How Colocation can Streamline Your Business

It can be hard sometimes to know what type of hosting service you need for your IT systems and applications. Costs vary wildly as does the amount of control you get over each system. Colocation is at the top of the spectrum (with the exception of building your own Data Center) because it will likely cost a little more than the Cloud but will also give you the maximum control of your server hardware and software.

Exactly How Colocation Can Streamline Your Business?

Colocation is the practice of hosting servers, storage, firewalls and other internet related hardware from multiple customers in a single Data Center. A data center warehouses the necessary infrastructure in a secure location, complete with; redundant power, backup generators, advanced cooling and fire systems, and 24/7 security. The appeal of colocation lies in its scalability; a customer can add additional infrastructure and storage capabilities when necessary, and scale back from use when not needed. This precludes the expense of hosting the infrastructure themselves, and simultaneously facilitates cost-benefit advantages and ROI.

Advantages of Colocation Services:

• Complete control over personal hardware and software
• Optimal performance in controlled environment
• Scalability without significant expense
• Faster and cheaper bandwidth
• 24/7 monitoring by engineering staff
• Remote IT support
• Threat and DDoS mitigation
• Optimal energy savings
• Redundant power systems
• On-site security
• Fire control that protects servers
• Operational cost (OPEX) rather than bulk payment (CAPEX)
• No server maintenance required
• Server stays put regardless if your business moves

Disadvantages of Colocation Services:

• Distance from your physical office
• Increased costs for remote assistance

How Can I Benefit from Colocation?

If you are a business looking to improve your IT infrastructure or you’re looking to grow without large upfront costs, then Colocation is a good option for your business. Although it may be cheaper at the outset to run a server at your office, all it takes is one misstep, such as: a fault in power, network connection, or defect in the hardware or software to create a massive financial or possible security liability.

Colocation vs Cloud Servers vs. Managed Dedicated Servers

Cloud and VPS are relatively inexpensive, with easy setup and no contract. You have control over the software but not the hardware. You are on a shared resource platform and rely entirely on the provider to maintain everything except your software. Performance can also vary, even across a platform. If you have little experience in server hardware, however, cloud hosting is an excellent way to go.

Managed Dedicated Servers are a happy medium between Colocation and Cloud Servers. Not only do you retain control of the software, you can also manage the level of configuration within the hardware. In this scenario, hardware is not shared and the server is maintained by expert engineers. Data centers also offer cheap bandwidth, and plan for periodic hardware replacement.

Full Colocation is the best option, as you have full control over the server, configuration and specification of the software that is used. Colocation offers continuous upgrades to the server, in addition to providing flexibility with memory and storage settings. Colocation also provides all the benefits of the Managed Dedicated Services. Colocation requires that all the hardware is purchased upfront and a minimal contractual period for the Colocation rack space.

Choosing a Data Center for Colocation

3EX Hosting currently offers multiple data centers throughout the United States to facilitate your Colocation needs. Although in different locations, all of our data centers meet stringent standards for quality and regulatory compliance. Some things you should consider when vetting a potential Colocation provider:

• What accreditation do they hold?
• What tier is the Data Center and what is their redundancy level?
• Do they have significant in-house expertise or provide managed services?

3EX Hosting is always here to assist. If you’d like more information on Colocation, or any other services that we provide, just talk to one of our specialist engineers to find out if Colocation is right for you.