When it comes to hosting infrastructure, there are generally a few separate tiers upon which it could generally be said to operate.
- Shared hosting. For smaller projects and websites with minimal traffic and resource demands.
- Virtual Private Servers (VPS). For websites with slightly higher demands, such that overreliance on shared traffic would adversely impact performance.
- Dedicated servers. For highly demanding projects and large, high-traffic websites.
- Colocation. The hosting option we’re going to talk about today. A step up from a dedicated server, but not quite on the level of purchasing one’s own data center.
You might think of colocation as renting space in a data center—you’ll have access to the connections, server racks, power, and other amenities of the facility while providing all the hardware yourself. The precise size of a particular installation largely depends on your hosting needs. Some businesses might rent an entire rack or room, while others may just install a single server.
Regardless of scope, all colocation hosting plans generally share the following traits in common:
- The client sets up, maintains, and operates its equipment. Some hosts may offer optional managed colocation services.
- The client is provided with the necessary power and climate control systems to ensure their servers run at optimal capacity.
- The client is given lines to and from telecommunications service providers and Internet service providers depending on their needs.
- On-site cybersecurity and physical security measures help keep the client’s infrastructure safe from harm.
Compared to other hosting options, server colocation has a few notable benefits:
- Resilience. Most colocation data centers have and confidently keep to a 99.999% service-level agreement, meaning that whatever you’re using your colocation plan for, you can rest assured that you can rely on it to stay stable.
- Reduced workload. Particularly with managed colocation, the time and resources required to manage a colocation server or room are significantly lower than those required to manage one’s own data center.
- Lower overhead. Server colocation does require a recurring hosting fee, but this cost typically pales in comparison to the overhead that would be required to host infrastructure on-site or in a facility owned by your business.
- Capacity for growth. Most data centers have plenty of space for your business to expand its infrastructure if need be, making them an ideal ‘next step’ in your digital transformation journey.
In short, if you need more resources than a dedicated server can provide and cloud computing isn’t yet an option for you, server colocation may be the perfect choice for your business and its needs. And if you’re interested in learning more about how and why you should consider colocation ahead of other hosting options, that’s where Liberty Center One comes in.