You don’t need to be told how expensive it is to run a business these days. The cost of everything is going up and you’re likely feeling the brunt when you look at your business expenses. As these costs continue to rise, you need to start looking for ways to make changes that will improve your efficiency and improve your profits.
One such area that may need to change is the storage of data. Data centres are commonplace in businesses today and they are likely integral in their function in the running of any organisation. However, as vital as they are, they are also likely taking up valuable resources. With expenses on the up, on-site data centres are becoming more and more impractical and you’re probably feeling that too, especially if you are a smaller organisation. So, what can you do to keep data stored and managed, and deal with issues of computer capability, while saving some of your valuable resources? The answer could be colocation.
As you learn more about his facility, you may come to see what a benefit it could be for your whole business.
Understanding Colocation
Colocation, commonly referred to as colo, is the leasing of off-site space where services, networking hardware and other equipment can be stored. Necessary hardware that helps your business run doesn’t need to be kept on your business premises. Instead of spending time and money operating on-site data centres, you can save yourself expenses and know-how by using colocation facilities. With this infrastructure in place, you and your team and focus less on data management and more on your business. We will learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of colocation and hopefully, the information discussed will help you to ponder over why you should implement colocation in your business.
The Advantages of Colocation
There are several advantages and benefits to be found in using colocation as an answer to your data management conundrum. These benefits could lead you to the conclusion that colocation is the solution you are looking for. Let’s analyse just a few.
1. The security
Security is crucial in protecting your business and the customer information you are privy to. Off-site data centres have a strong cyber security system in place that will protect everything and ensure compliance. The physical hardware is also well protected, with dedicated security professionals to save your expensive equipment from theft or other compromising risks.
2. The cost-effectiveness
Onsite data centres are expensive, with a single server costing around $81,000, an impractical amount for most organisations. You also need to spend more on an IT team to deal with the upkeep. However, when you use the services of an offsite colocation provider, you will pay a lower fee that covers everything.
3. The stable connection
Off-site data centres often benefit from backup network connections, meaning you never have to worry about a network connectivity issue. Your business can keep running regardless. Investing in a similarly stable network of your own would be excessively expensive. A colocation can take responsibility for all of this.
4. The scalability
One of the benefits of colocation is scalability. As your business grows and changes, your data needs will grow and change too, and a data centre can adapt accordingly. This is a great way to save money and adapt your strategy as needed.
5. The limited downtime
There are various factors that can cause an onsite data centre to experience downtime, but colocation centres invest in backup power supplies and cooling systems. These systems are off the grid so they will keep working, keeping your data safe and accessible.
6. The recovery
If the worst happens and you lose all your data, with an onsite data centre it’s all on you and there’s not a lot you can do about it. However, an offsite colocation centre works to back up your data so even if the worst is to happen, your data will be safe.
7. The support
The support rests on you when you keep data onsite, but an offsite data centre has dedicated support teams to answer your questions and give you reliable guidance and advice for future decisions.
The Disadvantages of Colocation
On the other hand, there are some disadvantages that need to be discussed in using colocation as an answer to your data management conundrum. To get a balanced view of the decision, it’s vital to weigh up both the pros and the cons. Let’s investigate just a few.
1. The start-up costs
The initial start-up costs of partnering with a colocation provider are high, and even though they are an investment they might be too high for a start-up business.
2. The fluctuating costs
Monthly costs can fluctuate depending on bandwidth usage. This makes it difficult to budget for the expense and to be able to predict what your expenses will be.
3. The location
It can be hard to find a colocation provider located locally in your area.
Why Your Business Should Implement Colocation
Overall, there may be some disadvantages to colocation, but they are far outweighed by the advantages that are to be gained. You get more for your investment when you choose a colocation system, and the pressure is taken off your business when it comes to storing your data. The idea that only on-site data centres are the answer to data storage management issues is a complete myth. Even small businesses can benefit from state-of-the-art technology that would otherwise be out of their reach when they choose to partner with a reliable off-site data centre and choose colocation for their infrastructure. Even larger businesses are seeing the benefits and choosing to opt for colocation services. With a thorough investigation of the pros and cons, you can decide which option would be the best for you. And if you decide to look into colocation, you can use a good understanding of your business and the options available to choose the provider that’s best for you.