Which tier is best characterized by having basic infrastructure?

The best choice is Tier I, which is characterized by having basic infrastructure. Tier I data centers are typically defined by their fundamental design and operational capabilities. They generally consist of a single delivery path for power and cooling, which is suitable for small businesses or a limited application environment.

Tier I facilities offer minimal redundancy, meaning there is a single point of failure for critical components such as power and cooling systems. This makes them less reliable compared to higher tier classifications, but they can be sufficient for organizations that do not require high availability or robust disaster recovery solutions.

Higher tiers, such as II, III, and IV, incorporate more advanced infrastructure with additional redundancy and resilience. For instance, Tier II adds some redundancy, while Tier III and Tier IV provide diverse power and cooling paths, along with higher levels of fault tolerance and availability guarantees.

Understanding this tiered classification is essential for data center design and planning, as it directly affects an organization’s operations, reliability, and overall strategic goals.