A Mobile Data Center (MDC) is a backup data center housed in a transport trailer or shipping container. They are used to maintain high availability data, regulatory compliance, and temporary data center expansion. While they may also provide exceptional insurance against disaster, they are not cost effective for everyone. When considering the cost of downtime and data loss from a disaster, this form of "insurance" might be worth it for some, such as healthcare, insurance, financial and web-commerce enterprises.
What is a Mobile Data Center?
An MDC is a hot site on wheels (in a plane, on a train) designed for quick response to emergencies that compromise continuity of business. In general, it is a data center in a truck that arrives with the data center configuration that was pre-designed by the enterprise in collaboration with the vendor. To keep the unit on retainer from the vendor at a remote location, there is a monthly rental fee. Common features include modular design, configurable and scalable set up, generator, climate control, UPS, phone and internet access. Common connectivity options include:
- "Hitching post": This is similar to the campground experience where RVs connect to service posts. The enterprise would be responsible for constructing the post, so there is an upfront cost...
