SFO (Single Facility Operations) is a model of IT infrastructure organization in which all key company resources are hosted and managed within a single data center or site. This configuration provides simplified administration, centralized control, and reduced costs for supporting distributed systems, but it requires a highly reliable facility.
What is SFO
The abbreviation SFO stands for Single Facility Operations. It is an approach in which computing power, data storage, networking, and backup systems are concentrated in one physical location. Unlike a distributed model (for example, MFO – Multi Facility Operations), SFO implies the consolidation of resources in a single control center, which makes the infrastructure easier to manage but potentially more vulnerable to failures.
How SFO Works
In the SFO model, all servers, network equipment, and storage systems are located in a single data center. The infrastructure is managed centrally through unified monitoring dashboards and management systems. This setup reduces operational costs because it does not require maintaining multiple sites or complex data synchronization channels.
To ensure stability and security, a company using the SFO model must invest in data center reliability — including redundant power supply, climate control, fire suppression systems, and multi-layer data protection. Virtualization is often used to enhance flexibility in resource allocation within the same facility.
Use Cases
SFO is most commonly adopted by medium-sized companies that do not need to duplicate their infrastructure across different regions. The model is suitable for corporate portals, CRM, ERP systems, file storage, and other solutions that do not require geographically distributed user access.
Sometimes, SFO is used as a temporary solution — for example, at the start of a business or during pilot projects when there is no need yet for backup sites or hybrid architectures.
Advantages
The main advantages of SFO are simplified management and cost efficiency. Centralizing infrastructure allows for faster incident resolution, easier updates, and smoother scaling. It also reduces expenses on staff and inter-site communication channels.
Using a single data center simplifies control over security and compliance with corporate standards. For many companies, SFO serves as a logical step before moving to more complex models such as MFO or hybrid architectures.