Over the past several years, many companies have realized the benefits of storing their data offsite. Keeping physical servers onsite takes up a lot of space and requires frequent maintenance. Colocation data centers and the cloud are both safe ways to store your data offsite.

Although they are similar in many ways, they use different types of technology and each have their own unique benefits. Coloco offers affordable colocation services in the Washington DC and Baltimore areas. Here are the most notable differences between colocation and the cloud.

What Is Colocation?

Colocation allows clients to rent their own server or set of servers in a data center. The client essentially owns the server and has full control over how it’s used. However, they also get the benefits of storing their data offsite. It centers are very secure and allow you to store large amounts of data very efficiently. They also provide consistent connectivity and ongoing maintenance to prevent outages.

What Is Cloud Storage?

Cloud storage also allows customers to store their data offsite, but uses the internet to do so. Instead of renting your own server, you’re using space on the cloud provider’s server. This means you cannot configure the server the way you need it. However, most cloud providers do offer extensive security and can help with compliance measures as needed.

Which Option Is Best For Me?

Both colocation and cloud storage work well for growing companies who want to store their data offsite. Cloud storage is typically very easy to set up and scale. However, colocation provides additional benefits in terms of server configuration. When you rent a server in a data center, you have more control over the way it is set up and maintained. This means that this option is typically better for companies that need a lot of customization with their server.

While both cloud and colocation technology are secure, colocation centers often come with robust security measures already in place. You can also adjust your personal server to be even more secure if you need to.

Both colocation and cloud technology are great alternatives to housing your data onsite. We recommend colocation technology because it is a very efficient storage method, plus you can customize the server to suit your needs. At Coloco, our team can help you set up your server and keep it running efficiently.