Overview
ISO/IEC TS 22237-31:2023 provides a practical framework of key performance indicators (KPIs) for data centre resilience. It defines metrics for resilience, dependability, fault tolerance and availability tolerance specifically for data centre infrastructure (DCI) components such as power distribution/supply and environmental control. The technical specification also defines how to measure and calculate KPIs and associated resilience levels (RLs), and gives worked examples to enable analytical comparison of different DCI designs. It does not apply to IT equipment, cloud services, software or business applications.
Key Topics
- KPI definitions and structure - standardized metrics for resilience, dependability, failure rate, availability and related attributes.
- Resilience levels (RLs) - quantitative framing for normal and reduced operation modes.
- Measurement & calculation methods - guidance for deriving KPIs and resilience levels using reliability analyses.
- Reliability and analysis techniques - includes methods such as Reliability Block Diagrams (RBD) and Failure Mode Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) to model and compare DCI performance.
- Fault tolerance analyses - identification and treatment of Single Point of Failure (SPoF), Double Point of Failure (DPoF), and points of reduced availability.
- Life-cycle integration - application of resilience KPIs across design phases (strategy, objectives, system specification, design, construction and operation).
- Documentation requirements - recommended documentation for maintainability, recoverability and vulnerability of DCIs.
- Informative annexes provide example analyses (SPoF analysis, resilience level analysis, FMECA examples and confidence intervals).
Applications
- Compare alternative data centre infrastructure designs using consistent resilience KPIs.
- Validate and quantify resilience requirements in procurement, design reviews and technical specifications.
- Support SLA formulation and verification by translating qualitative availability classes into measurable KPIs.
- Optimize DCI investment decisions by balancing resilience, maintainability and cost.
- Assist operators, planners and auditors in documenting dependability, fault tolerance and availability tolerance.
Who Should Use It
- Data centre designers, planners and engineers
- Facility managers and operators responsible for DCI reliability
- Procurement teams specifying resilience requirements
- Consultants, auditors and risk analysts evaluating DCI designs or SLAs
Related Standards
- ISO/IEC 22237 series (data centre facilities and infrastructures) - provides broader classification and structural definitions.
- ISO/IEC 30134 series - efficiency and sustainability KPIs recommended to be used alongside resilience KPIs for holistic DCI assessment.
Keywords: ISO/IEC TS 22237-31:2023, data centre resilience, KPIs, data centre infrastructure (DCI), fault tolerance, dependability, availability tolerance, resilience levels.