Human error and power glitches to blame for most outages

Human error and power glitches to blame for most outages

Summary

A recent report from the Uptime Institute reveals that while datacenter outages are becoming less frequent, human error and power glitches are still the main culprits behind many disruptions. The analysis highlights that between 66% and 80% of major outages involve some level of human mistake.

Despite improvements in overall reliability, outages can still be significant and costly when they occur. Factors such as overwhelming external risks, including issues related to the power grid and extreme weather, complicate the landscape further. Specifically, power-related problems account for more than half of all major outages.

Source: The Register

Key Points

  • Human error contributes to 66-80% of major datacenter outages.
  • Outages reported have decreased: 53% of operators faced issues in the last three years compared to 60% in 2022.
  • Power-related issues are the leading cause, accounting for over half of outages.
  • Improper procedure adherence was noted in 58% of human-related failures.
  • Training and operational support can significantly reduce human error rates.
  • Datacentres experienced fewer, but severe outages exacerbated by external pressures like extreme weather and grid instability.

Why should I read this?

If you’re in the tech industry, this article is right up your alley! It paints a clear picture of the persistent issues that affect datacenter reliability. Understanding these human error trends is crucial for anyone involved in IT operations or management. By grasping the intricacies at play, you can better prepare to mitigate risks and enhance your systems’ resilience.