Beware of zombie servers

Data centers use large amounts of power, and if they're not operating efficiently, a lot of that energy is wasted. Like the mindless, shambling creatures from "The Walking Dead," zombie servers use energy without actually doing anything. A June 2015 study from Jonathan Koomey of Stanford University and Jon Taylor of Antithesis Group estimated that one out of every three data centers is a zombie, also known as a "comatose server." With data from TSO Logic, Koomey and Taylor identified the threats that these servers pose to enterprises.

Wasted energy
That's as many as 10 million servers all over the world that are wasting resources and slowing down data centers by using energy that could be going toward other functions. In 2014, the National Resources Defense Council estimated that in the United States alone, replacing these servers with more efficient systems could save 40 percent of electrical usage. That number is expected to grow as the number of servers continues to rise. 

Security concerns
In addition to slowing systems down and wasting energy, these comatose servers can also lead to security issues. Gavin Selkirk, President of BMC Asia Pacific, wrote in a recent MIS Asia article about the dangers of zombie servers. They can make it easier for bots to attack the system, and allow hackers to steal sensitive data. 

Stop the zombies
The good news is that data centers can fix the problem. With an energy power audit from network power experts, an enterprise can develop more efficient systems that save energy and protect data. 

Don't waste your energy on zombie servers. Contact Customer Networks for an Energy STEP1 Audit. Our factory-trained and certified field service engineers come to your site and analyze your IT efficiency, ensuring your systems are running at peak optimization.