Utah Ranked Third Safest State for Natural Disasters

Utah Data Center Safety: Natural Disaster Risks to Consider

Choosing colocation service providers means knowing the propensity of natural disasters where data centers are located. Fortunately for Utah Fibernet seekers, this state is ranked by WalletHub as the third safest in the nation. Utah is also the second safest state for workplace safety and fourth safest for driving safety. Knowing how likely a natural disaster is can play a critical role in choosing your Utah data center location.

Data centers, including colocation data centers, are built with safeguarding akin to Fort Knox, but nothing is truly indestructible. Clients can find more security in a data center than they could manage on their own, unless you have a really big budget and safety know-how, which is why colocation data centers are so desirable.

Earthquake Risks for Utah Data Centers

In Utah, there are still possibilities for natural disasters just like there are anywhere else. You can find preparedness information on the State of Utah website, and it is worth knowing what the most common natural disasters may be, starting with earthquakes. You might not think “earthquakes” when you hear Utah, but the state is located along a major fault line. This means the earth’s crust is not very strong in this area, and sometimes fault lines are caused by a geologic break after mountain blocks have been bolstered up naturally in comparison to dipping valleys, which pretty much sums up the landscape of many places in Utah.

Why Fault Lines Matter for Data Center Placement

Spanning from Malad City to Fayette, Utah County boasts a big fault line that runs below a number of residential and business areas. Currently, geologists say that it is feasible for a 7.5 earthquake to hit this area. The good news is that there are many things businesses can do to prepare for an earthquake, and a good colocation data center will be built to withstand such a disaster. However, earthquakes do not just cause structural damage. They also often leak during power outages, which is why colocation data centers should feature redundant power with generators.

Flood Threats and Data Center Location

Another possible natural disaster in the state is floods. Flash floods are a potential problem in every single state, but they are relatively more common in Utah than in some other states. Obviously, the areas with the biggest vulnerabilities are at the bottom of steep slopes, close to stream valleys, and near any natural water source.

Hopefully, your colocation service provider built a data center that is not in a high-risk flood zone (feel free to ask them). It is best to physically visit the data center if possible to see just what kind of preparation work has been made in case of a flood.

Landslides and Wildfires: Hidden Dangers in Utah

Floods and landslides go hand in hand. Landslides are most common near steep slopes. You do not want a data center nestled at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, for example. Similar precautions should be made for landslides, including avenues for guiding water away from the data center.

There are also wildfires to contend with. A state rich in natural beauty and known for sometimes sizzling summers can be vulnerable to wildfires. Data centers should be fireproof and located in an area far from kindling, even if it means the outside landscaping is rather boring.

Avalanche Zones: A Unique Utah Concern

Finally, there is the risk of an avalanche. A state beloved for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports is going to come with an avalanche risk. These can be particularly troublesome during a quick spring thaw, but should not impact your data center unless it is located in a mountainous region. There are avalanche zones in Utah, and of course, your data center should not be located in one of these.

How to Choose a Safe Utah Colocation Provider

Compared to most other states, Utah does not face many natural disasters. There are also regions of the state more prone to natural disasters than others. When shopping around for a colocation provider, make sure to ask the actual address of the data center, ask if there have been any natural disasters in recent history, and do your due diligence to make sure the likelihood of a natural disaster is slim.

There are never any guarantees, but it is not very wise to choose a colocation provider with a data center in the middle of the woods (wildfires), in a ski resort town (avalanches), or at the bottom of a slope (floods and landslides). Common sense can go a long way, as can researching geographic locations and asking the right questions before signing a contract.