The Top 5 Myths of Colocation Service

For many businesses, the concept of colocation is still a gray area. Some companies can confuse colocation with a web hosting or similar services.  There a lot of misconceptions about colocation. Consider the following debunked myths when deciding to use a colocation service. This information will help companies decide whether such a service is one that fits their needs.

·         Myth: Colocation is Expensive

The question is, expensive compared to what service? Between a Houston colocation service and an email/web-hosting service, colocation is more expensive. However, compared to building a data center from the ground up, it is far less expensive. Costs associated with IT staffing, redundant hardware and Internet connection can be overwhelming for a single company.  With colocation, payables are on a pay-per-use basis. Companies are able to save on operational costs because colocation utilities are shared by tenants. Colocation is an economical way for companies to deploy data  solutions but maintain control of their servers.

·         Myth: In-House Facilities Offer Better Security than Colocation Services

This depends on the colocation provider’s facilities. Since most IT operations will be hosted in a colocation facility, companies should choose providers wisely. With Houston colocation centers, companies are provided with separate cages to store and run their equipment. These areas are locked and monitored at all times. This ensures that no one can physically tamper or compromise a company’s network. In addition, the colocation provider deploys top-of-the-line IDS, firewalls, load balancers and redundant hardware. Moreover, the colocation service provider’s staff keeps security patches and feeds updated.  Truth be told, a Houston colocation center is much more secure than on-premise, in-house facilities.

·         Myth: Colocation is an Inconvenient Option for Adminstration

Just because a company cannot physically see its equipment doesn’t mean it can’t be accessed. Today, access can be gained through remote monitoring and administration. It presents a much more convenient way to access and administer networks. This can be done without physically travelling to the colocation site to access data and draw reports. A company can monitor its network wherever it is located. This is also a big plus for mobile workers or telecommuters. A Houston colocation facility also provides a bigger, more controlled environment for equipment to run.

·         Myth: Colocation is the Same as Web Hosting

A Houston colocation service and a web-hosting service are two very different things. A colocated service means that a company’s data resources are physically located elsewhere. The colocation facility provides a specific area for equipment to reside. With colocation, a company doesn’t share hardware resources with others like a web-hosting service requires. With a web-hosting service, the same server and bandwidth is shared by tenants. In this case, downsides such as glitches and other security threats are shared as well.

·         Myth: Colocation Provides Less Reliability and Support

A Houston colocation service usually operates under strict global security standards. They comply with stringent laws, regulations and policies. Knowing this, companies can rest assured that facilities are armed with fully redundant resources. These include multi-carrier Internet connections, continuous energy sources and hardware services. Facilities are staffed at all times by professional engineers trained to instantly respond to outages. In addition, colocation providers lock in partnerships with a contract stipulating support coverage. This contract provides a great deal of detail as to how a provider will render support. Colocations centers also provide a managed services contract that keeps servers in a tip-top and fine-tuned shape.