Section 4-1 - Definitions (a) "Managed Data Center" means a center whose primary purpose is the centralized repository for storage, management and dissemination of data and information for multiple businesses. This definition does not include spaces primarily for housing office computers, including individual work stations, servers associated with workstations or small server rooms. For the purposes of these rules, the Council has adopted the Uptime Institute, Inc.'s four tiered classification approach to site power infrastructure. Projects must be similar and align with the characteristics of the tier classifications or another widely accepted metric for evaluating data centers. - (i) Tier IV data centers support companies with an international market presence delivering around the clock, year round services in a highly competitive market. Tier IV businesses are based on E-commerce, market transactions or financial settlement processes. The businesses tend to be large, global companies spanning multiple time zones.
- (ii) Tier III data centers support internal and external clients around the clock, year round such as service centers and help desks, but can schedule short periods when limited service is acceptable.
- (iii) Tier II data centers are typically internet-based companies without serious financial penalties for quality of service commitments and small businesses whose information technology requirements are mostly limited to traditional normal business hours, allowing system shutdown during "off-hours".
- (iv) Tier I data centers are small businesses where information technology primarily enhances internal business process and whose web-presence is as a passive marketing tool. For example, internet based startup companies without quality of service commitments.