For many businesses, IT infrastructure has long been a stumbling block for business growth. Building on-premise data solutions is often far too expensive for most organizations, forcing them to sacrifice much-needed infrastructure until financial resources are available. Colocation services change that scenario, which is why more and more businesses are looking to data center providers to build dynamic IT infrastructures that accommodate rapid growth.

What is colocation?

Data centers offer colocation hosting services in which they lease space to customers and provide housing for servers. Unlike cloud services, with colocation, the client owns and has full authority over the servers, while the storage facility maintains a secure server environment. Since multiple tenants lease space in the facility, costs are distributed among the tenants and help clients to convert CAPEX to OPEX by only paying from the services they use.

Services provided by colocation solutions

Security – Data centers provide secure access to the physical location, including security measures such as cameras, identification for on-site personnel, and biometric locks to keep unauthorized people from accessing the facility. The client, however,  is responsible for the server security to guard against cyberattacks.

Power – Electricity and other utilities that the servers need to function are also provided by the data center. Within the power requirements, data centers typically include backup generators and energy strategies that guarantee the highest level of uptime possible. 

Cooling – Since servers generate a substantial amount of heat, data centers provide redundant cooling systems to ensure servers run properly, preventing long-term hardware damage and extending the life of the hardware. 

Storage – Data centers typically offer three options for leasing physical space in the center.

• Stand-alone cabinets allow clients to house several servers in racks.
• Cages are a separate, locked area where server cabinets are stored and can be customized to include as many cabinets as the client might need.
• Suites are fully-enclosed, secure rooms located inside the data center.

Disaster Recovery – Data centers provide a DR plan that typically includes maintaining a facility outside of disaster-prone areas and is reinforced against disruption. This includes the backup power generators and redundant internet connectivity to reduce downtime in the event of a disaster. 

Compliance – Clients that have sensitive, confidential data that must adhere to compliance regulations can leverage data center configurations and infrastructure that comply with official regulations. Clients can manage their complaint servers, but the data center provides the compliant atmosphere to add an additional layer of protection for sensitive data. 

Colocation is an excellent solution for businesses that need to grow their business but are hindered by financial resources for IT infrastructure. Considering colocation for your business? Talk to LanYap Networks and let’s see if colocation services are a fit for your business.