Colocation is the process of buying a server and installing it in a professional grid that is held and managed by another company. You own the server, but the rack that you place it on and the bandwidth that you partake of belong to the other business. Typically, companies with enough room to “rent” their backspace will charge a fee to allow other companies to bring in their servers. However, colocation is a growing solution for smaller businesses that want to offer plenty of web solutions and a highly professional Internet. Advantages include:
1. More For Lower Expenses:
When compared to buying a business line and paying entirely for personal bandwidth, colocation is markedly less expensive for companies that want their own server but and comparable bandwidth speeds. For the same price, bandwidth speeds get a boost. This makes colocation an ideal option for small or mid-sized businesses that have a lot of online information to manage or work in a sector where online tools and connectivity are a key part of their offering. For companies that only want to start their own website for online selling, basic web hosting is a less expensive option. Colocation is best used as a stepping stone between hosting and creating a proprietary server room.
2. Customization at Will:
In colocation, companies own their own servers entirely – it is the space and bandwidth that they are paying for. This means that server management is entirely up to the business. If the company wants to replace the server with a new version at any time, it can. This makes it easy to customize server options for business needs without waiting for any type of permission (except for the simple physical work of replacement) or worrying that the provider is not offering enough power.
3. Easy Adaptations and Upgrades:
The customization options in hardware also extend to server software. This makes it easy for the business to run whatever platforms it wants and to optimize its web content in any way it pleases – the necessary software can be uploaded to the server whenever needed. If the company wants to change platforms or approaches to web architecture, it can switch software as needed.
4. Outsource Options:
Colocation companies offer a number of handy services, including back-up power, security, and fully redundant connections that offer the sort of stability most smaller businesses cannot afford on their own. Colocation providers are also often willing to offer software and hardware management for an added price, allowing companies to outsource this maintenance if their internal IT departments cannot perform the job.
5. Easier Future Growth:
Colocation makes it very easy for companies to keep their web services live while expanding. If the company changes offices, for exempt, there is no need to move the servers. If customer demand suddenly spikes, colocation servers are less likely to drop offline thanks to flexible bandwidth agreements and technology. Additionally, companies looking to move fully into the cloud can start applications during colocation and run them there while preparing for their own server space.
Taylor Greyson is a professional blogger that provides information on Chicago colocation services. He writes for Quotecolo, a company that provides Chicago dedicated servers and colocation services.
