All small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) eventually need a place for managing their data. It includes an amalgam of dedicated hardware, software, and on-premises storage location. A data center holds records of customers, sales, and all other data sets that are crucial for business operation.
SMEs usually have fewer resources and tough competitive environment. They have to think outside the box and utilize the resources they have to reach their optimum level. In such situation, having a dedicated on-premises data storage can be quite challenging. This is where data center colocation comes into action. What is data center colocation and how data center is a reliable solution? This article will clarify all those queries and present some of the major benefits associated with data center colocation for SMEs.
Data Center Colocation – A Brief Overview
Colocation is a kind of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). The data colocation center offers physical space for placing computers and other devices of the company. It provides all the necessary infrastructure for running a data center and manages all hardware/software associated with it.
Data center colocation is a paid service based on rental charges. It is a shared space that manages data centers and IT departments of multiple SMEs under one roof. This rental space of data centers is a blessing for SMEs that has limited space and workforce.
8 Benefits for SMEs to Opt for Data Center Collocation
Collocate in data center presents an ideal solution when the resources are limited. But its usefulness does not just limit to being cost-effective, there are many benefits for SMEs when they opt for data center collocation, as follow:
- Scalability
Data center colocation supports the scalability of SMEs. Computer hardware and IT department occupy a significant space in the company. Whenever you need to expand your business, you first have to manage room for additional hardware and IT staff.
But when SMEs opt for data center collocation, they do not have to worry about the additional space for accommodating increasing hardware and growing data storage. All they have to do is rent a broader section at the service provider data center to scale up their business.
- Reliability
How strange it may sound, but shared data centers are more reliable than on-premises data centers of SMEs. With limited resources, SMEs usually do not have the capability to ensure a top-notch and uninterrupted power supply. This makes the reliability of on-premises data a big concern.
When SMEs collocate in a data center, they can assure reliable service to their clients because the third-party collocating services are purpose-built for managing all the server resources effectively. They have all the necessary equipment to keep their clients’ businesses running. In addition, they offer reliable data and power backup in case of any issues and have sound cooling systems to maintain the flow of the system 24/7.
- Security
Security is one of the major concerns of all data centers in the present cyber-concerned era. In the case of an on-premises data center, the enterprises have to bear additional costs for securing their devices, software, and data. This means having a dedicated team of IT security experts and proper tools to keep monitoring system vulnerabilities and possible threats chances.
When SMEs opt for data center collocation, it frees them from the tension and cost of security. It becomes the responsibility of the collocated data center to manage security and provide desired resources. Whether it is trained professionals or security tools, everything is provided by the collocated data center service provider.
- Cost-Effectiveness
One significant benefit of data center colocation is cost reduction. Providing space and facilities for accommodating on-premises data centers is one of the crucial costs for SMEs.
When SMEs collocate in a data center, they only have to pay for the rental space for their IT department. This cost is significantly lower than the cost of arranging on-premises setup. Moreover, data center colocation also saves the cost of maintaining infrastructure, power backups, and security tools. All such aspects, clearly pinpoint data center colocation as a cost-effective option for SMEs.
- Flexible Rack Sizes
In data center collocation, there is always an abundance of different rack sizes to place any amount of server hardware hassle-free. Whether an SME needs a single or full rack, the flexible rack sizes can securely store the equipment in the ideal rack space required by it.
- Continuous Interaction with Colocation Center Staff
The staff at the colocation center is always available to have interaction with the SMEs representatives and provide the service and guidance they need. In addition, they also continuously monitor SMEs data center servers and utilize their expertise to ensure that everything is at its top level.
- Portability
Data center colocation also improves the portability of the business, as it is often a big hassle for a company to re-locate its physical setup.
When SMEs opt for data center collocation, they can re-locate their setup any time without worrying about managing room and infrastructure for the IT department in the new building. The data and hardware remain in the shared space in the collocated data center.
- A Step towards Cloud Migration
Cloud technology is on the rise and the current COVID-19 pandemic has triggered its importance. Every enterprise now or then has to migrate most of their data sets to the cloud to keep up with the market pace. But some feel hesitant towards with due to concerns associated with security and privacy. In this perspective, if an SME opts for data center collocation, then it’s one step towards cloud migration. This is because experiencing colocation can open up how effective remote data storage can be, eventually clarifying any security concerns among higher authorities.
Conclusion
Data center colocation is beneficial for all kinds of organizations, but in the case of SMEs, it is the ideal solution to have solid roots in the competitive market. In addition, opting for colocation means SMEs can focus more on revenue projects and improving their services/products, instead of focusing on on-premises data center maintenance.