Colocation — housing servers and hardware in a third-party data center — is the foundation of many businesses’ IT infrastructures. However, as a business grows and evolves, its colocation strategy should evolve as well to address new challenges and opportunities.
If it’s been a while since you reviewed your business’s colocation setup, now is the perfect time for a reassessment. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of updating your colocation strategy, key areas to evaluate, and actionable steps to refresh your setup.
The benefits of refreshing your colocation strategy
Refreshing your colocation strategy brings real, tangible advantages that can significantly enhance your IT infrastructure. By evaluating and updating your setup, you can experience the following benefits:
Enhanced performance
Refreshing your colocation strategy can enhance IT performance by tackling problem areas and updating old equipment. Removing unused devices and fine-tuning system settings will boost efficiency and system performance.
Improved disaster recovery and security
Updating your colocation strategy is a great chance to spot and fix any gaps in your security or disaster recovery plans before they turn into bigger problems. Taking a proactive approach to addressing these components helps prevent downtime, data loss, and disruptions, keeping your business operating seamlessly, even when unexpected challenges arise.
Cost savings through optimization
Taking a fresh look at your colocation strategy can help you save big. Check your service agreements to negotiate better prices, eliminate outdated services, and prevent paying for unneeded services. Moreover, a fully optimized tech setup lets you get the best value for your money.
Key areas to assess when refreshing your colocation strategy
When refreshing your colocation strategy, evaluate the following key areas. These elements not only affect performance but also impact your business’s ability to grow, respond to threats, and control costs:
Scalability and flexibility
Your systems should make it easy to handle new tasks, add locations, onboard more users, and adopt new tools as your business grows. Inflexible colocation setups and difficult tool integration can hinder growth, disrupt workflows, and make you less competitive.
Security and compliance
Without strong security measures, your systems are vulnerable to breaches that can compromise sensitive data and damage customer trust. Additionally, poor security practices, including how your collocated data center is managed, may result in noncompliance with industry regulations, potentially leading to penalties and legal issues.
Disaster recovery
Your colocation strategy needs a strong disaster recovery plan to protect against hardware failures, outages, or natural disasters. However, outdated plans that don’t account for business growth or restructuring may have critical gaps in coverage, leaving the data they are supposed to protect at risk.
Cost efficiency
Colocation costs aren’t just about the numbers on your bill; they’re about whether your setup is working for you. Are you getting the value you need for what you’re spending? An inefficient setup or a rigid contract could be quietly draining your resources without you even realizing it.
Service level agreements (SLA)
SLAs are basically agreements that spell out what your colocation provider promises to deliver and what you can expect. If these promises don’t meet your needs — such as how quickly they respond to issues or how often the service is up and running — your business could suffer.
For example, a provider promises 99.9% uptime for your online store, but you have to wait 12 hours for help during a big problem. That could mean lost sales and unhappy customers.
How to refresh your colocation strategy this spring
Here are some tips to help you align your colocation setup with your business needs, maximizing its potential:
Conduct a thorough infrastructure review
Start by assessing your infrastructure’s performance. Identify any bottlenecks, such as overloaded servers or limited bandwidth. Evaluate your hardware to see if any components are outdated or underperforming. Additionally, review your security protocols to identify vulnerabilities that could compromise the stability and safety of your systems.
Explore the latest technology
Take advantage of cutting-edge technology to give your colocation strategy a boost. For instance, hybrid cloud systems offer a balance of flexibility and control, while newer solutions such as microservices and containerization make your systems more adaptable and efficient.
Reassess your SLAs
Review key items in your SLAs, such as uptime guarantees, support response times, and issue resolution. Check that these are in line with your current business objectives. If not, work with your provider to adjust them, ensuring you get the service you need.
Seek expert guidance
If you’re unsure where to start, enlisting the help of IT experts can simplify the process of refreshing your strategy. They can evaluate your current setup, identify areas for improvement, and suggest customized solutions that save time and help your business run more efficiently.
Whether you’re upgrading your infrastructure or seeking more cost-effective options, the right partner can make all the difference. At Liberty Center One, we specialize in helping businesses get the most out of colocation for maximum performance and efficiency. Contact us today to discover how we can transform your IT operations.