Colocation is the practice of housing a company’s own server(s) within a third-party data centre. Why might a company want to do this? This allows a company to use their own hardware and software to run the server and is a useful option if the company already owns the hardware or they have applications that are particularly fussy about the hardware they need. Housing your server in a data centre also has the added advantages of increased reliability as the data centre will have a number of features to prevent downtime (for example, the data centre should have more than one means of connectivity to the internet). Data centres also have more efficient cooling in order to deal with the excess heat produced by the servers, this ensures a longer and more reliable life for the server.
A major advantage of colocation is security. Data centres have to be secure to protect customer hardware and data. Most are manned around the clock and typically have only a single entrance/exit with anti-tailgating measures. Data centres are almost always covered by CCTV both on the outside and inside. But the security doesn’t stop there. Once inside the servers are locked away in cages to which only authorised personnel have access, making colocation a safer option than hosting within a standard office building.
Which company should I colocate with? It can often be confusing to know what to look for when searching for colocation options, so here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Location: is it in an area that suits you?
- Do you need to travel there often to upgrade, replace, or add servers to your setup?
- Is that area susceptible to natural disasters (flooding, hurricanes, etc)?
- Data centre certifications – does the data centre have certifications that are important to you (for example ISO27001).
- Support: Does the company have round-the-clock support? What will they do for you?
Checking online reviews is a good way to form an initial opinion or to put together a shortlist of suitable sites. However, we always recommend that you should try to arrange a site tour prior to making a final decision.
If you want to find out more about colocation or just want a little bit more info on what we do visit our website or contact 0161 464 6101 or email hello@datacentreplus.co.uk
