The Surprising Benefits of Underwater Data Centers

The Surprising Benefits of Underwater Data Centers

When Microsoft hauled its underwater data center up from the bottom of the North Sea and conducted some analysis, researchers found the servers were eight time more reliable than those on land.
Project Natick, Microsoft’s research program to assess the feasibility of lights-out underwater data centers, launched in August 2015 when the company installed a shipping-container-sized data center about one kilometer off the Pacific coast of the United States.

The pod recently pulled from 117 feet below the North Sea off Scotland’s Orkney Islands was deployed in June 2018, less than 90 days after the decision was made to launch. During the last two years, researchers monitored the performance of 864 standard Microsoft data center servers installed on 12 racks inside the pod. They also learned more about the economics of modular undersea data centers, which can be quickly installed offshore near population centers and require fewer resources for efficient operations and cooling. 

“As we are moving from generic cloud computing to cloud and edge computing, we are seeing more and more need to have smaller data centers located closer to customers instead of these large warehouse data centers out in the middle of nowhere,” said Spencer Fowers, the technical lead for Project Natick.

To account for the improved performance, the Natick researchers hypothesized that the servers benefited from the pod’s nitrogen atmosphere, which is less corrosive than oxygen. The absence of people to disturb components also likely contributed to better reliability. If further analysis proves this theory correct, the findings may translate data centers on land, Microsoft officials said.

The North Sea-based project also demonstrated the feasibility of leveraging green technologies for data center operations.

The data center was connected to the local electric grid, which is 100% supplied by wind, solar and experimental energy technologies. In the future, Microsoft plans to explore eliminating the grid connection altogether by co-locating a data center with an ocean-based green power system, such as offshore wind or tidal turbines.

Other sustainability-related benefits may extend to eliminating replacement parts. The high reliability of the Natick’s servers means the few that fail early can be taken offline and all servers replaced about once every five years.

The Natick servers in the North Sea were set up to run jobs from the World Community Grid, an IBM sponsored distributed computing effort tackling big science problems. While submerged they also contributed to the Folding@home project to analyze the viral proteins that cause COVID-19.

Researchers also tested sending traffic from the pod 4,300 miles to Microsoft Research headquarters in Redmond, Wash., through an encrypted network tunnel protected with post-quantum cryptography.

This article first appeared in GCN, a sister publication to Security Today.

Featured

  • Report: Physical Security Market Turning to Cloud and Hybrid Solutions

    Genetec, a provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, today shared the results of its 2024 State of Physical Security report. Based on insights from over 5,500 physical security leaders worldwide (including end users and channel partners), the report looks at the security strategies organizations are putting in place to effectively navigate the realities of a changing industry. Read Now

  • A Future in the Clouds

    The cloud has become a pervasive term in everyone’s daily work and personal lives – from the explosion of content available on Internet streaming services to remote learning to social interactions. Everyone is living cloud-based lives. Read Now

  • A Rapidly Changing Realm

    Many retail operators continue to face a daily balancing act of maintaining both an online and in-person presence. The coronavirus pandemic accelerated our adoption of online shopping, and the expectation now is that every retailer needs to be proficient in both arenas. This places a heightened emphasis on secure operations that ensure a seamless experience for the customer no matter where they pull out their credit card. Read Now

  • Secure Your Home During the Holidays

    The most wonderful time of the year can easily transform into a nightmare. Being vigilant, while still enjoying the holiday season, is possible. The holiday season is the perfect time to start implementing security measures to protect one’s home and ensure security while out and about. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation. 3

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame. 3