Data Center Colocation Provider

The colocation data center market has never been bigger; in 2019, global revenue amounted to around 31.39 billion USD, with the number expected to increase to over 58 billion USD by 2025.

And it’s no surprise why ― a colocation data center allows companies to store their data and keep it secure while at the same time making sure that it is accessible from any location, especially if they are in different areas. It can also help reduce costs, allowing businesses to focus on more important things instead.

However, choosing a colocation data center provider can be difficult because there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. In this article, we’ll name a few of those factors.

Consider the location of your business

Your choice of a colocation provider should be based on the location of your business.

Ensuring your data center colocation is close by ensuring there would be no delays in accessing your data. To learn more about a range of different data centers, click here.

This way, employees can easily access the center for maintenance or upgrades without having to travel far. The same applies when there are emergencies as they need not wait long for a technician to arrive.

Many colocation providers are adding a service called virtual data centers to make it more convenient for their clients. These facilities allow businesses to use one location as their primary address even if they do not have a physical presence in that place.

Evaluate the security measures taken by each provider

big data mining

The security measures of different colocation providers vary. Hence, you have to make sure that the one you choose is trusted and meets data center security standards. Some things that you should look out for in a provider’s security features include:

Data center protection – Nowadays, data centers come with advanced fire suppression systems and intruder detection and alarm systems that will make it much easier for security personnel to respond immediately if there is an intruder.

Physical protection – The physical structure of a data center can also provide additional security measures. The building should be constructed so that it ensures the safety of staff and clients and protects their data from damage or destruction by natural calamities such as typhoons or earthquakes.

Data center security personnel – A data facility should also have security personnel to ensure that every person coming inside is properly screened. In addition, only authorized people are allowed to have access to computers containing sensitive information.

Ask questions about how often power is interrupted at the facility

Power interruptions can be a huge problem for businesses that rely on the Internet for their operations. The telecommunications industry has been experiencing power interruptions in certain areas more often. Still, it is also good to know that your colocation provider has a generator backup system in case of such problems.

Security measures are not complete without an emergency plan if something goes wrong at the colocation center. Ask the provider if they have devised an emergency plan for a fire or any other calamity that will help them handle problems fast and effectively.

Determine what type of data center you need

The needs of different businesses vary so the type of data center you need also differs accordingly.

If you are assigned to work with a particular project that requires you to have 24/7 access, for example, you can choose from different colocation centers that offer round-the-clock service.

The size of the business also matters as well because if your company is still small and has few data backup requirements, it would be best to choose a data center that is much smaller and cheaper than the bigger ones.

Check if the colocation provider has a good track record in business

The need to be practical is essential when choosing an ideal colocation provider for your business. So you should do some research on the current market situation of the company that you plan to work with and see if they have a good reputation in the industry or not. If they do, that is a good sign of quality service and dependability.

Look into their policies for maintenance when you choose the right colocation provider because they have to be updated regularly, so make sure that they also address any restrictions in case of your data loss.

Final thoughts 

Colocation is the most efficient among all IT resources in terms of cost and performance. In addition, with colocation, your organization has more control over its valuable information by housing it in a safe, secure environment.

There are many considerations to take into account when choosing a data center colocation provider. It is essential to know what these are to have an easier time finding the best provider.