Managed Colocation
Managed colocation hosting can provide a wide range of benefits to those who are in need of high-quality setups for all of a business’s hosting needs. In some instances, companies or individuals may have their own servers that they want to use at the colocation center, and other times, the colocation company can sell the servers, along with a host of services and features, such as operating systems, applications, and a data center network like those uses for Cryptocurrency and Bitcoin ASIC hosting.
These services help to make running a server that’s not located on your own premises far easier and stress-free. When you are choosing one of these types of services, make sure you understand what you need from the company to make sure they can meet those needs.
What Is Managed Colocation?
Colocation is similar to outsourcing space for your data center, and it can be very helpful to companies that may not have the space, the IT professionals, or the set of skills required to have a data center on their own premises. Having collocated servers, which can then be managed by the hosting company’s staff allows businesses and individuals to get on with the other aspects of running their companies.
Who Should Use Managed Colocation?
Many types of individuals and businesses will want to consider managed colocation. Small businesses will often benefit because they might have the need for a server network, but they might not have the space or the technical knowhow to get set up in their own space. Larger businesses will find that it can be helpful because they can use it for parts of their business that might need to be outsourced.
For example, they may have certain compliance needs that have to be met, or they might need to have some added security that they can’t have at their own main location. Certain compliance concerns, such as HIPAA and PCI would certainly fall into this category.
Other companies may want to migrate their current setup to a collocated managed host because they do not have the right IT personnel to take care of it onsite. Enterprise companies may find that server colocation can help them by moving applications outside of the company’s internal data center, so they are not tying up important resources.
How Does Managed Colocation Work?
With a managed colocation service, companies and individuals will typically buy their own hardware and software, although there may be some colocation companies offering these for purchase, as well. The hosting provider will take care of the power needs, the housing demands, and the network to ensure that a proper working environment is available for the hardware that is placed at their site.
With a regular colocation provider, their employees will not touch the physical server unless the customer chooses to purchase administration, often called remote hands. With a fully managed colocation server, though, the employees of the colocation company will be able to take care of all of the server’s needs and take care of any problems if they were to arise.
The managed colocation hosts can offer a range of services. The exact services can vary based on the provider, as well as the company offering those services. Some of the most common include:
- System Admin – Some of the common types of services that fall into this category could include adding security updates, installing software, troubleshooting the network, and reinstalling the operating system if needed.
- Server Backup and Restore – Some companies may offer managed backup services, which can provide customers with better data security and the peace of mind they need.
- Hardware Assistance – Since you will not have your own employees at the site, managed colocation companies will often provide help with installation troubleshooting of hardware.
- Management of Network Equipment – Companies may also be able to help with the general uptime and availability of the equipment, take care of monitoring for switches and routers, handle firewalls for traffic spikes, and more. The goal is to ensure that your equipment is always performing the best it can at all times.
The Benefits of Colocation
If you have started to think about the benefits that managed colocation can offer, but you aren’t yet sold on the idea, it is time to look at some of the biggest benefits of this type of service.
First, and often one of the most important benefits for many businesses, is the fact that it can help to lower your company’s operating costs. Since you will not need to have database administrators, system administrators, and other professionals on staff just to manage your servers, it means far less out of pocket. Even when you are hiring a remote company to take care of the servers you have at their location, you will find that it tends to be far less expensive.
One of the other reasons for this is the location of these companies. They are often located in areas where the cost of power is less, which means you will end up paying less for the power used for your servers. For those who have a power hungry system, this can amount to a substantial amount of savings.
Second, when you have the professionals taking care of the managed colocation, you can be sure that you are working with experts who can provide you with the skills needed to keep your network up and online around the clock. The managed services are capable of providing you with proactive detection of irregular behavior on the network, and they can help to shore up vulnerabilities. This helps to ensure that you are able to keep your site and server up and running around the clock, which will be appreciated by your customers and clients.
They not only provide the equipment with physical protection from theft, fire, and other disasters, but they can also help to stem the rising tide of cybercrime. They can provide you with services, such as scanning for viruses, spam filtering, running audits for security, and more. Ensuring that you have a secure network is more important today than it has ever been. Clients and customers will not want to do business with your company if you are unable to ensure the security of their data. Backups are another area where managed hosting can help you. You won’t have to worry about losing your important data, as it will be backed up automatically.
Choose the Right Managed Colocation Company
While there are a number of colocation companies offering managed colocation services, it is important to make sure you are working with the right company that can not only meet your needs, but also exceed your expectations. While you want to look at the price, you should never let price be the only factor used in making your decision. Look at the features and services offered to make sure they are right for you.
Remember, a quality managed colocation company should be able to provide you with a range of services that make your server safer, and that will make it easier to take care of your business. Physical security for the servers and your important data, along with physical disaster mitigation and digital security are some of the elements that you should look for when you are choosing a company.
They should offer uninterrupted access, so you can be sure your data and your sites will always be up and running. The last thing you need is for your site or network to go down when customers, clients, or your employees are trying to access important information. Because the server rooms tend to get hot, it is important that Your managed colocation company can ensure proper temperature control, as well.
Managed colocation will typically come with a range of options. This includes the types of servers and the number of servers you need, whether you need to have a private cage or custom suite for your equipment, and the various types of management features and services, of course.
The best companies will be able to provide you with support 24/7, and they can be reached easily. Ideally, you will have a way to call the company, send in a ticket when you have a problem, and email them if needed. If you are looking for a managed colocation company, and they do not have easy ways of getting into contact with them, or if they are unable to answer the questions that you have, it is in your best interest to keep looking for a better company.
Always take your time to explore all of the features and options that are offered through the company to make sure that they can keep your servers and all of your information safe and running smoothly. Check the reputation of the company, as well. You want to choose a company that will be easy to work with. A great managed colocation company will help to take away the confusion and frustration of having a strong and reliable network, site, and database for your business.