Choosing a colocation provider is a critical business choice that requires careful research and study. You must consider numerous crucial variables, as the stability and reliability of your IT infrastructure are dependent on your final decision.

Colocation is a viable option for businesses that lack the resources to build and manage their own cloud infrastructure. Choosing the ideal colocation provider, on the other hand, may be tricky. 

With so many data centers and service providers to select from, asking the right questions can help you make an educated decision rather than a costly mistake.

Let’s explore key questions you should ask when choosing a colocation provider and see how they instill confidence when the time comes to relocate your data center.

What is Colocation Hosting

Before getting started with the choosing process, it's critical to grasp what colocation hosting comprises. Colocation is the practice of storing your servers, networking equipment, and other gear in the facilities of a third-party data center. While you have full control over your equipment and applications, the provider provides physical space, power, cooling, and network access.

What to ask when selecting a colocation provider

If you're thinking about colocation, make sure to tour potential facilities to evaluate staffing, security, and maintenance. Bring inquiries about your colocation requirements. Here are 8 Key questions to ask any colocation provider to get you started.

Where is the Data center located? 

When selecting a colocation provider, one of the first things to consider is their location. Organizations frequently select a colocation site near their headquarters. That's a reasonable approach, albeit the data center should be secured from floods, storms, wildfires, and other natural calamities as much as feasible. 

Customers with a regional, national, or global footprint have more options and can select facilities in warmer climates. Data sovereignty is another consideration. Some regulations require that data be stored in specific geographic areas. Finally, particular locations provide tax breaks, rebates, and other benefits that may make them more or less appealing than other suppliers.

What is the Cost Structure

Colocation pricing can be complicated because it differs between providers. Before entering a contract, businesses should be fully informed of all charges and fees.

Take, for example, setup and change fees. They are not often adequately described and can be significant depending on the quantity of rack space required and the way your data storage is structured. You should also inquire about the costs of data storage, such as power, bandwidth, cooling, and other factors.

What are the power redundancy and backup options available?

Understand the data center's power architecture, including redundant power cooling and connectivity feeds, backup generators, and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, and how they provide a key hedge against downtime. Ideally, these resources should be able to travel multiple paths. 

The quantity N is frequently used to represent the necessary services required to support the data center. The phrase "N+1" refers to a data center that has one more component, whereas "2N" refers to a fully redundant, mirrored system with independent distribution. The more redundancy, the greater the data center's resilience. 

What are the site's physical security features?

While logical security is essential, physical security is also required to safeguard sensitive data. A secure perimeter, access controls, 24x7 monitored video monitoring, and equipment cages with locks are required at the colocation center. All employees who have access to IT equipment should be subjected to background checks by the provider. On-site security officers, mantraps, biometric access systems, and other modern controls are also found in best-in-class facilities.

What network connectivity do you provide?

Because few businesses can afford their own high-speed connections to telecom and cloud providers, bandwidth is a primary justification for colocation. Top colocation facilities, on the other hand, offer high bandwidth, 10G, and faster fiber-based connections. While some facilities only have one telecommunications carrier, the majority have connections to many carriers. These carrier-neutral data centers provide you with additional options and superior outage protection.

What are the Service Level Agreements (SLAs)?

Service Level Agreements (SLAs) detail the provider's promises to uptime, response times, and support. Examine the SLAs thoroughly, paying special attention to any exclusions or limitations. Check that the provider's SLAs are in line with your needs.

What Support and Managed Services are Available?

Examine the colocation provider's degree of support and managed services. Remote hands services, equipment installation, and configuration assistance, monitoring and management tools, and technical support availability are all examples of this. Determine whether the provider can satisfy your specific support requirements.

What is the Provider's Track Record and Reputation?

Evaluate the provider's track record and industry reputation. Look for client evaluations, testimonials, or case studies to determine their dependability and level of customer satisfaction. Consider suppliers who have a track record of providing high-quality services.

You May Also Like To Read: Why Colocation Customers Need Neutral Data Center Marketplaces

In closing

Choosing the best colocation hosting service necessitates careful analysis of your business needs as well as a thorough review of potential providers. You may make an informed decision that corresponds with your business goals by asking the correct questions regarding location, security, redundancy, network connectivity, support, pricing, and reputation. Remember that choosing a trustworthy colocation hosting provider is an important step towards guaranteeing the security, availability, and scalability of your vital IT infrastructure.

Server Colocation UK has a track record of success in the creation of modern data center facilities. We have worked with some of the world's leading hyper-scale providers to design data center strategies and worldwide standards, as well as to build facilities all around the world. We can assist you in selecting the best colocation partner and optimizing your onsite IT infrastructure.

Colocation is typically a beneficial business decision, but it is critical to work with the correct provider. Allow Server Colocation UK to assist you in identifying the most crucial characteristics and evaluating various colocation services.