Navigating the AI Frontier: Your Hyperscale Data Centre Checklist for APAC
The race to build the future of AI is heating up, and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region stands at its very core. Hyperscalers are facing an an unprecedented, unyielding demand for advanced AI services – everything from the raw power needed for generative AI and large language models (LLMs) to the split-second responsiveness of real-time inference.
This intense competition means hyperscalers can no longer rely on traditional data centre metrics. They're now urgently re-evaluating what defines an optimal partner in this new AI-driven world. This guide unpacks the vital criteria you'll need to prioritise, ensuring you gain a critical competitive edge in APAC's fast-evolving AI environment.
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AI Data Centre Evaluation Checklist: Your Strategic Imperative for Hyperscalers
The future of AI isn't just arriving; for hyperscalers, it's a strategic imperative demanding infrastructure that's not merely good, but truly exceptional. As a CTO or CIO in this race, every decision concerning data centre selection carries monumental weight. This isn't just another list; it's your AI Data Centre Evaluation Checklist, the definitive strategic guide for navigating this complex landscape.
We've distilled the vital criteria to empower you to secure unparalleled performance, unwavering resilience, and future-proof adaptability for your mission-critical AI operations at scale. In the accelerating AI arms race, infrastructure strategy is paramount. This checklist provides the precise framework to ensure your investments deliver not just performance and resilience, but a distinct competitive edge. Use it to make the definitive choices that will secure your leadership in the hyperscale AI domain.
| Category | Priority Level | Evaluation Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Power & Density | Critical | Current Capacity: Can the facility support high-density deployments ranging from 20kW to 600kW per rack today? Future Scalability: Is the infrastructure engineered to accommodate ultra-high-density workloads up to 1MW per rack, such as NVIDIA Ultra systems? |
| Thermal Management | Critical | Advanced Cooling: Are direct-to-chip or liquid cooling systems implemented to manage high thermal loads? Design Considerations: Is the facility designed with high thermal tolerance to support sustained AI operations? |
| Latency & Interconnectivity | High | Network Proximity: Is the site within low-latency range of major cloud on-ramps and metropolitan regions? Interconnect Options: Are direct interconnects, including access to subsea cable landing stations, provisioned for immediate deployment? |
| Deployment Velocity | High | Rapid Provisioning: Can the facility deliver capacity swiftly through build-to-suit or modular solutions?Service Level Agreements: Are delivery SLAs aligned with hyperscale deployment timelines? |
| Sustainability | High | Energy Efficiency: Is the facility optimized for energy efficiency at scale, incorporating advanced cooling and power management systems? Green Power Options: Are renewable energy sources available or integrated into the power supply? |
| Sovereignty & Compliance | Strategic | Regulatory Alignment: Does the site comply with critical infrastructure regulations, data privacy laws, and national security requirements? Data Sovereignty: Are there provisions to ensure data remains within specific geographic or jurisdictional boundaries? |
| Ecosystem Access | High | Partner Integration: Does the facility offer seamless integration with cloud providers, telecommunications carriers, and sovereign partners? Marketplace Connectivity: Is there access to a rich ecosystem of services and partners within the data centre? |
| Operational Maturity | High | Support Infrastructure: Is there 24/7 engineering support, with staff trained to manage hyperscale environments? Automation & Monitoring: Are there automated support systems and monitoring tools to ensure operational excellence? |
| Subsea Connectivity | Optional | Global Reach: Does the facility provide direct access to subsea cable systems, enhancing global connectivity and redundancy? Latency Optimization: Can the data centre leverage subsea connections to minimise latency for international data transfers? |
| NVIDIA DGX-Ready Certification | Critical | Certification Status: Has the data centre achieved NVIDIA DGX-Ready Data Center certification, validating its capability to support NVIDIA DGX systems? Infrastructure Readiness: Does the facility meet the stringent requirements for power, cooling, and networking necessary for optimal DGX system performance? |
| AI Workload Specialisation | High | Training Support: Is the facility equipped with infrastructure aligned to partner specifications (e.g. high-performance networking, liquid cooling) to support AI training workloads? Inference Optimisation: Does the infrastructure support low-latency, high-throughput inference environments for real-time processing? |
| Security (Physical & Digital) | Critical | Physical Security: Are there robust measures like biometric authentication, 24/7 surveillance, multi-layered access control, and on-site personnel?Cyber Security: Does the network include segmentation, DDoS protection, secure ops networks, and ISO 27001 or equivalent certifications? |
| Network Redundancy & Resilience | High | Fibre Diversity: Are there multiple fibre entry points and diverse dark fibre paths? Carrier Diversity: Does the site offer access to a variety of network providers to eliminate single points of failure? |
| Power Redundancy & Resilience | High | Electrical Resilience: Is the site configured with N+1 or 2N redundancy across UPS, generators, and PDUs? Fuel Autonomy: Is there enough on-site generator fuel to sustain operations during extended power outages? |
| Floor Loading & Rack Integrity | High | Floor Load Capacity: Can the data centre support AI racks exceeding 2,000 kg per rack? Rack Stability: Are the physical racks built to manage large-scale AI systems securely? |
| Supply Chain & Logistics | Strategic | Delivery & Staging: Does the facility have infrastructure to receive large volumes of AI equipment, secure staging, and lift equipment?Labour Force: Is there a scalable pool of skilled local talent for deployment and ongoing maintenance? |
| Cost & Commercial Flexibility | Strategic | Transparent Pricing: Are the cost structures for power, cooling, and space predictable and clear?Flexible Contracts: Can the commercial terms accommodate rapid scale-ups or evolving hardware needs? |
Powering Asia-Pacific's AI Future
As hyperscalers accelerate their expansion across the Asia-Pacific region, infrastructure decisions have evolved beyond mere space and power. They're now about securing a strategic competitive advantage. Supporting ultra-high-density AI training clusters, ensuring sustainable operations, maintaining data sovereignty, and achieving true scalability are all reshaping what it means to be "data centre ready."
At NEXTDC, we don't just build facilities; we architect the AI Factories of the future. Our proven expertise in deploying infrastructure meticulously aligned to NVIDIA and partner specifications, combined with our national footprint, robust sovereign controls, and unparalleled performance-at-scale capabilities, makes us the ideal partner for your most demanding AI deployments.
Ready to Future-Proof Your AI Infrastructure?
Let's discuss how NEXTDC can support your hyperscale expansion.
Connect with our team to schedule a tailored infrastructure strategy session.
Alternatively, download our AI Data Centre Evaluation Checklist to benchmark your current and future sites against the needs of next-generation AI.
