties and access to after sale support.

Can refurbished equipment meet our performance needs?

Absolutely. It’s no longer the case that refurbished means outdated. The majority of products we stock are only a generation or two behind brand new and in some cases, refurbished stock can be current generation. Combine that with our rigorous testing process and quality control and you can rest assured that everything you purchase will meet your performance requirements at a fraction of the cost of buying new.

How scalable is refurbished technology?

Thinking ahead is important for any business. For data centres, it’s almost inevitable that, as global data requirements expand, so will the need to bolster the corresponding infrastructure. Thankfully, we’re perfectly placed to support this growth, with loads of compatible products that can be added to their infrastructure quickly and easily as required. Whether it’s upscaling for additional processing power, or looking to increase networking speed, we’ll advise on the best products to enhance their existing system. Which leads onto our next question…

Can refurbished equipment be integrated with existing systems?

The benefit of many refurbished items is they can be smoothly integrated into most existing systems – even the more complex set-ups often operated by data centres. We believe in making the most of what you already have, so if a data centre requires a new piece of equipment to improve its performance, it shouldn’t be an issue. Our expert team can answer most queries when it comes to compatibility and will help set up your refurbished equipment to ensure everything’s running correctly. Additionally, our website breaks down each component we sell to showcase exactly what items it’s compatible with, allowing our customers to scale up existing assets as requirements change.

How do you ensure data security with refurbished equipment?

Data leakages or security breaches simply can’t be taken lightly, so it’s understandable that data centres are extra cautious when it comes to keeping customer data safe. The consequences of connecting a compromised device to a network could be catastrophic.

The good thing is, when it comes to refurbished, this isn’t a problem our customers need to worry about. Every single device we sell has been completely wiped and reset, ensuring there are absolutely no traces of previous use. In addition, if something doesn’t look right and we’re not 100% confident an item is secure, we won’t sell it.

Ensuring data centres have the right equipment to support both their current and future needs is vital. To keep up with rapidly expanding markets, many will be questioning their next move when it comes to unlocking digital productivity and scaling up existing systems, safely and reliably. By looking at refurbished as an option, they might just find the right answer.

If you’re looking for some advice on how best to introduce refurbished technology to your business, we’re here to help. Find out more via the ETB website: https://www.etb-tech.com/