If your current data center is down more than it is up, then it’s time to change or move your data center before any serious loss or damage can occur to your business. However, to ensure that the second new data center doesn’t turn out like the failing one, you need to think about a few things before making the move.
Reasons To Move A New Data Center
1) Quality Of Service & Support
The main purpose of colocation is to have an external team that can function and cater to your IT needs. In this manner, your company can focus on core business activities. It is important to check how fast tickets are replied to. Does the new facility have 24/7/365 support or, are they only offering support during traditional business hours (9 – 5, M – F)? Also, if they only offer weekday support, ask what the cost is should you need support over night or on weekends. Try and find a data center like Coloco that offers service every day, all day.
2) Flexibility
It is one of the core aspects that is required to ensure the growth of your business. Your next data center needs to provide multiple options in the areas of: carriers, power options (20A, 30A, etc), security, and pipe speeds (300Mb to 40G). Why is having so many options important to me now? Well, do you really want to worry about making a facility change when your business explodes with activities? Of course not, you have a business to run. So, you need a data center that can grow with you.
Things To Consider While Choosing The Next Data Center
1) Location
People usually don’t consider this factor, but the location of your data center plays an important part. The location of your new data center should provide an uninterrupted and highly connected infrastructure. Ideally, it would be sitting on top of a main fiber path. For example, Coloco sits on top of the main fiber path for the east coast of USA. So, if you are in FL trying to send an e-mail to NY, it has to pass right under Coloco. Why is this important you ask? The farther you are away from the main path, the more of a risk you take depending on 3rd party fiber companies as they try to pass your data along. Of course, you also want to find a facility that is geographically close to you as well, just in case you need to visit your machines.
2) Reliability & Security
What is the purpose of colocation if it’s not a source on which you can rely on? A data center needs to have a backup power source, multiple if possible. So that in case of emergencies, power shutdown, and natural disasters, your business doesn’t face any kind of hassles. Furthermore, to ensure that the data stays safe and prevented from any kind of theft it’s important for a data center to have a proper security system.
3) Reputation
You might come across a million data centers when you are searching for one. Some of them might be very cheap and easy to afford, but do they really carry enough name and reputation in the market? Coloco is among those few data centers that established its name in the market and carries a prominent global reputation.
