There was a time when the only way to store and manage data was solely on-site, but fortunately, organizations have options today, including partnering with a data center to manage data more securely and at less expenditure in terms of time and money. Colocation services, also known as “colo” or a “carrier hotel,” can assist your organization in innumerable ways, so finding the right one is imperative to getting a return on investment.
Fundamental Offerings of Colocation
Companies that have made the transition to colocation and thrive know that their data center goes beyond supporting basic functions – it is the core of their business operations, as easy access to data is integral to meaningful workflow processes. But because cost is always going to rank high as a motivator, does colocation hit that mark?
Consider the costs associated with a self-owned data center. Building one is expensive and the ongoing costs stack up year after year. When you move to colocation, you don’t have the costs related to establishing your data center, but you also never have to worry about your infrastructure becoming obsolete and having to completely replace it with new technology. You also don’t have to hire and pay staff to maintain it – all of that, including software updates, is covered by your provider.
Redundancy and Protections
A self-owned data center is a silo, so your data lives there. What if a natural disaster occurs and the silo is left in ruins? Top-tier data centers provide redundancies, which means that should something of epic proportions befall one data center, your important data is backed up in a geographically disparate location, so you never lose access to it.
What To Look For in Your Colocation Solution
The best colocation services will offer you the bandwidth you need, as well as the hardware and data storage space that every growing business with increasing amounts of data requires. And while these essential services are the starting point, look for a partner that offers superior cost control, nimble infrastructure to meet your changing needs, improved accessibility, and professional system management.
At eXemplify, we have years of experience and superior support, which means we are the technology consultant that can help you find the right colocation services. We do more so you can, too. Contact us and let’s start the conversation about improving your business practices.