If you have come to this page and are now reading this blog post, it means you want to learn about colocation. Maybe it can be a strange start as a data center blog, but have a look at these questions – If you have an eye vision issue, would you like to visit an ophthalmologist or just a general practitioner? If your vintage bike no longer runs, would you like to visit an experienced mechanic or a beginner? Most of us would probably pick the first option in both cases. We would need a specialist. The same will apply to the up-and-coming question – Should a business invest in colocation services or build and manage its own on-premise data center when it comes to deploying and hosting an organization-owned server?
No matter whether you are in a small business or a large-scale enterprise, data is paramount. However, there are chances when your business storage needs are not being fulfilled, and you need a specific place to house your data and servers. Fortunately, there is a way that has emerged as the leading solution: Colocation.
It is the process of a third party housing privately owned servers and networking equipment in an off-site data center. Server colocation has provided myriad benefits that can be particularly beneficial for businesses of all sizes. Here in this blog, we are going to learn what exactly server colocation is and the significant reasons why businesses should opt for it. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
What is Server Colocation?
Server colocation or colo refers to a process offered by data centers or hosting companies, where you can rent physical space to house your servers and IT equipment. In today’s competitive digital world, where data has become the backbone of every organization, colocation plays an essential role in storing company data. Instead of hosting your equipment on-site, you can house it in a professional data center. The server services, operating system and applications are all controlled by the customer, whereas the managed service provider offers the physical space, power and network resources.
Moreover, in server colocation, the server remains the property of the client organization but is maintained, managed and monitored by the service provider. The client or organization accesses the server over the Internet or on a VPN. As a result, the primary objective behind server colocation is to utilize enhanced IT support services on key IT servers without acquiring high operational costs.
When it comes to support services, servers are also provided with IP, bandwidth, physical security, power, and backup services for the colocated server. Thus, it is almost identical to dedicated server hosting, where a dedicated server is hosted in the MSP data center, but different in the fact that the organization offers the server.
Significant Reasons Why Businesses Should Opt for Server Colocation
Established Infrastructure: One of the prominent reasons you should invest in colocation services is convenience or ease. On average, building an on-premise data center takes 6-8 months. It also requires a team of skilled architects or engineers with expertise in this domain. Any mere failure or error can have serious repercussions. This is where data center colocation services come in to house your servers and equipment so that you can focus on your core operations instead of building your own on-premise data center.
Reliability: Colocation services provide server cooling systems, power and communication systems that permit constant connection. Companies can invest in equipment and measures to implement similar systems in-house, but doing so can require significant money and space. Data centers also provide better protection from power outages because of the multiple data backups in place.
Full-Fledged Security: Data centers are generally designed in such a way that they ensure your systems are completely secured from theft and other risks that can cause trouble to your crucial information. They offer higher levels of physical shielding and. enforce stringent security measures for protecting data, including video monitoring, private suites, fire detection and suppression systems and mantraps.
Speed: Colocation services provide cost-effective connections directly to a number of Internet service providers and offer top performance in the event of connection interruptions or overload.
Professional Staff: Data centers have skilled on-site staff to monitor and maintain servers. These professionals are hired to build and implement state-of-the-art infrastructure utilizing high-performance equipment.
Risk Management: As the digital world is evolving, data breaches and natural disasters are likely to happen. Fortunately, when your crucial equipment operates at an off-site data center, security and backups are in place to continue operation.
All in All
Is your business limited in space, but do you need a strong IT infrastructure? Colocation is the right solution. It plays an essential role for businesses seeking to elevate their operational efficiency, resilience, and competitiveness. It provides businesses with a substitute for housing data in-house. Here at Kennies, we offer world-class server colocation services to foster your business to achieve new heights.
We rent you space in our nine-layer secured and scaled data center to home your servers and critical IT equipment in order to tailor to business needs.
Moreover, opting for server colocation services through Kennies Data Center enables you to optimize your infrastructure and take advantage of state-of-the-art features to easily manage your data. So why are you waiting? Let’s shield your servers and data with our server colocation services.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is server colocation?
Server colocation refers to a service offered by data centers where businesses can rent space for their servers and other crucial computing resources. Instead of keeping servers in-house, organizations place their equipment in a professional data center that provides enhanced security, reliable power, sharp Internet connectivity, and experienced tech support.
- What factors need to be considered when selecting the right colocation provider?
Location: Select a data center that is geographically convenient for your team and disaster recovery plans.
Reliability: Look for a provider with a solid track record of uptime and robust infrastructure.
Security: Ensure the facility has comprehensive security measures in place to secure your equipment.
Cost: Compare pricing models to ensure they match with your budget while offering crucial services and features.
- What are the benefits of server colocation?
Some significant benefits of server colocation are as follows:
- Upgrade Reliability: Data centers offer redundant power sources, cooling systems, and Internet connections to ensure high uptime and reliability.
- Boost Security: Colocation facilities have the latest security measures like surveillance cameras, biometric access controls, and on-site security personnel to secure equipment.
- Scalability: As businesses experience sudden growth, they can quickly expand their colocation space without the need for significant capital investment in infrastructure.