Colocation—keeping your tech hardware secured in what’s often a remote data center—isn’t just a great way to save money while ensuring expert care. It can be fantastic for Utah businesses in a number of ways. There was a time when big companies preferred individual servers, but today the preference is for networked systems (and with good reason). While it might seem like a good idea up front to operate your own server, it’s expensive, time consuming and there are no real added benefits over colocation. The reality is that businesses can lower costs, decrease necessary manpower and focus on other things with colocation.
Ultimately, colocation helps reduce your operational expenditure while allowing your IT department to focus on core business needs. There is absolutely no reason you need your own private server/data center unless you’re one of the biggest companies in the world (think Google or Amazon level). Most business don’t have—or don’t want to have!—a dedicated team of server maintenance professionals available 24/7 just in case a server needs a 3am reboot before Cyber Monday starts.
Consider this: You outsource many things, from search engine optimization to app creation. You know how this saves you money while securing the best pros for the job. Why not do the same with server maintenance and storage?
A Win for IT/Financial Directors
IT and Financial Directors in a company have complementary goals. IT Directors want the best, most secure technology at the ready. Financial Directors want what’s best for the company, but also to lower costs. Colocation offers both. Only with colocation can you get the latest, state of the art infrastructure (unless of course you have a bottomless money pit at your fingertips). There is simply no comparison of a standard server room (most private ones aren’t datacenters) and a colocation strategy. The sheer power of a colocation service instantly addresses disparities that run rampant with in-house server management.
It’s true that private servers and in-house server rooms give the client (you) immediate physical access. However, that’s not necessarily a good thing. Most businesses don’t have the ability to even properly cool a server room, let alone address humidity and particle issues. How are your distribution paths? Can you re-fuel your generator while it’s being used if necessary? Is there UPS support, and who’s watching the battery levels around the clock? A business simply can’t achieve 100 percent uptime, save for scheduled maintenance—but colocation services can.
A Global Connection
“Connectivity” is the name of the game in this increasingly global business world. This is exactly what colocation allows: worldwide, secure and fast connections. Unfortunately, a lot of companies (even big ones) with server rooms online don’t have the best Internet connection, there’s no staff dedicated solely to watching traffic flow, and problems pop up constantly as a result. Colocation means:
- Quicker networking
- Connectivity that’s resilient
- Lower prices than a private server environment
- Around 100 mbps of bandwidth, which is challenging at in-house locations
With datacenters, you are connected to a number of transit providers and your bandwidth pipes are bigger. In short: Better service at a lower cost. That’s Business Sense 101.
But What About the Cloud?
Cloud solutions are popular in some arenas, but there’s an issue: it’s not a totally auditable system. You, as the client, will not have total control over cloud infrastructure. The reality is that it’s also more affordable to store data on your own servers rather than paying a premium for cloud storage fees. Plus, there are worries over the security (or lack thereof) of cloud services. Colocation is incredibly secure, particularly when compared to in-house systems.
Utah colocation services are perhaps one of the most secure of all. Clients should look at the geo-location of data centers and consider if natural disasters are common there before signing on. You wouldn’t want a datacenter located in Tornado Alley or where hurricanes are feasible.
You’ve Been Served
Routine maintenance is common, such as replacing UPS batteries or testing the system. This adds up to a lot of hidden costs, but it’s all included in colocation services. This means no surprise bills and easier budgeting for businesses. Plus, you’ll be able to focus on things that matter more directly to your business.
Meanwhile, the colocation pros will be working on constantly updating tech with more green resources. Their clients, in turn, lighten their carbon footprint which is always a bonus for businesses—in fact, it can be a great PR story. It’s estimated by Data Center Knowledge that businesses which move from in-house to colocation lower their carbon emissions by 90 percent. If you’re not a green business now, you will be soon enough with colocation.