Note: Many topics at this site are reduced versions of the text in "The Encyclopedia of Networking and Telecommunications." Search results will not be as extensive as a search of the book's CD-ROM.

A data center or NOC (network operations center) is a place to consolidate application servers, Web servers, communications equipment, security systems, system administrators, support personnel, and anything or anybody else that provides data services. A data center benefits from centralized management, support, backup control, power management, security, and so on. It may be housed in a single room or fill an entire building. It may be within a carrier's PoP (point of presence). Special equipment is usually installed to protect against power outages, natural disasters, and security breaches.