6 Considerations for Choosing the Right Data Center

Selecting the right data center or a collocation provider is important for your business because your data’s security depends on it. Here are six considerations you should take into account while selecting a data center for your business.

1. Location

The first big consideration for selecting a data center is the location. You should try to find a reliable collocation service provider near your business with minimal chances of natural disasters. Most collocation centers consider this aspect while building their facility. However, you should do additional due diligence to ensure that your infrastructure remains secured in cases of natural calamities.

2. Make Sure the Data Center is Well-Equipped

It is very important to ensure that the data center under consideration is well-equipped with backup solutions for all primary components, such as HVAC, fire, power, etc. Ensure the data center has disaster recovery plans in case of mishaps, power failures, etc.

3. Reliability

A collocation provider and business is bound by a SLA agreement (Service Level Agreement), which guarantees maximum network uptime, power service and temperature stability. Most data centers provide SLAs as part of their contract, and you need to evaluate those carefully before making a decision. Reliability is measured in terms of uptime of a data center, and a reliable data center should have 99.995% uptime.

4. Viability

While dealing with a data center provider, you should look at whether the company has a strong history and experience. Your data center should be able to support you for at least 5 years. Do your research; read press releases, bulletins or check the financial credibility and financial security of the company before you hand over your data to them.

5. Network Connectivity

One of the most valued benefits of a data center is its ability to interconnect within a shared space. This type of interconnection will add value to your business, so it is important to check if the chosen data center provider possesses a large ecosystem of clients or customers who are already interconnected.

6. Scalability

You may expand your business in the future, so you need to check whether the current data center is sufficient enough to meet long-term business needs. Also, find out what flexible hosting plans they offer. You should have the ability to scale up (or down) based on your business needs seamlessly.

Are you overwhelmed by the amount of hard work you need to do before you select a data center for your business? Don’t be! Since 2001, Lifeline Data Centers have been relentlessly pursuing higher uptime with lower costs through innovation and efficiency. Talk to us today to see how we can help you take care of your data.

Rich Banta

Managing Member at Lifeline Data Centers

Rich is responsible for Compliance and Certifications, Data Center Operations, Information Technology, and Client Concierge Services. Rich has an extensive background in server and network management, large scale wide-area networks, storage, business continuity, and monitoring. Rich is a former CTO of a major health care system. Rich is hands-on every day in the data centers. He also holds many certifications, including: CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor CRISC – Certified in Risk & Information Systems Management CDCE – Certified Data Center Expert CDCDP – Certified Data Center Design Professional