When The Power Goes Down, An Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) Can Mean All The Difference

A sudden loss of power can wreak havoc on your data and systems. This isn’t just an unfortunate moment where any unsaved document changes arelost; indeed, losing some data might be the least of your worries. The full extent of the damage these situations can cause can be truly catastrophic. But by installing an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), many of the greatest risks can be eliminated.

A UPS battery backup gives your equipment an alternative source of power, should your primary power be lost. In the case of a power outage, servers and network resources are particularly vulnerable to damage and failure. This can include data corruption due to the unplanned shutdown, complete loss of data, a collapse of security systems, and total shutdowns. Network servers losing power may prevent employees from accessing important resources within your computing environment, may open you up to cyber attacks, and may endanger your workers in industrial settings. In cases such as these, functioning UPS systems allow your network to continue operating, providing the time necessary for a proper save and shutdown, or keep your resources working until power can be restored.

UPS battery backup systems come in a variety of sizes, each designed to handle different workloads over varying amounts of time. Some only provide power for a few minutes, allowing you to continue work during short power flickers; others give you the time necessary to properly save data and then safely shutdown your equipment. These UPS systems are ideal for critical computers within an extended network. Certain business areas or technical support personnel may need more timeto ensure that information isn’t lost, or that any system that requires a lengthy shutdown is given the time it needs.

Other UPS battery backup units can provide power for a number of hours. This gives a business the ability to keep critical resources operating until power is restored, or an alternative (such as a building generator) can be engaged. This level of backup may be best suited to network systems and servers. Since many servers operate 24/7, they can be difficult to shutdown without having a negative impact. This can even be more of a concern for businesses that operate in multiple locations, but share certain networked resources. If a server in one location must be shutdown, access to that information will be impossible for all employees, even those in areas now affected by an outage.

Just like any other system, a UPS requires testing and maintenance. The equipment itself, or battery modules within a UPS, may age, deplete, and need replacing. Advanced UPS backups come with hot-swappable batteries that allow you to replace depleted units while the machine is still operating, meaning that you can service your UPS even during a power surge or failure. Moreover, a good UPS can be controlled and monitored via remote controls, eliminating the need to actually be present if you need to check your security systems.

It’s important to realize that a UPS is not meant to provide a long-term, permanent solution, but temporary solutions in emergency situations. It is important to develop business procedures involving proper handling of facility shutdown should a long power loss occur. However, every business or organization that has a lot riding on the maintenance of its power and security systems should always invest in a top-of-the-line UPS—to do otherwise would be to risk disaster! So before anything calamitous happens to your business, be sure to look over the professional battery backup options from Toshiba. With 7 different series available, you’ll easily find a UPS built for your needs.