Selecting the right colocation provider is a critical decision for businesses looking to ensure IT resilience, especially in the event of natural disasters.  Colocation services allow businesses to rent space in a data center facility, providing benefits such as enhanced security, reduced costs, and access to superior infrastructure.  According to Gartner, 80% of businesses that outsource their IT infrastructure to colocation providers report improved operational efficiency and uptime.

1.      Location

The first key factor in colocation selection is location.  Businesses should avoid placing their infrastructure in regions prone to natural disasters like hurricanes or earthquakes.  Data from the Uptime Institute indicates that 70% of colocation outages occur due to inadequate disaster planning and improper geographic selection.  Companies can reduce their risk by choosing facilities in geographically stable areas or those with backup disaster recovery centers.

2.      Uptime Guarantees

Providers are typically classified by tiers, with Tier III and Tier IV offering 99.982% and 99.995% uptime, respectively.  According to the Ponemon Institute, downtime costs can reach an average of $9,000 per minute for businesses, making a high uptime guarantee essential.  Selecting a colocation provider with redundant power supplies, backup generators, and multiple network connections can significantly mitigate the risk of outages.

3.      Power Redundancy & Security Measures

Industry standards recommend that facilities have at least N+1 redundancy for power and cooling systems, meaning that for every component required for operation, there is at least one backup available. Security is another top concern, with 60% of businesses listing data security as a primary reason for choosing a specific colocation provider.

Selecting the right colocation provider can make or break your IT resilience, especially when facing unpredictable disasters. By prioritizing location, uptime guarantees, and power redundancy with robust security measures, your business can maintain operations smoothly and securely. Make sure your IT infrastructure is in good hands—choose wisely and ensure long-term success.