Panel: Reliability of data centers: Hardware vs. software

In today's life, data centers are integral part of daily life. From web search to online banking, online shopping to medical records, we rely on data centers for almost everything. Malfunctions in the operation of such data centers have become an inseparable part of our daily lives as well. Major malfunction causes include hardware and software failures, design errors, malicious attacks and incorrect human interactions. The consequences of such malfunctions are enormous: loss of human life, financial loss, fraud, wastage of time and energy, loss of productivity, and frustrations with computing. Therefore, reliability of these systems plays a critical role in all aspects of our day to day life.