What is a Tier 3 data center and what are its advantages?

Knowing what a Tier 3 data center is makes all the difference to your company's IT efficiency. Also discover a colocation solution in Florianópolis.

Have you already calculated the losses to your business of having your server down? According to the Uptime Institute, in Analysis Disruption Annual 2024, 54% of companies that experienced a data center outage reported losses of more than $100. Furthermore, for 16% of them, the cost was more than 1 million dollars.

Hence the importance of having a Tier 3 data center for the security not only of information technology (IT), but of the organization as a whole. A Tier 3, or Tier III, guarantees greater availability for your operation in accordance with international quality standards.

Understanding what a Tier 3 data center is will also serve as a parameter for your company to store your data, applications and services online efficiently.

So, ask your questions about the subject:

• How to have more IT security?
• What is a Tier 3 data center?
• What does this classification offer for your company?
• Where to find a Tier 3 data center in Brazil?

At the end of this content, you will be able to make well-informed decisions for the success of your business. Follow the explanation!

Important points when building or renting a data center

invest in data center efficiency is to invest in the company’s growth. You will have greater protection of the organization's and customer's data, guarantee greater availability of applications and digital services, in addition to having the computing power necessary for your activities.
However, how to recognize a truly efficient structure? The factors below can help in this regard.

Service availability (uptime)

A server down can be very costly for companies. So, the lower the risk of unavailability, the greater the security for your operations. In the case of a Tier 3 data center, uptime is 99,982%. This means that the service is available almost 100% of the time.

Low latency

It is not enough to be available full-time, the connection also needs to meet users' expectations in terms of speed. In other words, speed in data transmission is essential.

Redundant connectivity

Data center efficiency is also marked by redundancy in connectivity. Being redundant, in this case, means not depending on a single operator or route to connect to the internet. This reduces the risk of service interruption.

Power redundancy

The same connection redundancy principle applies to power. The structure must be prepared to deal with sudden drops in supply without harming the business.

Adequate air conditioning

A data center requires strict temperature control to maintain good operational levels. The refrigeration system must be appropriate for this type of structure and also have a redundant energy supply.

Security

To guarantee the efficiency of the data center in the long term, it is still necessary to think about the prevention of natural disasters, emergency measures against fires and daily safety with the movement of people through the environment.

This is why the data center rental solution is gaining traction. This model is more economical for companies and offers better prepared infrastructures, according to the demands of a competitive market.

How to evaluate data center efficiency?

It would be great if there was a standard to know if the data center meets all efficiency prerequisites, Is not it? The good news is that it exists.

More than 30 years ago, the Uptime Institute developed the Tier Certification to measure how well a data center is able to satisfy a company's needs. Imagine ISO 9000, but instead of considering quality management, the standards are for the security and efficiency of the IT structure.

The assessment scale goes from 1 to 4, or I to IV in Roman numerals, the form most used by the institute. But we can use both the terms “Tier 3 data center” and “Tier III data center” to refer to the same thing.

Tier, in English, means “level”. In other words, when we talk about a Tier 3 data center, we mean: a level 3 data center.

Learn more about the different levels:

• The most basic level is Tier 1. In this type of structure, it is necessary to shut down the entire location to carry out maintenance or repair services, according to the definition from the Uptime Institute.
• Above this comes Tier 2. It has some level of redundancy, but it is still necessary to shut down the entire site for maintenance or repair.
• Tier 3 data center is much more secure. Any component or distribution path of the structure can be removed or interrupted for maintenance without impacting overall operation.
• Finally, in Tier 4, individual equipment failures or distribution path interruptions will not affect operation.

Tier Certification is globally recognized and does not give preference to specific technologies or suppliers. Instead, it is based on the performance that the data center delivers to the business.

What is a Tier 3 data center?

A Tier 3, or Tier III, data center is mainly defined by high service availability and reinforced security for companies. 

By default, it must allow maintenance without compromising the general good functioning. The entire operation is based on redundancies, from energy supply to internet connection, so that availability is guaranteed 99,982% of the time. This is the uptime required for structures at this level.

While Tier 1 and 2 data centers can spend more than 20 hours per year offline, Tier 3 experiences a maximum of 1,6 hours of downtime per year. Remembering that this is the safety margin — real performance could be even better. For example, the Floripa Datacenter, located at Florianópolis airport, works with the Tier 3 standard and reaches an uptime of over 99,99%.

To guarantee this high level of availability, the data center needs to have redundant power and connectivity systems. By the way, another requirement for a Tier III data center is to have 72-hour protection against power outages. If a supply line fails, other measures must come into play, such as UPS and own generators, to keep the operation running.

Another important point in the definition of Tier 3 concerns site security. The environment must be monitored XNUMX/XNUMX and have controlled access.

To top it off, a standard of excellence is required not only from the structure, but also from the staff. 

Main features of the Tier 3 data center:

• uptime of 99,982%;
• maximum of 1,6 hours of inactivity per year;
• power interruption protection for 72 hours;
• reinforced security and controlled access to the building;
• presence of qualified personnel 24x7;
• experience and technical training required to operate the facility;
• effective predictive maintenance program.

Where to find a Tier 3 data center in Brazil?

Data from Grand View Research reveal that the Tier 3 segment accounts for around 45% of the data center market in the world and continues to grow. The advantages we saw above explain the reason for this growth.

But then, where to find a Tier 3 data center in Brazil? The answer to this is in Florianópolis. More precisely, in the Floripa Airport, which operates on the rental or colocation model.

Inside Florianópolis airport there is a modern and complete data center structure, which supports both Zurich Airport Brasil operations and external customers. Hundreds of businesses can host their data and services safely and efficiently on Floripa Datacenter.

— The location at Florianópolis airport offers reinforced local security 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in addition to high quality services, reliable energy supply and a dual approach to internet links — explains Wilson Felicio Victer, IT manager.

Another advantage of Floripa Datacenter is the service scalability. The space offering easily adapts to your company's needs and can grow with it.

— Zurich Airport Brasil is attentive to market demands and ready to serve business partners who aim for joint growth — adds Victer.

Increase your company's IT efficiency by speaking to our experts via WhatsApp.