Thailand's leaking roofs, heat, power outages, and cloud migration

This is Endo from IIJ Thailand.

When considering a company's IT environment in Thailand, issues arise that are not often considered in Japan. There is flooding due to heavy rains during the rainy season, leaks from roofs, high temperatures unique to the tropical climate, and power outages that can occur in regional bases. These situations can easily become a burden for companies that operate servers on-premises.

Common issues in the field in Thailand

It is not uncommon for water leaks to occur in server rooms, affecting equipment. Buildings in Thailand are often not as airtight as those in Japan, and it is common for there to be gaps in the roof or walls. Furthermore, in office buildings, the air conditioning is often managed throughout the building, and there are cases where the air conditioning stops at night or on holidays. In tropical Thailand, this is a tough condition for servers.

In fact, in the past, some customers have said things like, "I leave my window half-open and run my fiber optic cable through there," or "I put a basin on top of my server rack to prevent water leaks from the roof." It may sound like a lie, but it's true.
Incidentally, water leaks from air conditioners are common in Thailand. The high humidity, condensation, and the abundance of dust and insects are apparently the cause of clogged drain hoses. In fact, I've had water drip from my air conditioner at home, and it got my TV and PS5 wet.

This is a phenomenon that is rare in Japan, but not uncommon in Thailand.
　　
*The tea dripped down quite strongly... The cups from ChaTraMue, a long-established Thai tea shop in Thailand, came in handy.

Power outages and UPS

Sudden power outages can occur in factories in rural areas. Many companies install UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) to secure temporary power, but UPS is only a "time saver" and cannot handle long-term power outages. Some companies install generators, but the cost and management burden is not small.

Cloud Option

Considering these challenges, it may be natural that an increasing number of companies in Thailand are choosing the cloud. Cloud service providers' data centers generally have high levels of redundancy and risk countermeasures, with power and air conditioning multiplexing and monitoring systems in place. Problems that plague on-premises systems, such as "rain leaks," "air conditioning outages," and "power outages," can potentially be significantly reduced by migrating to the cloud.

IIJ Managed Cloud for AWS for added peace of mind

Of course, there are challenges with the cloud. Network quality and security settings remain important.IIJ Managed Cloud for AWSBy utilizing services like this, you can receive comprehensive support for operations monitoring, automation, and security measures. For companies that are short of dedicated IT personnel, this type of outsourcing can provide great peace of mind.

Understanding the situation in Thailand, cloud migration is not just a trend, but a viable option for reducing risks and preventing business interruptions. The idea of ​​using the cloud to ensure safety is becoming more widespread.

*Tree fell on my property due to heavy rain and strong winds. The power of nature in Thailand cannot be underestimated.