Data centers are more important than ever. With digital trends like Big Data and the Internet of Things driving transformations across every industry, businesses are relying on their computer hardware to do more, and they're expecting it to perform around the clock. High availability is critical for many enterprises. That means there's no room for downtime. 

As more businesses rely on data centers and critical environments, the cost of downtime continues to rise. According to a study by the Ponemon Institute, the price of unexpected data center outages has risen to $9,000 per minute. Such outages can bring operations to a halt, tarnish a brand's image and strain relationships with vendors and customers in addition to costing thousands of dollars.

Often, the cause of these expensive interruptions can be traced back to poor data maintenance and a lack of regular data center cleaning. Contaminants can enter the data center in a number of ways:

• Left behind after construction is completed.
• Entering through open doors.
• Opening of cardboard boxes within the data center.
• Vendors working on infrastructure equipment.
• Technicians installing and upgrading servers. 

These contaminants could be anything from dust, mold, clothing fibers or any other materials that enter from the outside world. They can restrict your equipment from operating correctly and lead it  to overheating, possibly causing permanent damage. 

Dirty data centers could be a threat in 2016
As today's data centers have more sophisticated equipment, this equipment requires more sophisticated care. That means professional cleaning from seasoned experts. When businesses don't ensure their equipment is properly cleaned and maintained, the accumulation of dust, grime and other contaminants can lead to equipment failure.

At that point, companies have to hire critical environment specialists for disaster recovery when hardware shutdown and downtime occur. While data center cleaning companies do offer emergency services, it's certainly in the best interest of your company to make sure that your facility is clean so it doesn't come to that. 

According to Data Center Dynamics, there has been a rise in emergency cleaning over the past year: The number increased 300 percent in 2015 compared to 2014. That figure is expected to continue to rise, along with the price of downtime. Without proper cleaning services from the professionals, many more data centers will need these emergency services. Working with professionals ahead of time can ensure that your equipment is clean and your critical environment is in the best condition. 

The need for professional data center cleaning services
Some businesses may try to maintain their critical environment equipment cleaning in-house. That's not recommended, however, because these procedures should be performed with the right equipment, by experienced computer room cleaning professionals.

Improper cleaning can also lead to contamination, so it takes careful planning ahead of time to ensure the cleaning itself doesn't cause more problems. Cleaning without taking the proper precautions and using the right equipment can end up causing more damage. In addition to a proper technical cleaning, it's also important to discover the sources of these contaminants. Otherwise, the contaminants will keep returning unchecked. 

Don't let a dirty data center hold your business back. FirstTech Corporation has been pioneering the field of computer room cleaning and environmental maintenance since 1979, and we're still industry leaders today. Our data center professionals can help you reduce the environmental hazards in your data center. In addition to computer room cleaning and preventative maintenance, we also offer a 24-hour disaster recovery hotline. Contact us to learn more about our superior products and impeccable service.