It’s a great question. How do you know which colocation service providers are the right fit for your growing small business? Well, without covering specific colocation brands, we have created a small guide for you to find the best colocation service provider for you.
1. Let The Colocation Guide, Guide You
There is an old saying, “If it has been done before, you can find it in a book.” The same is true about the Internet. The Internet is a 24/7/365 resource of previous colocation solution experiences. So first things first, go online and check out colocation forums like Colocation.net, WebHostingTalk.com, DatacenterTalk.com and yes QuoteColo.com (we know, a little promo there). Our site, along with other noted web hosting and colocation forums, is brimming with first hand advice, experience, expertise and knowledge from consumers who have already gone what you are going through. Use these dedicated managed services forums to learn about industry players, their strengths, weaknesses and differences. Let the colocation guide, guide you.
2. Data Center’s Have Tiers
When you invest in colocation service providers you are investing in the data center they either own or lease space from. While most companies invest in colocation solutions by investing in the company they choose for their colocation needs, in reality they should really be more concerned with the tier of data center their colocation host utilizes. For the uninitiated there are four tiers of data centers. The higher the tier, the better and more expensive the colocation or managed web hosting solution is going to be. The main differences in data center tiers come from redundant power supplies, round the clock security and IT managed solutions staff and cooling options. Point in case, do your homework and investigate which tier of data center is right for your colocation needs.
3. Colocation Brand Names
You know Nike. You know Adidas. You know GE and GM. Like every other industry, there are major players in the colocation service providers industry. Some of the bigger names, Rackspace, PhoenixNap, TelX, DRT, Terremark and Equinix. But here is the thing: Just like paying for a brand new BMW or Mercedes, just because the company is a brand name, doesn’t mean they have the best colocation needs for your company. When looking for colocation solution providers, shop around and take a look at regional providers and 2nd level colocation companies who, while they might not be on the level of aforementioned colo firms, provide a great service. Some of these providers are DedicatedNOW, Gigenet, Burst.net and HostDime. Depending on the provider, second level colo firms will work with your needs more than the colo brand names simply because they need your business more.
4. Growth is Great
Colocation is a long-term investment. Due to this, when looking for the best colocation provider for your growing small business, it is very important to invest in a service which offers easy expansion and growth. As your business scales upwards, you need to make sure your colocation provider can match your growth needs in real time. The last thing you want in a colocation solution host is a provider who fails you when you need to grow. It goes without saying but growth failure can cause your customers to leave you with a rotten taste in their mouths. Simply put, a colocation provider who can’t scale to meet your needs is not good for your business.
At the end of the day, what is good for your business is what this is all about. If you take your time, do your research and investigate all your colocation managed service provider options, you’ll be fine. So take your time, check the forums, understand data center tier rankings, know everything you can about brand name/2nd level colocation providers and be sure to invest in colocation for growth.