Colocation
Colocation
A colocation center (also spelled co-location or colo) or “carrier hotel” is a data center facility where a company can rent space for servers and other computer hardware. Many colocation providers sell to a wide range of customers, from large companies to small businesses. Colo usually provides building, cooling, power, bandwidth and physical security, while the customer provides servers and storage. Customers retain control over the design and use of their equipment, but the day-to-day management of the data center and equipment is provided by a multi-tenant colocation provider.
Let’s Unpack That
The term colocation refers to many aspects of a data center. First, the term refers to the fact that servers and other devices come from many different companies, instead of being “co-located” in a single data center. The hardware is usually owned by the companies themselves and is simply installed (and sometimes maintained) by the data center staff. It also refers to the concept that a company can place its equipment in multiple locations. They may have servers, for example, in three or four different collocation data centers. This is important for companies with a large geographical footprint and they want to ensure that their computer systems are located close to their physical offices.
Cabinets: The cabinet is more of a slot unit that holds a server rack. In a multi-tenant data center, rack servers share a high floor space with other tenants, as well as power and cooling infrastructure.
Cages: A cage is a dedicated server space in a traditionally elevated data center floor; it is surrounded by net walls and is entered through a locked door. The keys share power and cooling infrastructure with other data center tenants.
Suites: The suite is a dedicated private server space in a traditional high-floor data center; it is completely surrounded by fixed partitions and an entrance through a sliding door. Kits can share power and cooling infrastructure with other data center tenants or have these resources provided on a dedicated basis.
Modules: Data center modules are purpose-built modules and components that offer scalable data center features. They typically use standard components, so they can be easily added, integrated, or retrofitted to existing data centers to meet customer needs. In a colocation environment, a data center module is a data center in a data center with its own steel walls and security protocol and its own cooling and power infrastructure.
Why Choose Colocation?
There are many benefits for businesses or even individuals who want to use data center colocation services. Here are some of the most important things you should know when deciding if this type of service is a good choice.
Lower Costs: When comparing the costs of a colocation data center with the possibility of building your own facility, the choice is clear. If your device does not require a large amount of space, the costs of using the collocation option are lower.
Fewer Technical Staff: You don’t have to worry about things like cable management, power management, device installation, or any other technical process. In many cases, the colocation data center can even replace components or perform other tasks as needed. This means that you don’t have to use many IT staff to manage this task.
Exceptional Reliability: Collocation data centers are usually built to the highest specifications for customization. These include backup generators, excellent physical security, multiple network connections through multiple telescopes, and more.
Geographic Location: You can choose the location of your data center so that it is close to your users.
Predictable Expenses: The costs associated with a colocation data center can be quite predictable. You can always sign contracts for a year or more to know how to create a budget for your IT needs.
Easy Scalability: As your business grows, new servers or other equipment can be added to your device quickly and easily. If your device is in a small local data center or server cabinet, it can be even more difficult to deploy.
Why Work With Us?
While collocation seems very simple, the reality is that there are many factors to consider when choosing the right mentoring accommodation for your critical business applications.
- Is the location of the data center geographically dispersed?
- Are there any environmental issues I need to be aware of in this region?
- What level of data center do I need?
- Will the colocation partner meet my security requirements?
- Will I need help buying and installing equipment?
- Do they offer other services if I decide to move the cloud?
We can help you identify your needs, then explore which colocation partners to talk to and get quotes from them. From there, we can also help with the selection process.
Working with an independent consultant will allow us to analyze your needs and select the best solution provider that meets the requirements and exceeds expectations. This happens agnostically, allowing you to focus on the project without having to deal with endless discussions with suppliers.