Keysource

From UPS Swaps to Cooling Enhancements: Types of Live Upgrades We Manage

Our deep engineering expertise allows us to perform a wide range of critical hardware and infrastructure upgrades while your facility remains fully operational.

This includes:

• Live UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) replacement and capacity upgrades
• CRAC/CRAH unit expansions and retrofits in a live hall
• Live switch, router, and core network hardware refreshes
• High-density rack and cabinet deployment into an active environment
• PDU, RPC, and busbar cutovers without service interruption

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the biggest risk during a live data centre upgrade?

A: The biggest risk is focusing only on the immediate task while missing the hidden interdependencies in power and cooling. Our design-led approach mitigates this by understanding the entire facility ecosystem, not just the single piece of equipment being upgraded.

Q2: How do you ensure zero downtime during a hardware upgrade?

A: Zero downtime is an engineered outcome. It’s achieved through meticulous planning, a deep understanding of the facility’s original design, and a proven methodology for risk management that has been tested in the most demanding financial and colocation environments.

Q3: Why is a design-and-build partner better for live upgrades?

A: A partner who designed and built the facility has a fundamental understanding of every dependency. Unlike a maintenance-only contractor, we don’t just follow a process; we anticipate challenges based on our intimate knowledge of the infrastructure, engineering risk out from the start.

Partnering with a single provider for your data centre projects can reduce costs and delivery times. Managing multiple vendors leads to delays and rising material costs, while a single provider streamlines the process. Collaborative project delivery models, have been shown to improve efficiency, with 67% of practitioners reporting shorter schedules, 63% seeing cost savings, and 68% achieving better project quality (Data Center Dynamics).

At Keysource, we pride ourselves on being that single provider. From the very beginning, we’re there to design your data centre, manage the build, provide ongoing support, and help you optimise your operations for sustainability and performance. Partnering with a provider like Keysource for the full data centre lifecycle could be the best decision for your business.

Seamless Integration Across the Lifecycle

When you work with multiple providers, you risk misalignment between design, construction, and operations, potentially leading to inefficiencies. At Keysource, we handle every phase of the lifecycle, ensuring a smooth transition from one stage to the next, which ultimately drives down costs and speeds up the process for our clients.

Our consulting and design services focus on delivering a data centre that’s not only efficient but tailored to the specific needs of our clients. Whether it’s aiming for scalability, sustainability, or cost-efficiency, our designs incorporate the latest technology and industry best practices to ensure long-term viability.

Once the design is finalised, our delivery services ensure the project is executed on time and within budget. Research shows that integrated project teams significantly improve project outcomes by enhancing communication and collaboration, while fragmented teams often struggle with delays and inefficiencies. At Keysource, we embrace an integrated approach, reducing the risk of delays and cost overruns by aligning all stakeholders from the start. (ResearchGate).

Ongoing Optimisation and Support

But building a data centre is just the beginning. Once operational, it requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to maintain peak performance. At Keysource, our maintenance and support services go beyond keeping the lights on – we optimise your data centre for efficiency and growth. Research shows that 70% of data centre outages cost more than $100,000, with a quarter exceeding $1 million to remediate. Proactive monitoring and maintenance can prevent costly downtime, which is why we take a proactive approach to ensure your facility runs smoothly and efficiently long after the build is complete. (Uptime Institute Annual Outage Analysis 2023).

Sustainability: A Growing Priority

Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s essential for future-proofing your data centre operations. The demand for energy-efficient, eco-friendly data centres is rising rapidly, driven by both consumer expectations and regulatory changes. In fact, data centres currently account for around 3% of global electricity consumption, with predictions suggesting this could rise to 10% by 2030 (dbta.com). At Keysource, our sustainability services ensure your data centre stays ahead of these trends, whether through carbon audits, renewable energy integration, or energy-efficient design. Our goal is to help you navigate the evolving sustainability landscape while reducing your long-term environmental impact.

The Benefits of a Single Partner for the Full Lifecycle

Working with a single provider for your entire data centre lifecycle means fewer vendors to manage, reduced risk, and increased accountability. A 2023 study by IBM found that organisations consolidating support under a single vendor experienced a 25% reduction in maintenance and support spending, a 20% decrease in time spent on hardware support tasks, and a 22% reduction in time spent on vendor relationship management. By partnering with Keysource, you get a team that’s committed to your data centre’s long-term success from start to finish.

A fully integrated approach also helps eliminate gaps in service, ensuring that your data centre meets its design specifications and operates at peak efficiency. With Keysource, we’re here to guide you through every stage of the lifecycle – whether you’re designing a new facility, optimising an existing one, or planning for the future.