Dr. Gerald Berg, Process Manager Sales & Marketing, Rosenberger Optical Solutions & Infrastructure. © Rosenberger

Without functioning data centers, digital life and work would not be possible at all. This is because data centers are a prerequisite for cloud services. In concrete terms, this means that whenever online services are used, a connection to a data center is established in the background. They therefore play a central role in processing large volumes of data. Whether it's a video conference, a WhatsApp message or a simple phone call. Data centers are constantly in play. Only if a fast and stable internet connection is guaranteed can digital infrastructures and services be available across the board.

Data traffic has increased in recent weeks and data cabling is under more strain than ever. What is the decisive factor in ensuring that the networks can cope with the current demands?

Clear structures, scalability and redundancy are essential for smooth operations in data centers. The basis for the clear structure is the ISO-OSI seven-layer reference model. It defines the application as the top priority. The first layer is the physical infrastructure that handles data transport. In addition to IT cabling, this also includes components such as layer l switches. IT cabling is fundamental to the availability of applications. Without functioning data cabling, no IT applications are available. The consequence would be that devices such as servers, switches and storage can no longer communicate with each other. The processing, provision and backup of information would not be possible.

The speed, reliability and performance of our network are essential for working from home. What advice would you give companies so that they are prepared for such a situation in the future?

Data cabling has become increasingly important in companies. If a connection to a physical server does not provide the required performance, this has a direct impact on other components of the network. We are currently experiencing this, for example, when the connection to an online conference breaks down or VPN connections are overloaded, resulting in problems accessing internal company servers when working from home. Proper installation of the cabling and continuous quality control are important for a high-performance connection.

I would like companies to pay more attention to the cabling of their IT infrastructure. As cabling experts, we are happy to provide support at an early stage of project planning with our many years of experience. In order to be informed about the latest technologies and to be able to keep up with the market, it is important to constantly exchange ideas with specialists. Our product managers, who continuously monitor the market and keep an eye on new trends, are available to provide information and advice.