The most valuable resource in the modern economy is information. In most cases, information is saved as data on the Internet. Finding the perfect location to store all of your company’s data is crucial, since its safety, accessibility, and utilization are all dependent on it. Something that makes data centers and colocation services so important to businesses of all sizes is their ability to facilitate efficient data management. Yet with so many possibilities, how can you narrow down what really matters?
In this post, we’ll go over the most important factors to consider when selecting a data center so that you can make an informed decision.
Location
Choosing a data center’s location is crucial for several reasons. For instance, it should be easily accessible if your IT staff needs to perform upgrades or maintenance, which will save you money because you won’t have to pay them for unproductive travel time.
You should also consider the likelihood that the region is prone to natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, earthquakes, or tornadoes. In this case, it’s best to find a data center that’s on a separate power grid and away from potential risks. This way your data won’t be affected if your company office is, and you will avoid dealing with a number of issues in case of a major regional power outage.
You should also take into consideration whether or not there is a sufficient supply of accessible electricity and a large number of fiber pathways going to and from the building.
Availability and Speed
Latency is no longer acceptable, as businesses want 24/7 access to their data center-hosted programs and services. So, businesses in various sectors are making use of edge data centers to enhance functionality in light of their high performance and low cost.
Unlike traditional data centers, which are often positioned far from the people they serve, edge data centers can be found in relatively close proximity to the people who will ultimately utilize the cloud computing services and cached information they provide. Most often, they are linked to a bigger data hub or cluster. Consider incorporating edge computing into your data storage technologies to decrease the adverse impacts of latency and improve efficiency.
Reliability
Recent research found that 60% of small enterprises that suffer major data loss are compelled to collapse within six months of the catastrophe. In just two years, a shocking 72% of them give up. If you don’t want to become another bankrupt statistic, look for a dependability rate higher than 99%.
A reliable data center must have access to a backup power supply. Find out what kinds of backup mechanisms the data center has in place, in case of power outages or natural disasters. Also, you need to make sure that there is enough heating and cooling in the building.
Security
A reliable security system is essential for every data center. If a hacker gained access to the server that stores all of your company’s data and apps, it might be disastrous for your operation. Cyber attacks on data centers typically cost about $4 million. Businesses can reduce their vulnerability to DDoS attacks by using a DDoS protection service.
Your data center’s physical security should complement the software and technology it employs to keep your data safe. In addition to locks, monitoring, and sometimes even security guards, it is important that your facility is adequately protected.
Network Services Capacity
Without further investments in technology, all data centers will eventually reach their capacity limits. How strong a network is can be evaluated by things like how reliable it is, how fast it is, and even how safe it is.
If you’re looking for a data center, make sure they have enough room and electricity to accommodate your expanding demands and that they offer fiber optic cable. It’s important to foresee potential bandwidth needs as a company expands, so that more resources may be allocated accordingly.
Adding server colocation to your data center is another approach to increase your management authority over the facility’s entire capacity. This requires the use of a common regional resource. The data center operator takes care of the infrastructure for you, including electricity, cooling, and security. You’ll be paying by the rack and sharing the space, but you’ll have access to security staff around the clock.
Final Thoughts
A company’s data center is the nerve center of its infrastructure. In modern data centers, performance is not the only measure of success. The data center industry is shifting its focus toward being more sustainable to the environment and reducing its carbon footprint.
Apart from the technology of IT equipment itself, energy efficiency, resource optimization, and business continuity are all crucial. There is a great deal at risk, so businesses need to make careful preparations to ensure they provide optimal value to their clients.
