In an increasingly interconnected and technology-dependent world, the reliability of an uninterruptible power supply system (UPS) at the network Edge is stands as a pillar for the reliable operation of critical services. These systems provide power continuity in decentralized locations, for availability and reliability of critical services.
The Edge plays a crucial role in optimizing, capturing and processing data from emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, with applications that are growing at an unprecedented rate.
IT response times are critical and delays or downtime can impact everything from financial losses to a bad user experience. Therefore, it is necessary for businesses to have the ability to process large amounts of data quickly and efficiently, taking measures to prevent power outages, especially in applications such as high-definition content delivery or autonomous vehicle decision-making, where every millisecond counts.
UPS: Enabling power continuity
According to a Vertiv study on the Effect of Remote Monitoring and Preventive Maintenance, in most cases, the ability to keep critical systems up and running during power outages, power surges, and other unpredictable electrical problems is dependent on the reliability of the UPS systems. However, the UPS system is only as reliable as the batteries that support it.
The Uptime Institute Global Data Center Survey 2022 reports that electrical problems remain the leading cause (over 40%) of outages. With businesses relying more on digitization of internal processes and customer interactions, it's logical to assume that outages are becoming increasingly costly in terms of direct and indirect costs. Therefore, the continuity of battery operation is essential for availability of the UPS and battery backup.
Intelligent battery management is essential as it monitors the battery, allows actions that can prolong useful battery life, and most importantly, helps to be sure that the UPS and battery are available during power outages.
Benefits of Monitoring and Maintaining the UPS and Battery
Among the benefits of monitoring and maintaining UPS and battery at the edge are:
- Uninterrupted Power Backup: Enables critical devices, such as servers and network equipment, to continue to function even in cases of unplanned power outages. At the edge, electrical infrastructure may be less reliable or suffer frequent interruptions, and may be harder to access if it is operating in a remote location.
- Protection Against Voltage Variations: UPS also act as defense against voltage variations and disturbances in the electrical service powering the application. By actively monitoring the incoming power and adjusting the power supplied, the UPS serves as a critical safeguard.
- Increased Reliability: According to the Vertiv report , skilled maintenance and remote monitoring of the UPS and batteries increase equipment reliability.
- Operational Efficiency Proactive strategies, such as intelligence battery monitoring, enable preventative actions. The integration of these technologies improves operational efficiency and decision making.
To address these user needs, data centers face challenges to improve efficiency and reliability in decentralized locations. Vertiv has +22 service centers, +384 service field engineers and +25 technical support/response to projects services for the Edge in Latin America. Learn more about our services here.
