Things To Look For When Evaluating A Data Center

Nov 20
08:13

2012

John R. Hughes

John R. Hughes

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One of the major reasons for not choosing a Texas data center is cost. Though cost is obviously a concern, rather than looking at the numbers alone, the center should be evaluated as a whole.

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One of the major reasons for not choosing a Texas data center is cost. Though cost is obviously a concern,Things To Look For When Evaluating A Data Center Articles rather than looking at the numbers alone, the center should be evaluated as a whole. The center’s features, security provisions and other factors should be taken into account when making a final selection.

 

Total Cost of Ownership
One of the early assessments a company will be making is whether it even needs a Texas data center partner. To make this determination, several factors need to be considered.  These include necessary equipment, ease of access versus space requirements, expertise of your staff and many others. These are important to decide if it is more cost-effective to host in-house or outsource IT. This step will require considerable research if you’re to make an informed decision.

 

Disaster Recovery is a Must

It is vital for company’s select a Texas data center with a robust disaster recovery plan in place. It’s possible for a center with low costs to have adequate protection; however, it is more likely that costs are low because the protection offered is incomplete. A business and its workforce are in the best position to determine the extent of your security needs. A data center is of no use to if it will not fully protect against all possible emergencies. Data loss or service interruptions are impossible to predict, and they can disrupt your business for days or weeks. It’s unlikely that cost savings achieved by using a cheaper, less reliable service will make up for revenue or productivity losses from being offline for a long period. So, companies are advised not to make any short-sighted decisions based solely on cheaper cost.

 

Utilize Carrier-Neutral Facilities

It is important to ensure that any potential Texas data center is carrier neutral. Having multiple carriers to choose from gives access to information from a number of providers rather than just one. It prevents interruptions due to single-carrier outages. Having this flexibility also lets a company choose the carrier with the price that fits its budget.

 

Things to Avoid

When making a decision on a Texas data center partner, there are pitfalls in the selection process to avoid:

 

·         Don’t rush into a last-minute decision. Take the time to do proper research, and don’t wait until the need is critical. Making a hasty decision is almost certain to cost more in the long run.

·         Don’t underestimate the company’s data needs. Even if it needs to keep your costs low, it’s extremely shortsighted. It’s also, ultimately, counterproductive to underestimate the amount of storage needed or to skimp on coverage. Most Texas data center representatives can give companies an accurate estimate based on their needs.

·         Look at more than just the bottom line. A data center that boasts the lowest price is very likely cutting corners to keep them low. Don’t compromise protection for the sake of saving a few dollars.

 

Many Texas data centers offer reliable, reasonably priced data services and colocation plans that provide high-quality service, protection and value. There is no doubt that companies need to keep costs in mind. However, their final decision takes into account the overall value of the service and the protection offered. Don’t compromise the safety of mission-critical data by focusing solely on the price tag.