If implemented correctly, the UPS units are plugged into building or “house” electrical power, and critical computer equipment like servers and data storage are plugged into the UPS units. If properly configured, when building power goes down, the batteries in the UPS provide temporary power for the system to safely shut down.
Unfortunately, the “U” in UPS conveys an incorrect idea, because a UPS unit is not truly uninterruptible. It should be called a TPS — Temporary Power Supply. A UPS merely contains batteries, which are designed merely to temporarily provide power. Once the battery is discharged, unless the UPS is plugged into protected outlets (backed up by generators), the computer systems will shut down.
In our work with hundreds of medical facilities all across the country, there are several common problems we see with UPS units:
- Improper sizing/undercapacity. Servers and similar equipment need 10-30 minutes of battery backup power. Many times we see UPS units that are more properly sized for workstations but being used to support servers. We also frequently see non-essential equipment plugged into the UPS, which limits backup time. And lastly, we frequently see a UPS that was originally designed for one or a few pieces of equipment but, over time, multiple additional devices have been added. You should check with your IT provider and have them give you a written estimate of projected backup time — based on the actual power specifications of your existing equipment.
- Poor maintenance. When we do a technology assessment, it is common to find one or more battery banks that are dead. Depending on the make and model of the UPS, this can typically be detected by the lights on the front of the UPS. Green generally means good. Amber or red means bad. Batteries, unfortunately, tend to be like mushrooms in that they live and die in the dark. You should check your batteries frequently and make sure they are okay.
- Wrong devices — not UPS units. We sometimes see vital computer equipment plugged into power strips, which are not UPS units. Those are merely power distribution devices, and although some of them may have more bells and whistles, like LCD displays, they provide no power backup, and only limited power surge protection.
- Lack of proper programming. There are “dumb” UPS units, which are nothing more than a glorified battery pack. UPS units employed in healthcare need to be a “smart” UPS, which should be programmed to communicate with the server that a power outage has occurred, so the server can close files, shut down applications and do the other procedures necessary to avoid a hard shutdown. If it is not a smart UPS, or if it is not programmed properly, it will merely delay the hard shutdown. This can result in data loss, file corruption and other issues.
UPS units need to be properly understood, properly installed and programmed, and properly maintained. They provide a critical component to your overall security, disaster prevention/recovery processes and provide one key component of your HIPAA Security Rule compliance.
Marion Jenkins, PhD, is founder and CEO of QSE Technologies, which provides IT consulting services for ASCs and other medical facilities nationwide. Learn more about QSE Technologies at www.qsetech.com.
