Data centres are the foundational infrastructure of all cloud computing services and are often referred to as the ‘backbone’ of the digital economy. They serve the dual purpose of providing tools to manage and store data along with the necessary infrastructure for running applications. HI GIO Cloud, a cloud computing product tailored to the Vietnam market, leverages an advanced Japa technical platform in conjunction with FPT’s international standard Data Center system.
1.What is Data Center?
A data center is a physical facility designed to house computers and their associated hardware devices, including servers, data storage drives, and networking equipment. It serves as the foundational infrastructure required by IT systems. Data centers play a critical role in securely storing and managing the digital data of organizations. (According to AWS)
2.Key criteria for qualified data center
The data center is the repository for sensitive and critical information; therefore, selecting a cloud service provider with an internationally recognized Data Center system is essential. When it comes to standards for Data Center infrastructure, there are two primary and widely accepted certifications in design, construction, and operation that a data center must obtain to meet operational requirements:
1 – ANSI/TIA-942: This standard establishes the minimum requirements for data centers or computer rooms of all sizes, ranging from small to large. The standard system is derived from various other US standards related to wiring, fire protection, grounding, and more. These standards are continually adjusted and updated to align with the evolving market needs. Several independent companies, including EPI and Datwyler, have conducted third-party assessments in accordance with ANSI/TIA-942-B, contributing to the objectivity of this certification.
2 – Uptime Tier: Uptime Institute is a respected research institution specializing in data centers and is a member of the United States Telecommunications Industry Association. It represents a prestigious global evaluation system for the design, construction, operation, management, and service reliability of data centers. The Uptime Institute sets its own standards and conducts self-assessments for its certifications. The Institute’s “Tier” standard is widely acknowledged worldwide and is categorized into four levels:
Tier I
A Tier I data center serves as the fundamental foundation supporting the Information Technology system of an office or business. While this tier ensures business continuity by safeguarding data against disruptions caused by human, it does not guarantee the ability to handle unforeseen errors or incidents. It’s important to note that businesses utilizing Tier I data centers may experience up to 29 hours of annual downtime.
Tier II
Tier II data centers incorporate additional cooling components to enhance maintenance and data security during disruptions. While it is possible to remove equipment from a Tier II data center without shutting it down, unexpected failures can still impact the system. Annual downtime in a Tier II data center can be as high as 22 hours.
Tier III
A Tier III data center offers enhanced data redundancy and enables the maintenance or replacement of equipment without causing system disruptions. It can implement redundancy solutions for critical support systems like power and cooling, thereby guaranteeing an annual downtime of only 1.6 hours. This level of reliability surpasses that of Tier I and Tier II data centers.
Tier IV
Tier IV data centers represent the highest level of data center infrastructure. They comprise multiple physically isolated systems to guarantee continuity and prevent disruptions caused by both planned and unplanned events. Facilities achieving this tier are fault-tolerant, equipped with fully redundant systems, and can assure a downtime of just 26 minutes per year.
In Vietnam, only a limited number of data centers adhere to the TIA-942 Rated 3 Constructed Facilities standards, encompassing both design and infrastructure construction criteria. FPT Data Center system takes pride in being one of the few data centers in Vietnam to have attained the prestigious Uptime Tier III international certification conferred by the Uptime Institute, USA.
3.Advantages of a Tier III data center
– MRTG Network Monitoring Solution: Data Center Tier 3 employs Multi Router Traffic Grapher (MRTG) Network Monitor technology to monitor and measure network traffic and user usage. This solution assists businesses in ensuring network readiness and promptly detecting potential issues.
– Secure Network Management System: Data Center Tier 3 boasts a two-tiered security network management system, comprising access codes and security cameras. Only authorized data center personnel and registered customers are permitted entry into the server area. Additionally, Data Center Tier 3 maintains a 24/7 camera surveillance system to continuously monitor all activities within the remote data center.
– Stable electrical and air conditioning system: Data Center Tier 3 maintains a stable electrical and air conditioning system, guaranteeing optimal temperature and humidity levels for seamless server operation. Moreover, it possesses precise control over humidity and temperature within the server room, with humidity maintained within a 5% margin of error and temperature within a 1-degree Celsius margin of error. This meticulous control ensures that servers operate efficiently and remain unharmed by excessive heat or cold.
– N + 1 Backup System: Data Center Tier 3 implements an N + 1 backup system for critical equipment, including power systems and UPS units. This redundancy ensures uninterrupted server uptime in the event of equipment failures and prevents disruptions to customer services. Furthermore, Data Center Tier 3 has devised a comprehensive plan for periodic maintenance of data center components and systems, ensuring that such maintenance activities do not impact server operations or services.
4.The largest data center in Vietnam: FPT Data Center
Having diligently pursued rigorous assessments for nearly a year, FPT Data Center has achieved Tier Uptime III and Data Center EPZ certifications in the following categories: Infrastructure design, Operating procedures, Design processes, and Problem resolution.
Furthermore, FPT Data Center has been awarded several other prestigious international certificates, including:
• ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management)
• ISO 27001:2013 & ISO 27017:2015 (Security)
• CDCP (Certified Data Center Professional)
• TIER III Operational Time (Data Center Standard)
• Cisco Certified Network Expert (CCIE)
• CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
• LEED Certification (Efficient Use of Green Resources)
At present, FPT Telecom operates four Data Centers, strategically located as follows: Data Center Duy Tan(Hanoi), Data Center Pham Van Bach(Hanoi), Data Center Tan Thuan (HCMC), and a Data Center is about to come into operation(HCMC). FPT Telecom’s Data Centers have all obtained certifications that adhere to stringent international standards for data centers.
The Tier III FPT Data Center was completed and commissioned in 2009. It houses a robust infrastructure comprising more than 30,000 specialized servers from renowned brands such as DELL, HP, IBM, and others. These servers have consistently operated continuously and seamlessly over the years, catering to the requirements of numerous organizations, corporate clients, and millions of individual users across the nation.
(Tier III FPT Data Center – Secure ISO Certificate)
5.Benefits of using HI GIO Cloud in FPT’s Data Center system
HI GIO Cloud represents the pioneering international standard cloud computing infrastructure platform service tailored for the Vietnamese market. This innovative service is a collaborative effort between two prominent technology corporations, FPT Telecom and Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ). It is specifically designed to cater to the unique requirements of the Vietnamese market, leveraging an advanced Japanese technical platform in conjunction with FPT’s internationally recognized Data Center system. The aim is to provide customers with a secure, efficient, and locally suitable solution.
As one of the three largest Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the present day, FPT Telecom has made substantial investments in its backbone system, along with domestic and international peering connections. This investment ensures expedited access to customer data hosted within FPT’s optimized data center. Consequently, HI GIO Cloud, built upon the infrastructure at FPT Data Center, offers numerous advantages to its customers:
- Security and reliability: HI GIO Cloud stores your data within the FPT Data Center, which conforms to the highest Data Center Tier 3 standards available today. FPT Data Center employs a robust two-layer security system, a 24/7 security camera surveillance system, comprehensive monitoring and control systems, and an N +1 backup system. These measures ensure that customer data is consistently safeguarded, preventing any unauthorized access or breaches from external factors.
- Cost and time savings: HI GIO Cloud assists businesses in reducing costs and saving time by relieving them of the burden of managing and operating their own IT infrastructure. With support from over 100 experienced technology experts and engineers from both Vietnam and Japan, who hold international IT certifications such as Cisco CCNA, CCSP, CCNP, CCIE, VMWare VSP, VTSP, VCP, Juniper JNCIP, JNCIE, Microsoft MCITP, MCSA, MCSE, Linux+, McAfee, and AWS CSA, businesses can confidently select Data Center Vietnam with international standards.
- Leveraging Advanced Technology: HI GIO Cloud empowers businesses to harness advanced technologies through continuous infrastructure updates, including the adoption of new technologies such as NVMe, MPLS, and Spine-Leaf network architecture. This enhancement drives productivity and improves overall business efficiency.
HI GIO Cloud Gen. 2: To enhance user experience and cater to the evolving needs of Vietnamese businesses, IIJ and FPT Telecom have introduced HI GIO Cloud Gen 2, featuring seven notable upgrades:
- An improved HI GIO Portal Gen 2 interface to enhance the user experience.
- Cost optimization with VM Auto-Scale features.
- Flexible storage with IOPs processing speed on the NVMe hard drive platform.
- Data synchronization and disaster recovery capabilities, utilizing FPT Data Center facilities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, both meeting Tier III Facility standards.
- Enhanced connectivity and security for VPC through the integration of VMware’s Software Defined Networking technology.
- The inclusion of integrated GPU graphics cards for organizations and businesses engaged in research, development, and operation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) application systems and software.
- Adoption of a Network system applying Spine-Leaf network architecture.
Conclusion
In the digital age, data stands as a precious asset for every business. To generate new value, enhance productivity, and maintain competitiveness in the market, businesses require a secure and efficient storage environment, along with cloud computing solutions tailored to the Vietnamese market. HI GIO Cloud is poised to serve as a trusted partner for businesses embarking on their digital transformation journey.
