Data Centers Foster Thriving Communities in Northern Virginia

April 4, 2023 – LoudounNow

Written by Phil Baroody

I have two daughters who are 23 and 25, and like most young people, they are completely addicted to technology. They each have iPhones, smart watches, laptops, smart speakers, smart TVs, and a litany of other devices that help them keep in touch with friends and family, as well as occupy their free time. But it’s important for them (and everyone) to understand that all these technologies—including “the cloud” where the data that powers streaming services and applications is stored—rely on a series of physical, real-world connections to function. These connections are made through data centers, which are the basis for so many of the modern conveniences, and in reality the basic way of life, that most Americans now enjoy. As I often tell my daughters, anything with the word “smart” in front of it has a data center behind it.