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About AFCOM Webinars

 

AFCOM members have access to a variety of resources and a valuable trove of research and up-to-date industry information, including educational webinars produced and presented by leading subject matter experts. The following are AFCOM webinars planned for 2021. Be sure to check back often for more information and webinar dates. Interested in sponsoring an AFCOM Webinar? Learn more.

AFCOM

2021 Webinar Topics

Embracing Edge Teaming in Data Centers

As businesses define how innovations will fit within their strategies, one thing is certain: Edge computing will play a major role in supporting next-generation technologies. To get the most value out of their edge computing solutions, enterprises need to be able to build and run their own edge solutions at scale in collaboration with key industry solution providers. That means working together.


AFCOM’s 2021 State of the Data Center Report

This annual report will delve into those developing and current trends in 2021, including topics such as cloud, security, personnel, edge, 5G, IoT, digitalization, DCIM, and much more.


Anywhere Operations and Distributed Infrastructures

The pandemic has rapidly accelerated remote working. To enable anywhere operations, infrastructure and operations leaders need to determine where remote working makes sense and develop plans for these teams to work on-site and remotely. Different infrastructure choices, such as cloud, edge, and others may apply to different locations and workloads. The key is determining the infrastructure that is the best fit for each scenario.

 
Is the Love Affair with Cloud Cooling Off?

Companies with a cloud only strategy are grappling with security misconfigurations, problems with resources, and sticker shock, opening the way for edge-based technology, private cloud, and alternative solutions. Organizations are finally realizing that cloud is a tool, not a destination.


A Growing Remote Workforce: The Impact for 2021

Companies, whether centrally located or geographically spread out, will allow a permanent national work force from home vs. traditional onsite local workforce. This will result in cost savings by not having to provide physical space for employees, and better-skilled employees can be hired regardless of where they call home.


Predictive Monitoring and Measuring: Autonomous IT Ops

 IT must change from a traditional focus on infrastructure operations and reactive fire drills to proactive service management and intelligence. This requires tools that provide end-to-end service and reporting, automated data collection, and analysis across IT silos. These tools provide customizable visualizations and dashboards that use data and machine learning to drive decisions.


The Wave of 2N Data Centers

The growing number of powerful storms and unexpected outages creates increasing pressure to keep data center systems up and running. That’s why adopting 2N models are more important than ever. Fully redundant, mirrored systems with two independent distribution systems will help to eliminate potential downtime from the loss of one side or leg of the system.


How Does the Decline of Traditional IT Roles Impact You?

Software-defined data centers, continued growth in cloud technologies, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) will result in traditional IT positions such as systems administrations’ positions becoming extinct. There will be less need for rack-and-stack IT roles and more for pros with knowledge and skills surrounding automation, scripting, cloud, and AI technologies.


Sustainability Beyond PUE

With the cost of downtime increasing exponentially, reliability will continue to be king. However, it doesn’t need to be—nor should it be—at sustainability’s expense. PUE remains a good metric for measuring energy efficiency. However, reducing carbon footprint, should go hand-in-hand with any energy-reducing projects.  How have some of the greenest, energy-efficient companies accomplished both, and can you implement similar strategies?


The Benefits of Software-defined Power

The value of Software-Defined Power (SDP) is simple, and seemingly, compelling. Servers often draw a lot of power, including when they aren’t doing much. Considerable savings can be made by identifying when servers are doing nothing (zombies) and putting them into low-power states or turning them off. SDP allows for moving and consolidating (usually virtualized) workloads, resulting in even bigger savings from moving the loads onto fewer servers and putting the rest to sleep.


Making Your UPS Investment Pay Off

Most data center managers view their uninterruptible power systems (UPS) as under-utilized energy hogs. Many attribute those unwanted qualities to the lead-acid batteries that run them. Today, a growing number of large-scale facilities are ditching that technology for lithium-ion (LI) powered UPS(es) because they last longer and recharge faster, saving time, money, and reducing risk.


How Legacy Systems Increase Security Risk, and What to do About it

Legacy systems present unique challenges for a data center’s modernization efforts. This is primarily true because they were not designed for current requirements such as highly distributed networks and connectivity in the age of edge and cloud. This lag is particularly troublesome with respect to cybersecurity, making systems and data more vulnerable than ever. Does that mean you must replace all things legacy, or can you incorporate successful cybersecurity measures without a complete overhaul?