Colocation can enhance your business continuity and disaster recovery by providing secure, off-site data centers with built-in redundancies. It ensures that critical IT infrastructure remains operational during disruptions, reducing downtime and safeguarding your business from potential disasters. If you are considering colocation to strengthen your BC and DR strategy, be sure to consider the following:
Right-Size Your Power Needs
When considering colocation space, it’s crucial to accurately size your power requirements. Many businesses tend to overestimate their power needs based on the equipment they are running. While IT hardware continues to become more compute- and power-dense, advancements in power efficiency mean less power is often needed than expected. Don’t rely solely on the listed power capacity of your equipment. Instead, monitor actual usage through your PDUs (Power Distribution Units) or UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) systems to assess true power consumption.
Start with Disaster Recovery
If you’re testing the waters with colocation and unsure whether it’s the right step for your organization, consider moving your disaster recovery site first. This allows you to experience the benefits of colocation while maintaining your primary infrastructure in-house, reducing risk and giving you a gradual transition.
Assess Your Redundancy Requirements
It’s essential to clearly define your reasons for moving to colocation. Whether it’s to meet audit requirements, improve redundancy, or offload the burden of managing your own data center, make sure your priorities align with your goals. Consider the following redundancies:
2N electrical setups for maximum power reliability
Redundant UPS systems to ensure continuous uptime
Diverse connectivity and fiber paths for network resilience
Prioritize Flexibility
When choosing a colocation provider, look for one that offers the flexibility to meet your evolving needs. This flexibility may come in the form of scalable connectivity solutions, the speed of service deployment, contract terms, or cost structures.
As a general rule: the more mature the organization, the more rigid the policies. Locally owned and operated colocation facilities often offer greater flexibility and client-focused services.
Get to Know the Operations Team
The colocation facility’s operations team essentially becomes an extension of your IT department. It’s critical to engage with them before making your decision. Think of this process as hiring an extension of your team—take the time to thoroughly understand their capabilities and how they will manage your infrastructure on a day-to-day basis.
By considering these factors, you can ensure your move to colocation is strategic, efficient, and supports your Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery initiatives.
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