Data center colocation is a great way to cut down on your IT budget. The colocation market is projected to reach $1,30,938 by 2030. More and more companies worldwide are migrating their IT workload to colocation data centers to cope with the increasing need for scalable data centers. 

Theoretically, you can build a data center anywhere, provided the place has a power supply and internet connectivity. However, what we often tend to ignore is that the quality of service of a data center is largely impacted by its location. Thus, while choosing a colo service provider, you must consider whether the location works for you.

Here are 5 key points you should keep in mind as you evaluate the location of the data center of your colocation hosting provider.     

Latency

Latency is one of the primary contributors to what is perceived as the performance of your website. The distance between a data center and a user has an impact on the speed at which data is transmitted. Try to keep your servers as close as possible to the end users to minimize the latency. If your target audience is spread over the country, you may consider multiple locations to optimize the speed.

Natural Disaster Risk

No location is immune to natural disasters. However, some geographical locations are more prone to being hit by natural calamities. Better to avoid a colocation data center located in an area that experiences frequent forest fires, floods, earthquakes, or hurricanes. These incidences not only cause damages to the infrastructure but also cripple the facility and stall its operation as the key employees cannot reach the location on time. 

Network Connectivity

High-speed network connectivity is the backbone of a data center. It ensures that a large volume of data is transferred quickly and reliably. A data center must have access to a high-speed fiber optic network for its smooth running. Choose a colo data center located in an area with access to multiple network carriers to ensure redundancy. 

Power Availability and Cost

Data centers have a huge power requirement. On average, a data center in the US consumes power as much as that 2500 households. A colo data center needs to have access to a reliable and cheap power source. Electricity cost accounts for nearly 13% of the overall operational cost of a data center. Thus, the colocation pricing heavily depends on the cost of electricity in the area where it is located.   

Proximity to Your Corporate Office

Businesses often prefer a colocation facility that is near their home office. It makes sense as it allows them to physically reach the data center as and when required. A colo data center close to your corporate office also means you can meet the IT staff from the data center and discuss things in person.

Having a colocation data center close to your office is preferable, but it is not as critical as it used to be. In today’s world, you can monitor most things remotely without visiting the data center. Furthermore, if you opt for managed colocation services, you will probably never have to visit the site.

Thus, the other considerations discussed here should get the preference over having a data center close to your office.

Coloco offers affordable colocation services in Washington DC and the Baltimore area. Our data center is located in prime areas with all the facilities mentioned above. Give us a call to know more about our services and plans.