May 21st, 2021
Server colocation, or "Colo", is on the increase. The global market for this dramatic service is growing at such a rate that it will nearly double between 2019 and 2025. But what is this service, and what benefits does it give you over other systems of server maintenance?
This article will go into these questions and offer you the answers you need. This way, you will be able to discuss whether you want to transfer your IT infrastructure or not with your stakeholders.
Server Colocation Pros and Cons
There are several advantages to setting up a colo, but very few server colocation downsides. We will list a few here to help you have an idea of what they are.
Server Colocation Advantages
Scalability: A smart company can plan well for growth. Using colocation, you can always pay for more space, server support, and bandwidth from the hosting company. This allows you to update fast as your business expands.
Interconnectivity: There are several different options available regarding colocation customization. With these, you can build the connected network of your dreams. You can choose from different cloud platforms, network services, or ISPs depending on your wishes.
Reliability: An on-site server will not always have people able to access it in the case of issues. Also, retrieving information from backups and restarting the server will not always be easy.
With off-site colocation facilities, you can have a backup UPS that is scaled for a data center, as well as the 24/7 support of the on-site teams. As the average business loses around $300 per downtime, making sure that happens less and less is very important.
Organization: Running a data center and servers can get very expensive, including all the costs for hiring IT to manage them. Using a colocation service, however, brings your costs way down.
They already have the infrastructure, the people, and the experience in place. In all, it will end up costing you less in the long run.
Security: As these services care about keeping their customers, you can rest assured one of the major things they worry about is security. These locations are often well-built to meet data security standards such as ISO 27001, HIPA, and many others. They are likely to also have rigorous standards for who they hire and give access to the location also.
Server Colocation Disadvantages
Despite the above, there are a few small disadvantages to server colocation you should be aware of. First of all, if you continue to run your own hardware and software it can be quite costly. We would recommend looking into hardware-as-a-service solutions instead.
Also, should you ever need physical access to your servers for any reason, this can be an inconvenience. This is a rare need, however, as you can deal with most issues remotely. Alternatively, you can contact a server technician who is on standby at the facility.
What Next?
Now you have a good idea of what it means to engage in server colocation. Hopefully, you can move forward to make decisions in that area.
If you still have questions or want to ask about what we can provide you with your colocation needs, get in touch. Our team is here to help.