Conducting a Technical Site Assessment

​IT personnel are very familiar with computer rooms, data centers, call centers and network operations centers (NOCs).  However, typically only a few IT personnel are charged with the responsibility of actually selecting or assessing such a facility.   This may become necessary due to company growth, acquisition of another company or to ensure that a provider’s facility is adequate to provide services to their customers.  Following a thoughtful approach to performing a site assessment will minimize the risks of having mission-critical systems operate out of a sub-standard facility.  In order to perform a thorough, quality assessment of a technical facility, there are a few key things to consider:

1. Prepare for Site Visits

• Identify point of contact at each facility and have all their contact information
• Obtain clearance to enter each facility ahead of time
• Collect all known records of each site including floor plans, rack layouts, known equipment inventory, etc.
  

2. Conduct the Site Assessment

• Perform a physical inspection of the surrounding area and take photographs
• Conduct an electrical and mechanical inspection including the generator, fiber and power access and egress facilities, chillers, etc.
• Document the physical security protocol, devices and obtain any local procedures or documents pertaining to securing site access
• Inside the facility, sketch the layout of the facility and storage areas, identify fiber and cable entry and exit locations, and perform physical inventory of all equipment, cooling units etc.
  

3. Develop Site Report

• Notate overall risks and gaps including inventory gaps, security gaps, local area risks (theft, parking facilities etc.), maintenance records, etc.
• Summarize external assessment of facility, access and egress, site security and road conditions
• Summarize mechanical/electrical rooms including generators, chillers, cables, cleanliness of area, maintenance records etc.
• Summarize internal facility including equipment layout, obvious structural issues, cabling and fiber runs, environmental conditions (humidity, temperature), security and facility access etc.

Using such a structured approach will ensure that your site assessments are well orchestrated with your site assessors producing the same thorough, quality of end results with minimal need for last-minute decision-making.  What other tips would you suggest to ensure a smooth site assessment?

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Sai Balakrishna

About the Author

​Sai Balakrishna is the Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer for ProcureVision, LLC. An expert in strategy development, business process optimization, program and portfolio management, Sai has over 25 years of management and leadership experience from Fortune 100 companies including American Airlines and Verizon.