Colocation Facilities - Explained Simply

Storing IT equipment and managing it is not a piece of cake. It requires extensive supervision and preparedness for possible contingencies. Colocation Facilities have emerged into existence to avert this problem of data center management. They specialize in managing these spaces for companies. Organizations rent their infrastructure to handle the electricity problems, security, access to the Internet, etc. 

To understand this through a simple example, let us say you own a mid-sized company that has servers accommodated in tiny workspace. It may work smoothly for a period of time but eventually, problems with maintenance will start to incur. Then you will find yourself in a dilemma to allocate your time and energy in maintaining these servers. To tackle this problem, a colocation facility is arranged. 

How do colocation facilities work?

A colocation facility is a highly secure structure constructed exclusively for hosting IT gear. Companies hire space in the facility—whether it's a tiny rack, multiple racks, or a full room—and bring their own equipment to keep. The colocation provider guarantees that the data center runs at maximum efficiency. 

You see, your facility will need a constant supply of power so, you will need a backup facility. Additionally, you will need cooling systems to ensure the servers don’t reach their maximum threshold of temperature where they may go haywire. 

Let’s think this way, rather than constantly worrying about the potential threats related to natural or human-made disasters, you can entrust it to someone who can take care of its maintenance. Colocation Service providers are experts who are well aware of the potential threats and have the best preparations for them. 

Types of Space Available in Colocation Facilities

Colocation facilities often provide varying degrees of service, depending on your requirements. It is quite simple, a smaller enterprise might need fewer racks whereas a bigger enterprise may require more racks depending on the usage.

1. Rack Space: With this option, you rent one or more racks within the facility. These racks house your servers as well as the gear from other firms. This might be the cheapest way to avail racks because you get to pay the rent along with other businesses who are using the same space for allocating racks. 

2. Cages: Certain firms want additional security or isolation for their equipment. In this instance, the colocation facility can provide a cage, which is a fenced-in area that only authorized staff can enter. It offers better physical security, albeit at a larger cost.

3. Suites/Private Rooms: Larger businesses with substantial IT requirements can hire whole suites or rooms in the facility. This provides maximum security, privacy, and control over how the room is structured. 

Why Use Colocation Facilities?

If you ask, what is the biggest advantage of deploying a colocation facility, the answer is simple. You get to claim more control over your hardware that is reinforced in compliance with the best standards in the market. You can lead your business operations seamlessly without having to worry about arranging a safe space to manage your computing equipment. 

Businesses adopt colocation for a variety of reasons:

Cost-Effectiveness: Creating and operating a high-quality data center on your own might be prohibitively expensive. Colocation helps you to avoid the high initial expenditures of establishing your own facility.

Reliability: Colocation facilities are meant to be redundant. They have several power supplies, internet connections, and backup systems in place to assure reliability. Downtime may cost a company thousands, if not more, of dollars every minute if it relies on its online presence or data.

Security: These facilities include both physical security (such as surveillance, guards, and biometric access) and cybersecurity safeguards to guarantee that your data and equipment are secure.

Scalability: Colocation facilities enable you to expand your infrastructure as your firm expands. In case of additional server space, you will have the option to demand another rack. Or, if you are expanding your business, you can avail colocation centers in other parts of the country. 

Challenges of Colocation Facilities

Of course, colocation is not perfect. It requires that you own and maintain your own equipment, so you are still responsible for keeping your gear up to date and correcting any issues. Furthermore, if the facility is located far from your offices, you may have difficulty physically accessing your equipment when needed.

Furthermore, while you save the high costs of creating your own data center, colocation services need monthly fees, which may mount up quickly if not managed properly. You are paying for premium internet connection, power, and cooling, which would be more expensive in your own home but must still be considered.

Conclusion

Colocation facilities provide an essential function in today's increasingly digital environment. They enable organizations to reap the benefits of a world-class data center without having to develop and manage it themselves. Colocation facilities are a popular alternative for businesses that want to maintain control of their technology while maintaining optimum uptime and efficiency. They offer flexible space options, reliable infrastructure, and better security.

In a world where continual connectivity and data access are essential, colocation facilities offer peace of mind. You get the best of both worlds: your own equipment, but in a facility engineered to ensure it runs well. It's a collaboration that allows you to concentrate on operating your business while the colocation provider does the hard lifting behind the scenes.