The results were reflected in a recent survey it conducted on an analysis of current datacentre planning in Australia, where it polled 96 end users and system integrators.

The survey found that 11 per cent view efficiency as a priority in their datacentre infrastructure, while just six per cent of datacentre managers highly prized scalability. "Datacentres are costly facilities that consume prodigious amounts of resources and space and this survey confirms that datacentre operators are continually searching for ways to build and operate their facilities sustainably and with greater reliability," Eaton Asia-Pacific senior power quality product line manager, Michael Mallia, said.

The survey found 45 per cent of datacentre managers monitor or track energy consumption and the overall efficiency of their datacentre, but 22 per cent claimed it was not important.

It also showed 44 per cent of respondents are challenged by finding tailored industry solutions to adequately monitor their infrastructure and 14 per cent are confronted by the need to maintain mission critical uptime.

Eaton said these figures suggest new business opportunities for IT vendors and their channel partners as they will be able to effectively supply additional solutions and services in the area of infrastructure monitoring. "Two key trends have emerged in the datacentre: the demand for higher availability in IT, and the increasing costs of powering it. Datacentre managers face growing pressure to manage and optimise their available power for growth while at the same time managing the increasing operating costs and maintaining reliability," Mallia added.