Data center customers have a problem. There is no standard way to objectively evaluate the performance of a data center portfolio including owned and leased locations. For cars, homes, even food, there are standard – objective – ways to measure performance. Yet this is not the case for data centers. Infrastructure Masons has created the Data Center Performance Index (DCPI) to objectively rate the actual performance of data centers. The DCPI and its component metrics are, by design, intended to be high-level, easily interpreted by the customer, and simply implemented by the data center provider. The DCPI is based on the annual performance of a data center in three categories: Availability, Efficiency, and Environmental. These categories were selected as key performance indicators for all data center owners, operators and leasers. A data center can have different component scores (i.e., an “A” in Availability and a “C” in Efficiency and Environmental).

After extensive development and resolving iMasons member comments, an industry white paper proposing the details and performance requirements for the different grades (A/B/C/D) in each performance category was publicly released. The paper credits a dozen senior iMasons members as primary contributors, and early versions of DCPI were reviewed by close to a hundred iMasons members in Local Edition meetings. At least one large buyer of data center space has already included DCPI in an RFP. iMasons hopes that DCPI will become a common metric used by buyers and sellers to evaluate and report actual data center performance.

Interested in becoming an iMasons member? Complete our online membership process. For more information contact iMasons Administration.