Data centers are essential for the operation of our connected devices: they host all of our communications and the websites we visit VIDEOGRAPHIC
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00:00A data center is a large building covering hundreds of square meters and filled with
00:11rows of cabinets holding computers which are capable of storing and processing enormous
00:16amounts of data.
00:17They are known as servers.
00:20The servers have very high speed connections via optical fiber and receive thousands of
00:25gigabytes per second.
00:27So that our documents, internet sites and online conversations remain constantly available,
00:33the servers must operate without interruption.
00:37They are therefore protected against cyber attacks, physical damage and breakdowns by
00:42different backup systems.
00:45But data centers use enormous amounts of energy.
00:48Firstly they need to be supplied with electricity.
00:52Then their powerful computers heat up very quickly requiring constant cooling.
00:57Fans and cooling systems avoid overheating.