The following Tier Myth and Misconception, published on 29 October 2009, addresses the commonly held belief that Tier dictates infrastructure physical security. Tier requirements address the functionality of the data center design topology; Operational Sustainability addresses the risk factors beyond design topology, including infrastructure physical security.

Myth: Re-enforced perimeter fencing is required for Tiers III and IV.

Myth: Physical security measures for outdoor critical equipment (e.g., fuel storage tanks) are a Tier requirement.

Myth: CCTV is required for Tiers III and IV.

Uptime: The Tier Classification System does not prescribe security provisions. Nevertheless, these infrastructure physical security risk factors should be specifically and thoroughly addressed in the owner’s Operational Sustainability requirements.

The level of security is largely determined by industry, the criticality of the IT function performed on site, and the owner’s policies. For example, a financial institution will typically invest in a level of security exceeding that of an academic institution.

There are numerous infrastructure physical security measures which are best practices, regardless of Tier. These include biometric readers, bollards, guard houses, hiding in plain sight, mantraps, re-enforced perimeter fencing, video surveillance, etc. Best practices are critical in reducing the risk exposure of curiosity, mischief, crimes, and accidents. However, best practices should not be confused with Tier requirements.

In order to maintain focus on the Tier requirements, the Uptime Institute has published Tier Standard: Topology, which places the Tiers in a standards format to facilitate practical application. This document puts aside the attributes and illustrations that can lead to confusion. Tier Standard: Topology is available for download HERE.

If you would like more information on Tier Certification, please click HERE.

The following three myths, published on 21 September 2009, finish the discussion begun by Digital Realty Trust's video "Myth of the Month: The Tier System."

Myth: Tiers do not address business requirements.
Uptime: The Tiers are a performance-based, business-case-driven data center benchmarking system. An organization's risk tolerance determines the appropriate Tier for the business. In other words, the Tiers are predicated on the business case of the individual company. Without determination of a unique business case, organizations are misusing the Tiers and bypassing the internal dialogue that needs to occur.

Myth: Tier II provides Concurrent Maintenance opportunities.
Uptime: Tier II ensures redundant capacity components, but requires a shutdown of the computer room for planned maintenance or replacement of critical equipment. The fundamental concept of Tier III is Concurrent Maintenance functionality. Digital Realty Trust asserts the following: "Concurrent Maintainability is actually one of the most important driving design characteristics that you need to have inside your data center. You need to be able to maintain your facility while it's running, regardless of if it's a Tier IV to a Tier II design." Digital Realty Trust mentions Tier II and IV solutions, but disregards Tier III. The requirement to maintain infrastructure without shutting down equipment, known as Concurrent Maintainability, defines Tier III. Many owners' business cases, including healthcare, domestic outsourcers, and state governments, require Tier III. The list of organizations that have protected their investment with Tier III Certification may be found HERE.

Myth: Nobody needs a Tier IV data center.
Uptime: Many owners' business cases require Tier IV, including banking/financial; insurance; outsourcers in UK, Middle East, and South Africa; and federal and provincial governments. (List of Tier IV Certifications may be found here.) The Tiers are not prescriptive. Tier IV is not the best answer for all organizations, neither is Tier II . Experience dictates that owners perform due diligence assessments of their own and outsourcers' facilities to address the following: If the facility is Tier II and by definition does not include Concurrent Maintenance capabilities across all critical subsystems, a) can the business tolerate a maintenance-related shutdown and b) how does the site operations team propose to coordinate a maintenance-related, site-wide shutdown across 10s or even 100s of data center clients?

If you would like more information on Tier Certification, please click HERE.

The following four myths were published on 27 August 2009.

Myth: Utility Feeds
Uptime: The number of utility feeds, substations, and grids that provide public power to the facility neither predicts nor influences Tier.

Myth: Component Count
Uptime: N+1, N+2, S+S, or 2(N+1) does not determine Tier.

Myth: TIA-942
Uptime: Tier Certification is a third-party, independent assessment to the Uptime Institute's Tier Classification System, performed by its Professional Services consultants.

Myth: Site Location
Uptime: Although a critical consideration for the lifecycle operation of the facility, geographical location does not affect Tier.

If you would like more information on Tier Certification, please click HERE.

If your team is using these myths to define your Tier requirements, there is misdirected attention to elements that do not affect Tier-at the cost of attention to the fundamental concepts. The following resources are available to address these and other misconceptions that add unnecessary cost or complexity to your project.

Tier Standard: Topology - This document, published in 2009, presents the Tiers in a standards format to facilitate practical application. There are unauthorized documents circulating that purport to guide to Tier; these documents are either tables excerpted without essential context or blends of attributes, misconceptions, and other benchmarking systems. Tier Standard: Topology is available for FREE DOWNLOAD. Ensure that your reference documents are accurate.

Accredited Tier Designer - This curriculum and professional designation is offered exclusively to licensed professional engineers (PE or international equivalent). Accredited Tier Designer participants for the 2009 sessions include design engineers, consultants, and data center owners from 10 countries. This curriculum will benefit those that direct and deliver data center designs by addressing the misconceptions and misapplications that commonly lead to cost and schedule overruns. Those that pass the administered examination will be awarded an Accredited Tier Designer designation that will serve as a competitive differentiator. Make sure your project team knows Uptime Institute Tier requirements.