As a business owner, you probably know the importance of having a robust, resilient, and dependable data infrastructure for running your business effectively. In this regard, many companies turn to data colocation centers, sometimes known as colo, which basically refers to outsourcing the data center environment to facilities that host and manage the computer hardware, servers, and equipment for data storage. You can also visit for Data Center Relocation Partners.

Currently, the global data center colocation market is expected to grow to ​​$62.30 billion by 2022 with a CAGR of 14.6%. This is because there is a critical need for IT-related facilities such as colocation centers as they help businesses reduce costs, support long-term growth, and offer reliable and secure services. 

In this article, we take a close look at some of the top factors that you need to consider when choosing a data center colocation provider for your business. 

Decide the Location

The location of your colocation provider is the first thing that you need to consider. This is because it affects access to the facility, which can affect your company’s ability to perform upgrades or service any equipment at the site by being physically present. 

Location is also integral to assess if the provider’s facility is susceptible to natural disasters such as hurricanes or floods. This means carefully looking into the climate indicators of the particular location to ascertain that your critical infrastructure will remain safe. 

For instance, if your office is based in Detroit, Michigan, you may want to consider looking into Detroit colocation providers that are no more than 50 to 100 miles away from the business. Anything farther away might just add to your costs and may not be optimal from both a financial and logistical point of view.

Choose Between Wholesale and Retail

There are two main types of colocation providers, namely wholesale and retail. They differ in terms of the scale of colocation they offer for different kinds of businesses depending on client needs and requirements.

Wholesale providers, mainly fit for large enterprises, allow tenants to lease large spaces with a power capacity of over 100 kW to support high-density computing. On the other hand, retail providers are a good option for small or midsize businesses or startups as they allow clients to rent smaller space according to their needs, and are cost-effective as the facility expenses are usually shared across the client base.

A pro tip is to discuss expansion capability with your provider in terms of additional available space, power source, and connectivity so that you are aware of how flexible and accommodating they can be to your future growth needs. This will prove important for your business’s scalability as it grows and expands and the provider’s ability to offer long-term alignment. 

Verify Power Density 

It is important to bear in mind that renting more floor space at a provider facility doesn’t necessarily mean improved performance. Instead, you should focus your efforts on power density. 

Power density refers to how much power the colocation provider can deliver in kW or MW. This is critical since innovation in technology means that providers need to adjust their offerings to keep up with future needs.

When talking to a provider about power density, you will also likely discuss the cooling facilities they offer. Generally, cooling costs are built into the power fees that are charged to clients. Be sure to check for the power usage effectiveness, or PUE, to know how efficiently the provider uses power and energy. 

Ask About the Services Offered 

Choosing the ideal colocation providers also means doing a deep dive into what kind of services they offer in terms of security and connectivity. 

The data center colocation provider should be able to provide the industry’s finest security measures such as fire suppression systems, motion-activated alarm systems, and security personnel so that only authorized people have access to the facility. This will help in safeguarding business data infrastructure and preventing possible data leaks. 

A good colocation provider will ensure that it is carrier-neutral, which means that it is able to provide connectivity to a variety of network carriers. This is important as it helps lower costs and ensures reliability by maintaining service uptime even during outages. 

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right data center colocation provider is an important business decision that will be a game-changer for how you manage and store your data. Just make sure to check the reputation and financial stability of the provider to confirm that they will be in business for the foreseeable future for at least the next 5 years. This can help ensure that you are investing in a viable provider to secure the data needs of your business.