Digital Infrastructure Standards
Setting Open Standards for Efficient Data Management and Delivery
Establishing holistic and dynamic open standards that address the evolving and modern requirements of AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and data centers
Global Standardization
Cloud, IT, Application, Infrastructure & Data Center Grading System
Grade Levels (Gs®) are IDCA’s method of cloud, IT, application, infrastructure, and data center classification at different application ecosystem (AE)® layers of Topology, Site, Site Facility Infrastructure, Information Technology Infrastructure (ITI), Data Center Node (DCN), Compute, Platform, and Application. Gs® ranges from G4® to G0®, G4® possessing the minimum values and maximum allowable level of vulnerabilities such as chances of failure, security risks, inefficiencies, operational lags, capacity insufficiencies, and lacks of resilience, while G0® practically mandates total elimination of such and hence possesses the highest Grade Level a digital infrastructure, an application, a cloud, and data center or organization operating it, or series of data center nodes can possess at any layer of the Application Ecosystem®. Grade Levels are not to be confused with data center Tiers, Ratings, or Classes, as their view, scope, and coverage of the physical data center are fundamentally different from IDCA Grade Levels.
Technical Standards Committee
The IDCA Technical Standards Committee represents the interests of the International Data Center Authority (IDCA) in industry standards. It consists of elite members from top data center, application, and cloud organizations. The Committee’s main mission is to address industry gaps by developing next-generation standards based on the Application Ecosystem (AE)® and the Infinity Paradigm® framework. It identifies new areas for standards development and works closely with key stakeholders—including operators, providers, investors, and end-users—to ensure effective standardization and compliance across the industry. The Committee is composed of experts selected from a wide range of industries and backgrounds.
Download The Infinity Paradigm AE360® Standards
The all-in-one Application Ecosystem® standards framework for infrastructure, information technology, cloud, big data, application, IoT, and data centers.
Client Testimonials
Leaving a Footprint of Passion for Excellence
Short Videos
The following video clips are taken from IDCA webinars that address topics within the world of digital infrastructure and digital economies.
The 7 Stack Layers
The application exists and fulfills its purpose through the support of a holistic and vibrant ecosystem of interdependent logical & physical infrastructure and operating practices that sustain it.
- Application Architecture
- Application Availability
- Application Security
- Application Integrity
- Application Efficiency
- Inputs, Processing, and Outputs
- General Controls
- Application Reliability and Performance
- Application Capacity and Maintainability
- Business Specific Metrics
Standards Features
International Data Center Authority's mission is to establish the selection, design, implementation, and operational guidelines, based on learned lessons of the past, realities of the present, and the future ahead. IDCA standards carefully select the best and most effective practices and address key challenges with exceptional insight. This effort is tailored to serve comprehensive levels of information technology and data center requirements, catering to all industry sectors and verticals. IDCA is dedicated to integrating the global knowledge base for the mission-critical cloud, data center, application, information technology methodologies, parameters, systems, tools, and technologies, to ensure that the standards effectively address the challenges of the modern era.
Comprehensive
The Infinity Paradigm® was founded based on bridging existing industry gaps. It enforces a comprehensive view of the logical and physical aspects of information technology, data centers, and cloud, as well as their investments, designs, infrastructure, personnel, performance metrics, overall operations, and management.
Effective
Sustainability
Global
Cloud
Grading & Scoring System
For Cloud, IT, Application, Infrastructure & Data Center Grading System
Grade Levels (Gs®) are IDCA’s method of cloud, IT, application, infrastructure, and data center classification at different application ecosystem (AE)® layers of Topology, Site, Site Facility Infrastructure, Information Technology Infrastructure (ITI), Data Center Node (DCN), Compute, Platform, and Application. Gs® ranges from G4® to G0®, G4® possessing the minimum values and maximum allowable level of vulnerabilities such as chances of failure, security risks, inefficiencies, operational lags, capacity insufficiencies, and lacks of resilience, while G0® practically mandates total elimination of such and hence possesses the highest Grade Level a digital infrastructure, an application, a cloud, and data center or organization operating it, or series of data center nodes can possess at any layer of the Application Ecosystem®. Grade Levels are not to be confused with data center Tiers, Ratings, or Classes, as their view, scope, and coverage of the physical data center are fundamentally different from IDCA Grade Levels.
Grade Level 0
Grade Level 0 (G0®) is the highest level of achievement when awarded to any application, platform, compute, ITI, SFI, Site, or Topology layers. G0 represents the lowest levels of risk, lowest level of insecurities, inefficiencies, vulnerabilities, and chances of failure.
Grade Level 1
Grade Level 1 (G1®) is the above-average level of achievement when awarded to any application, platform, compute, ITI, SFI, Site, or Topology layers. G1 represents the low levels of risk, low level of insecurities, inefficiencies, vulnerabilities, and chances of failure.
Grade Level 2
Grade Level 2 (G2®) is the average level of achievement when awarded to any application, platform, compute, ITI, SFI, Site or Topology layers. G2 represents an average exposure to risks, insecurities, inefficiencies, vulnerabilities, and chances of failure.
Grade Level 3
Grade Level 3 (G3®) is the below-average level of achievement when awarded to any application, platform, compute, ITI, SFI, Site or Topology layers. G3 represents a below-average exposure to risks, insecurities, inefficiencies, vulnerabilities, and chances of failure.
Grade Level 4
Grade Level 4 (G4®) is the lowest level of achievement when awarded to any application, platform, compute, ITI, SFI, Site, or Topology layers. G4 represents the highest levels of risk, the highest acceptable level of insecurities, inefficiencies, vulnerabilities, and chances of failure.
Efficacy Score Rating (ESR)®
ESR® - The single most reliable score rating for comparing a system, design or service' s delivery abilities and claims! Efficacy Score Rating is the system and methods for piecewise evaluation of the efficacy of a complex system. In abstract systems and methods for evaluation and comparison of a complex system's efficacy composed of independent or interdependent components is referred to as ESR®. The efficacy of each component is evaluated and scored based on a set of pre-determined criteria. The component-wise efficacy scores are then combined to produce an overall system efficacy score for the purpose of evaluation of the whole and comparison with other systems within the same context or domain. Examples of efficacy score rating applications are data center rating, business rating, service provider rating, security ratings, etc.
Contribute. Adopt. Give Back.
IDCA promotes collaborative efforts and enables workgroups and organizations to work closely by taking part in IDCA’s global mission to develop highly comprehensive and effective application-centric technology standards that cater to data centers, infrastructures, information technology, cloud, big data, applications, and IoT. By taking part in this collaborative standardization, which is the first of its kind in the data center industry, one will be amazed at how the wide array of expertise from diverse backgrounds can result in such a comprehensive standard and well-informed user community. No matter how great or small your participation may be, it takes three simple steps to become a part of the development and continuous refinement of the greatest standards framework our industry has ever known.
Get Involved
Learn
Join the world’s elite. Observe and learn the latest industry trends, best practices, the Infinity Paradigm® insights, and become fully knowledgeable of the entire Application Ecosystem (AE)®.
Collaborate
Put your know-how into action. Push yourself to the limits of thinking outside the box. Collaborate with other industry experts, give inputs and take feedback. Be part of the future in the making.
Share
Contribute to the world. Be part of the movement that shares its gains with the industry, the community, and the world, for a better, more reliable, sustainable, ethical, and inclusive world.