Budgeting for Your Data Center Move – Part 2

In this post, we continue exploring what may be the most critical phase of any data center move: Budgeting.

If you don’t get this right—or at least as right as humanly possible—everything that follows can spiral into a costly and chaotic nightmare.

❌ Forget Industry “Standards”

There is no reliable cost-per-square-foot, cost-per-server, or cost-per-application you can safely apply to your project. These shortcuts can leave you with blind spots and unrealistic expectations.

Instead, you need a Preliminary Cost Model that reflects your specific goals, infrastructure, and requirements.

✅ Preliminary Cost Model Categories

Here’s a solid starting point to create a meaningful and customized cost model:

1. External Connectivity

• Wide Area Data Network (WAN)
• Wide Area Storage Network
• Voice Services
• Wireless Infrastructure

2. Internal Connectivity

(Segment by site if multiple locations involved)

• Copper Cabling
• Fiber Cabling
• Internal Wireless

3. Move Elements by Phase

• Site Selection
• Pre-Move Planning
• Teardown
• Transit
• Arrival
• Reassembly
• Testing & Validation

4. Decommissioning

5. Capital Costs

For equipment purchased prior to the move.

6. Duplicate Carrying Costs

(Circuits, facilities, etc., that must be kept live in parallel)

7. Outside Resource Costs

• Move Plan Development
• Project Management
• Equipment Re-Certification
• Data Center Design Consulting
• Real Estate Agents & Tenant Reps
• Special Transportation Needs

8. Celebration Event Planning

9. Awards, Bonuses & Gifts

(Recognizing the team’s efforts matters!)

🧠 Final Thought

These categories are not the final budget—they are the foundation for one. Each line item helps reduce uncertainty, allowing better decision-making and, often, finding real savings.

And yes, you will be making timely decisions with imperfect data. That’s reality. The key is to be structured, deliberate, and adaptable.

📞 Need Help?

Electronic Transport Corp. has decades of experience in helping companies plan, budget, and execute complex data center moves.
📅 Contact us for a No-Obligation Consultation and let’s help you build a budget that works.