Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the world, and data centers are at the heart of this transformation. AI workloads are incredibly compute-intensive, requiring massive amounts of power and cooling. As a result, data centers in Africa need to invest in infrastructure to meet the demands of AI.

There are a number of ways that data centers in Africa can invest in infrastructure to meet the demands of AI. One important investment is in high-power rack power density units (rPDUs). rPDUs are responsible for distributing power to the servers in a data center, and they need to be able to handle the high power demands of AI workloads.

Another important investment is in liquid cooling. Liquid cooling is more efficient than air cooling and can help to dissipate the heat generated by AI workloads. However, liquid cooling is a more complex technology than air cooling, and data centers in Africa will need to invest in training and expertise to implement it effectively.

In addition to investing in infrastructure, data centers in Africa also need to invest in AI technologies. AI can be used to improve the efficiency and management of data centers, and it can also be used to develop new AI-powered applications. By investing in AI, data centers in Africa can position themselves to capitalize on the growing demand for AI services.

Here are some specific examples of how data centers in Africa can invest in infrastructure to meet the demands of AI:

• Install higher power rated rPDUs.
• Retrofit existing facilities with air-assisted liquid cooling.
• Implement direct liquid cooling (DLC).
• Invest in AI technologies to improve efficiency and management.
• Develop new AI-powered applications.

By making these investments, data centers in Africa can ensure that they have the infrastructure in place to meet the growing demand for AI services. This will position them to capitalize on the opportunities that AI presents and to play a leading role in the digital transformation of Africa.

Multiple data center vulnerabilities could cripple cloud services in Africa

Multiple vulnerabilities in data center infrastructure management systems and power distribution units have been discovered that could be exploited by attackers to gain full access to these systems and perform remote code execution.

The vulnerabilities affect products from CyberPower and Dataprobe, and they could be used to create backdoors on data center equipment, launch malware at scale, carry out digital espionage, and even knock out power altogether.

Both vendors have released patches for the vulnerabilities, but Trellix, the security firm that discovered them, is urging all potentially impacted customers to download and install them immediately.

In addition to the official patches, Trellix also recommends taking the following steps to protect your data center from these vulnerabilities:

• Ensure that PowerPanel Enterprise or iBoot PDU are not exposed to the wider internet. Each should be reachable only from within an organization’s secure intranet.
• Modify the passwords associated with all user accounts and revoke any sensitive information stored on both appliances that may have been leaked.
• Update to the latest version of PowerPanel Enterprise or install the latest firmware for the iBoot PDU and subscribe to the relevant vendor’s security update notifications.

These vulnerabilities are a serious threat to data centers in Africa, and it is important to take steps to protect your systems as soon as possible. By following the recommendations above, you can help to mitigate the risk of an attack.