A data center is a facility that stores computer machines and their hardware equipment. This place is where organizations keep their IT operations and store all their websites, applications, and data. Components of data center include: 

• Servers 
• Networking Equipment
• Storage Systems 
• Power Infrastructure 
• Cooling Systems 
• Security Systems 
• Environmental Monitoring  
• Cabling Infrastructure 

What are the data center tiers? 

Data center tiers are a system used to categorize different types of data center infrastructure. They are divided into 4 tiers according to their reliability. Choosing the appropriate data center tier depends on an organization’s IT requirements, budget, and tolerance for downtime. 

Tier 1 Data Centers

A tier 1 data center is usually used by smaller businesses, or organizations that don’t rely too much on technology. It offers basic services and has the simplest infrastructure, with non-redundant capacity components. Moreover, tier 1 data centers only have a single path for power and cooling and offer an uptime of 99.67%. This means that the potential downtime each year is around 28.8 hours. This tier of data center also needs to be shut down completely during maintenance.  

Tier 2 Data Centers

Tier 2 data center is a bit more reliable than tier 1. It also has a single path for power and cooling and needs the system to shut down when there is maintenance to the power path and other infrastructure. However, tier 2 centers come with redundant capacity components. This helps lower the chance of the data center operations not working if a component fails. They also offer an uptime of 99.74%, which means their potential downtime is around 22 hours each year. This makes tier 2 data center a good fit for small businesses who need more reliability than tier 1. 

Tier 3 Data Centers

Tier 3 data centers are a big step up in reliability. They have extra systems that can keep things running even when they do maintenance. Tier 3 centers are available about 99.982% of the time, which means they might not work for about 1.6 hours each year. They’re great for businesses that need things to keep going without big disruptions. 

Tier 3 data centers have multiple paths for power and cooling, with backup redundancies and outage protection. They also can go through maintenance without disturbing their operations, making them a more reliable option compared to tier 1 and tier 2. The uptime they offer is 99.98%, which means their potential downtime per year is around 1.6 hours. 

Tier 4 Data Centers

Tier 4 data centers are the best solution for large corporations that have a high traffic and need their technology to run smoothly at all times. This is because tier 4 centers have redundancy for every component, ensuring that they can work at all times. They have many extra systems and different paths for power, cooling, and connecting to networks. Tier 4 data centers have an uptime of 99.99%, which means their potential downtime is 26.3 minutes per year. They are also designed to be able to maintain their operations even in the event of downtime. 

Why are data centers important? 

Companies use data centers because managing all their computing equipment, which can be in different branches, on their own can be challenging. Thanks to these facilities, companies can bring all their equipment to a centralized location and manage it conveniently. This is because data center facilities are designed to provide a safe environment to keep all the computers running smoothly. Moreover, data centers also need to comply with several regulations to make sure that their data is securely stored. Simply put, a data center is like the main control center for a company’s digital activities. Companies also have the option of having an on-premises data center or using a third-party data center. You can learn more about the benefits of using a data center here. 

History of Data Centers 

The Early Days (1940s) 

The world’s first data center was built in the 1940s at the University of Pennsylvania. It was to house the first computer ever created, which was the Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer (ENIAC). The one who built this was the US Army for military purposes at that time. 

These early computers were very complex to operate, and data centers were also just very simple facilities to house these computers. Most of the centers at that time also had no windows and only one secure door.  

Development of Personal Computers (1960s-1980s) 

During the 1960s-1970s, companies like IBM and Intel began to develop advanced, yet easy-to-use computers for everyone. Because of these innovations, more users deploy computers in the 1980s.  

As the number of computer users began to grow, organizations started to realize that they need to have a facility where they can put all their company servers there in order to manage them easier. These needs made data centers a popular solution for lots of companies. 

Data Center and Internet Boom (1990s) 

In the 1990s, the internet became a thing and wireless internet technologies were also introduced. Personal Computers have also become famous among people. In this period of time, companies also started to rely on the Internet for their business processes. This eventually caused the demand for data centers to increase even more. 

IT Trends and Outsourcing (2000s) 

There was an increase in spending on IT in the 2000s as more people began using PCs and the internet. However, the financial crisis in 2008 caused companies to look for ways for cost-cutting measures. This is when ‘outsourcing’ started to become famous, as it is cheaper than trying to handle everything on their own. Many companies started to work together with third-party vendors (or other companies) to handle some of their business processes. This includes handling their data centers, as it helps them to focus on their business, and the experts can take care of their computing equipment. 

Scalability Focus (2010s) 

On the 2010s, more companies rely on the internet and technology for their business processes. E-commerce and online transactions have also grown at this period of time. Due to these increased workloads, companies realized the need for data centers that can keep up with the growing amount of work without slowing down, or in other words, a scalable data center. 

However, environmental concerns regarding these data centers are also starting to rise. A report published by Greenpeace in 2012 highlighted how these data centers are consuming lots of energy to operate. 

Era of Efficiency (2020s) 

These days, people are continuing to improve the quality of data centers. Data center providers are implementing ways to make their data centers sustainable and environmentally friendly. This is done by using more renewable energy sources (like solar energy or wind energy) as it can reduce the carbon footprint of data centers.  

Moreover, data center providers also have started to virtualize data centers. This is done to create a more scalable, secure, and reliable data center for companies. Virtualization reduces he number of servers needed, which eventually reduces energy consumption and resource usage. Virtualized data centers also allow the automation of backup processes for a company’s virtual resources. This helps companies minimize downtime and ensures business continuity. 

Future Trends and Conclusion 

We can expect that data centers will become even more advanced in the future. As more companies digitalize their business processes, data centers will continue to play an important role in helping lots of companies to run their business efficiently and smoothly.  

Data centers started simply as rooms that are filled with lots of computers, and now they have grown to become a facility that makes digital business processes possible, with more and more companies depending on them. We can also expect them to continue growing more in the future. 

The post History of Data Centers appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

• Increased time dedicated to revenue-generating endeavors instead of dealing with the management of the data center infrastructure (generators, UPS’s, cooling, network redundancies, personnel)
• Scalable network capacity, such as adding additional cabinets on demand without much logistics
• Meeting your specific compliance criteria needs, particularly with data-sensitive industries such as healthcare and financial firms
• Reliance on the data center provider to manage the entire colocated infrastructure up to the application layer

Based on these benefits, you must engage your IT department and other stakeholders to identify your goals and needs. Fully-equipping yourself with the right knowledge will streamline the entire process. Understanding the topics cover below, will give you an idea of what to consider and what to look out for while preparing for your colo provider search.

Capacity & Scalability

You should ask yourself “What are my current network, power and space demands? Will this remain consistent, or will it fluctuate?”. Most colocation providers have great flexibility in all of these factors. While flexibility is great, discussing your growth plan with your colocation provider can be very helpful. Moving your equipment into a data center blind to what they are capable of can limit your company’s growth.

Providing your growth plan gives a more realistic idea of how a data center can best support your needs. After all, moving into a space to only move out a few months later is just a waste of time and resources. Knowing that the chosen data center has both the capacity and scalability will only help you in the long run.

Location

Location, location, location… you all heard it before. Where your data center resides is a crucial factor when shopping for a colocation provider. While remote amenities like remote hands and KVM are nice, staying close to the data center has its own benefits. Factors like latency and uptime are typically better the closer you are to the facility.

Although, if your facility is in an area prone to natural disasters, it might be best to find another location. Sure, the structure itself can withstand a hurricane but let’s say the power goes out with your office in proximity of the data center. Now that your office and servers are down, operations seized, and the clock ticking, you now start to worry about the financial hit you’re going to take. When you choose a provider that is on a different power grid, you mitigate the risk of having your servers go down. 

One last thing to consider is accessibility for your IT team. With your data center close by, you will eliminate travel costs and expenditures when you need to have your system upgraded. Regardless if you want to stay close or far away, each has its benefits and it’s important to know the following when you look for a colocation provider:

• Is the facility located in an area prone to natural disasters?
• Do they offer remote amenities such as KVM or remote hands?
•  Is the data center easily accessible?

How Much Power do you Need?

You’ll want to ensure your colocation facility has the power capacity to handle not only your needs for today but also for the future. After all, you would not want to move into a facility that cannot support your daily business needs. Regardless of your situation, you want to know and understand your power density per rack, especially for high-data processing applications.

Why this is Important

Let’s say you want to create an AI model for your next project. However, due to the complex calculations that this model has to perform, it then becomes a high-processing application.

This poses you with the challenge of optimizing the data center’s infrastructure to meet the AI model’s processing requirements. More specifically, you need to address the issue of the power density per rack. Or rather, the amount of electrical power that the hardware within a single rack consumes. 

Since the AI model requires powerful GPUs and specialized equipment to speed up computations, it results in generating a lot of heat and requires a lot of electrical power. Now, if the power density per rack is too high, it can lead to overheating and hardware failures, as well as reduce the lifespan of your equipment.

To help mitigate these issues, the engineers at the data center will need to redesign your rack space to provide your equipment with proper airflow and cooling. With your new setup, you can run your AI model without damaging your equipment.

Careful considerations like this example are pivotal to maintaining a healthy environment for your hardware. It will not only increase its lifespan, but it will prevent bottlenecks and help ensure that you continue your business operations without any worry.

Power Requirement Formula

This begs the question “How do I know how much power I need?”. Knowing how much power you need and how much power your provider can give are equally important. Luckily, it is pretty simple to find out how much power you need. You can use this formula to calculate your power requirement:

• watts = volts x amps

An important note is that due to legal reasons, data centers in Washington are required to only use 80% power. For example, if you have 20 amps you can only use 16 due to Washington’s fire code regulations.

What about Security & Support?

You should always be able to fully trust your colocation facility with safeguarding your enterprise. Not only does this include the physical security and confidentiality of the actual premises, but it may also include being able to support your organization in the way of providing services that enable further security within your own infrastructure via the provider’s managed services.

When you reach out to a data center be sure to ask “Does your organization have a team of experts who can handle all aspects of network security and supporting your infrastructure?” Knowing that they have a team of experts at the ready provides you access to inside knowledge on how you can scale and grow your business without having to go through the process of trial and error. Additionally, investing in a third-party colocation provider with its own managed security services is a great cost-effective option when you cannot afford to have a team of 24x7x365 experts on your own payroll.

Disaster Recovery & Backup Protocols

Just as much as proactive security is a concern, so should disaster recovery & backup methods. A common saying amongst Network Security Specialists is “It’s not if you get attacked, it’s when you get attacked.” This is a necessary factor that you should address with any provider prior to signing with them. This is because the average cost of a single outage is $5,600 per minute.

Financial losses aside, these issues could result in PR nightmares or loss of reputation, or even valued client business. A worthwhile company will work with you to establish customized DRaaS solutions or backup plans for your peace of mind.

Ultimately, when you start to search for your Seattle colocation provider, be sure that you understand how location, capacity, and scalability factor into your business continuity. Also, understanding the basics of how power works and what your organization needs to function are important when finding your ideal colocation provider. With this knowledge, you should have no trouble finding a data center that will help your company reach its next level.

The post Seattle Colocation Provider What you Should Consider appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

One of our founders, Erward Osckar, expressed his excitement, stating, “We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of our new office in Surabaya, Indonesia! This momentous occasion marks a significant milestone in our journey as we expand our presence and further strengthen our commitment to serving our global clients and partners.” 

He continued, “The new office houses our 24x7x365 Network Operation Center and Security Operation Center (SOC). It also accommodates our Engineering support team, Research and Development team, and the Asia Pacific Sales and Marketing team. With cutting-edge technology and modern amenities, the ISO 27001 audited facility embodies our vision for the future. It has been carefully crafted to optimize productivity, foster creativity, and enhance the overall experience for both our employees and visitors.” 

Our founders, Rudy Setiawan and Erward Osckar, along with Sherly Pandra representing her brother Jimmy Pandra, officially inaugurated our headquarters with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. They expressed their gratitude to our guests and team for their support to Wowrack throughout the years. 

Rudy shared in his speech that he is “thankful for such a long journey, and now we finally have a place that we can call our new home for all of us, including our customers”. He also added that he “hopes Wowrack can continue to support everyone, including its employees, by providing the best IT services”.  

Erward also thanked our staff, clients, and partners. He also said in his speech that he “started Wowrack in the US in 2001, and 22 years have passed and Wowrack has grown into a big team now” and that he is “very happy, and very proud, and very glad with this achievement”. 

During the event, our guests had the opportunity to explore our facility through guided room tours. Also, they could have a chat with our team of engineers in unique ‘speed dating’-like sessions. We were delighted to receive positive feedback from our guests, as these sessions provided them with face-to-face interactions, a refreshing change from their usual online communication with our engineers. 

The grand opening of Wowrack‘s Southeast Asia Headquarters in Surabaya marks a remarkable milestone in our journey. We are hopeful that this new home will enable us to continue providing the best IT solutions to our customers.  

The post Wowrack Indo Celebrates Opening of New Southeast Asia Headquarters appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

However, as a business grows and becomes more complex, it may need to add additional servers to handle the increased workload.

How Many Network Servers for Small Business Should You Have?

There are a few different reasons why a small business might need multiple servers:

1. Increase the capacity and performance of the server environment
   If a business is experiencing a lot of traffic on its website or is running a lot of resource-intensive applications, it may need additional servers to handle the increased demand.
   
2. Improve reliability and availability
   Having multiple servers, a business can ensure that its systems remain up and running even if one of the servers experiences a problem.
   
3. Enhanced security
   Separating different applications and data onto different servers, a business can reduce the risk of a security breach.

It’s generally a good idea for small businesses to have at least one server, as it can provide a range of benefits, such as improved collaboration, enhanced record-keeping, and easier communication. The number of servers a small business needs will depend on the size of the business, the complexity of its operations, and the amount of data and applications it needs to store and manage.

A small business may be able to get by with a single server if it has a small number of employees and a limited number of applications and data to manage. However, as the business grows and becomes more complex, it may need to add additional servers to handle the increased workload. It’s a good idea to consult with experts when setting up a small office server to ensure that it is functional and meets the needs of the business.

What Is the Best Server for Large Businesses?

Rack servers are a type of server that are designed to be mounted in a rack, which is a standard-sized frame that can hold multiple servers and other networking equipment. Rack servers are typically more powerful and feature-rich than other types of servers, such as tower servers, and are often used by businesses that need a high level of performance and capacity. They are also more space-efficient than tower servers, as they can be stacked vertically in a rack, which can be helpful for businesses that have limited space available.

If your business is outgrowing its current server setup and you are considering moving to rack servers, you may have the option to lease rack space in a colocation facility. After all, 2019 global IT survey, 33% of respondents said that their company operates between three and five owned or collocated data centers and 7% of surveyed organizations operate more than 50 data centers.

Colocation centers are specialized data center facilities that provide space, power, and connectivity for businesses to locate their servers and other IT equipment. Colocating can be a good option for businesses that want to outsource the management and maintenance of their IT infrastructure and take advantage of the scalability and cost benefits of a shared environment. If you are considering leasing rack space in a colocation facility, it’s a good idea to carefully evaluate your options and choose a provider that meets the specific needs of your business.

Ultimately, it depends on your business and what it needs to operate. If you are interested in getting a colocation, or if you would like to learn more about our data center and services, please fill out our contact form and one of our staff will reach out to you ASAP!

The post How Many Servers Does a Small Business Need? appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Not only is the cloud a great place to store your data, but having a professional manage it while you sleep is a huge weight lifted off your shoulders. Although each company may have a different infrastructure and utilization of the cloud, most users choose from the three main public clouds: Amazon AWS, Microsoft’s Azure, or Google Cloud.

But, what if you can’t choose just one? Or, what if you want the services of a cloud hosting provider, but you don’t want to stray away from what you’ve been using?

There’s a solution!

Why Flexibility with the Cloud is an Important Component

People like having choices, especially when it comes to the best interest of their business. One public cloud system might be a better suit for you than another. Depending on what your needs are, you might choose one service over another, or maybe you’ll choose components from more than one. This could depend highly on your budget, the scalability options of the cloud, or how flexible their plans are. Whatever the case may be, it’s important that you get those needs met and have complete accessibility to the cloud, or clouds, whenever you need it.

A Dual-Layered Cloud System

Let’s say you your business is being hosted on one of of these public clouds, but you want the additional support of a managed service provider. You don’t want to switch from what you’re currently using, since you’ve already got your business well invested in the cloud. How can you have both?

Some MSPs over a unique dual-layered cloud system, which allows you to connect to the public cloud you’re using via the MSPs data center. This means you don’t have to limit yourself and be locked within one cloud. You could think of this as an express connection through a port that allows you to go where you want on the cloud, when you want.

With Wowrack’s “MegaWow Direct Route & Express Route Cloud Cross Connections,” you can access the public cloud when you need it, all while getting the managed support you need.  Contact us today to learn more.

The Best of Both Worlds

With a unique option like this, the possibilities are endless. You’ll get the operating system and infrastructure support by professionals 24/7, security standards met, and the ability to freely move business data workloads. Also, by accessing the public cloud through your MSPs data center, taking care of business is easy with a simple control panel to manage your activity.

Pay as You Go

This is a very specific and interesting type of network arrangement, but guess what? It doesn’t need to be expensive. That’s because this kind of direct connect and express route service is pay as you go, on demand. So, no need to worry about spending money on it when you’re not using it!

Don’t settle for something that doesn’t quite fit your needs. Keep your options completely open and bring together everything your business relies on into one.

The post Expanding Your Business to Be On More Than One Cloud appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

With the expansion of cloud services, we’re seeing an exponential growth in electronic data and a tremendous rise in critical applications and assets stored on servers in data centers. This growth will only continue to increase rapidly within the next decade. The concern for cyber security also comes to attention as more cyber attacks and hacking efforts also continue to increase. Government agencies, healthcare organizations and financial institutions have spent a considerable amount of dollars to repel cyber attacks.

Many companies today are much more concerned with cyber security from external threats but less focused on the potential threats regarding the physical security. With common threats ranging from the rogue system administrator to the clumsy employee. For most data centers, legacy security technologies are still being utilized. This includes low-quality video cameras and outdated security locks.

Defending the data center

Many data center rooms are secured with biometric readers, proximity card readers, and keyed locks, however, the server rack or enclosure level could end up getting the short end of the stick. Enclosures may have non-keyed or keyed swing handles installed in them, yet changes in security technology have largely been developed to impact the room level, not the cabinet level. Criminals and thieves will find the most vulnerable point of an existing security system in place. Just because your car is parked in a well-guarded parking lot, doesn’t mean you want to leave it unlocked right? Servers residing at the rack level work similarly with data and critical assets potentially stolen without anyone’s knowhow.

Cyber attacks may grab news headlines, however, you simply cannot turn your back when it comes to securing a physical perimeter. As technology continues to evolve, the methods of criminal activity will only continue to innovate, finding creative ways around poorly guarded security solutions. Ultimately, there’s a greater need to invest in a greater physical security at the cabinet or enclosure level.

Under lock & key

When it comes to the matters of rack level security, mechanical keys can easily be lost (how many times have you lost your car keys?). Even handles with built-in security PINs can easily be memorized by some distant onlooker quickly sneaking a peek. Data centers need to rely on a surefire secure physical perimeter. Clients especially need full assurance that protection can be provided to restrict user access and ensure compliance safety rules are met. A critical component of keeping data center space secured are rack level security locks that ensure physical access restrictions are in place. Electronic rack locks or “smart locks” provide far more feature-rich capabilities than their mechanical counterparts. Other benefits include:

• Produce a simple audit trail compiling and generating reports with ease for compliance.
• Radio-frequency identification (RFID) proximity cards to gain access to the cabinet.
• Detects improperly closed cabinet doors and notifies immediate alerts.
• Manage a central overview for knowing exactly who, when, and how long someone has had access to any installed enclosure.

Electronic rack locks can be attached to the front or rear doors to secure your servers’ environment. Even in duress, such as a power outage incident, the handle lock will remain secured, but access can still be made using a high-security DIN mechanical key lock override. Access per server also monitors real-time and generates reports on user activity. Access for events can also be synchronized with security camera footage to further ensure verification of any authorized users. By managing all restrictions with a centralized management system of user permissions, monitoring and logging real-time events for audits becomes second nature.

Wowrack offers rack level security solutions with installations made quick and easy for all industry standard cabinets. Built for a plug-and-play experience, simply remove existing handles and replace them with our electronic handle in the cutout. Each rack lock is powered by the base unit so no additional power supply is needed. Optional security sensors can be placed on the side panels to further detect if any panels are detached. Contact us if you’d like to learn more.

A few “key” takeaways

Even when perimeter, building, and room security are in place, there’s an increasing need for awareness in protecting critical data and IT assets at the server rack and enclosure level. Remember that criminals do not work nine to five. They work around the clock 24/7 so physical security monitoring needs to be 24/7. Even today, many traditional security safeguards are reactionary at best and function after-the-fact an incident has occurred. Companies will need to be much more proactive in their approach to security, interior risk, and physical threats. Organizations and businesses should always have an Incident Response Plan ready to take action at a moment’s notice.

The post The “Smart” Solution for Rack Level Security appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

What do businesses, organizations, and individuals have to gain from colocation? Essentially, if your servers and related IT equipment are located in a data center provided by a third party, you are collocating. Colocation provides an opportunity to store critical equipment in a reliable, scalable, and secure environment. When times of planned or unplanned growth or change happens, it’s generally very difficult to duplicate an ideal IT-friendly environment in a new building or remote office as you would find in a dedicated colocation facility.

Here, at our blog, we try to show our visitors a way to grasp the full picture for what they might be getting into with an off-premise data center service. So without further ado, here are 5 reasons why you should invest in colocation.

1. Scalability and Homogeneity

Scalability being “numero uno” here. Colocation is incrementally scalable; granular at that. It’s a cost-effective model that meets business needs. Incremental scalability doesn’t only mean scaling up but scaling down is equally as important. Having the ability to be able to release capacity when you don’t need it anymore helps to stop excessive IT spending. If you have only built your business so you can only scale it up, then it’s just the same as buying a self-inflating balloon. You keep pumping the volume up and eventually you only end up wasting resources to keep the system taxed. When it comes to infrastructure, being able to scale down on-demand is absolutely critical. Whether through yearly, daily, even hourly cycles, as long as you have a mechanism for increasing and decreasing capacity, you end up better off than most businesses that put all their IT assets in one data center basket.

With the case of homogeneity and you assume that the infrastructure will be homogeneous (each network node having the same capacity, the same memory, the same clock burst speed, the same CPU speed) you are 8 times out of 10, out of luck. The reality is that most data centers are continuously filled with new servers and that every new server that ships in will probably  have higher or lower clock speeds of the ones you had before. Do you know the capacity of this new node that you just installed and will you be sure that it can actually handle the appropriate portion of traffic? You can easily end up wasting costly hardware cycles assuming that everything is going to fit perfectly in an ideal agnostic ecosystem.

Tip: Before ordering a server, ask the host who owns and operates their power, network, and cooling infrastructures. You’ll be glad to know if the infrastructure is being taken care of and maintained properly by the very experts you trust. In a power outage situation for example, if your provider isn’t the one operating those conditions, they will have to depend on other companies to fix the problem and that other company? Likely has their own best interests in mind.

2. Sipping The Bandwidth Kool-Aid

When it comes to bandwidth, customers typically pay a rate determined by how much they actually need. Colocation data centers can offer lower bandwidth pricing since they are already purchasing bandwidth in larger quantities in order to service all of their own customers. A built-in redundancy of the power at a colocation facility is also another reason colocation may also make sense for your needs. Providing redundant power supplies and diesel generators that would otherwise be too expensive for many businesses to maintain on-premise.

3. Security and Redundancy

Imagine renting a private security fortress with 24/7 bodyguards, security cameras monitoring every nook and cranny, biometric fingerprint keypads, and most importantly a vault that can provide all the cooling, power, and bandwidth capacity you could ever want or need for all your IT equipment in a convenient location designed to combat power outages and extreme weather conditions. The current gold standard for operating a data center equipped with the highest performing hardware in a secured physical environment includes:

• Redundant fiber optics networks.
• Natural gas backup generators.
• UPS generated power redundant cooling and humidity controls.
• 24/7 surveillance.
• Along with key card and biometric fingerprint access.

Data centers also supply power, but not just any kind of power. Instead, it supplies redundant power with uninterruptible power supplies, backup generators, and so forth. Hosting a data center is a 24/7 job so keeping those servers and networking devices online at all times is an absolute must when it comes to a client’s business applications and critical software appliances.

4. Growth Strategy

The most effective IT teams spend about two-thirds of their time on strategic goals and one-third managing IT infrastructure. For many IT teams, it’s the exact opposite that’s true. Typically, most companies instead spend the majority of their time focused on the routine infrastructure maintenance (system updates, server configurations, database administration, etc.) and more specifically, trying to avoid downtime. This is a concept that many CIOs understand well and are continually looking to find improvements in.

While businesses are experiencing a substantial increase in data and infrastructure needs, they often lack the necessary tools and in-house expertise to capitalize on the newest technology. Some organizations are thus forced at a crossroads where one path leads to a huge increase in capital expenditures or a second path that partners with a hosting provider to manage core IT infrastructure. Colocation affords them the opportunity to finally focus on strategic initiatives instead of worrying about infrastructure maintenance. This also allows them to move their IT organization from a capital expenditure model to an operational expenditure model and help them drive the growth of their business.

5. The Strict Adjudicator (also known as Compliance)

The increase in regulatory compliance is a major driving force across many industries today. In fact, the vast majority of businesses have either direct compliance requirements or some form of trickle-down compliance requirements consisting of audits and certifications. A majority of colocation equipment helps meet a wide variety of compliance requirements such as HIPAA, FDA, NIST, SOX, ISO, FISMA, and much more. Data centers should also be SSAE16 certified and tested thoroughly with adequate penetration testing. Another benefit to colocation is that these factors are common features that  usually come at no additional cost. It’s just there.

Baby Steps Towards The Cloud

It’s not about the cost of colocation, but the value of it. As much as statistics show that we’ll all eventually adopt the cloud for every facet of business use, there’s still a roadmap to take before going fully cloud-hosted. Quite often, businesses will have spent thousands of enormous capital on investments on off-site cloud hosting. Cost-savings and reliability will still be driving forces in business continuity so getting the best services and best business continuity at the best price will always be top-of-mind. A colocated environment could be the best place to start because everything is regulated properly and the resources are built specifically for managing IT infrastructure.

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