Colocation Service Providers

Colocation service providers offer the next step in web hosting for companies who need more than the typical shared hosting packages. Most hosting companies that accommodate individual and small business sites offer shared server space that is allocated in increments to each customer. Bandwidth and space are usually purchased by the month or year in amounts that best suit each purchaser. For many customers, this method is completely adequate for all their needs. However, for some businesses, shared servers do not provide enough space and speed for their business functions. A colocation service is the next best thing to operating an in-house hosting solution that provides all the storage, speed and options any company may require.

Many companies have reached the place where they no longer can operate effectively through a shared hosting package. Companies that do business through ecommerce and who require lots of data transactions every day will eventually need to consider stepping up to one of today's most popular solutions. "But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day." (Deuteronomy 8:18) For businesses that begin to see over a thousand visitors a day, an upgrade in server functionality is generally necessary in order to operate at optimum performance.

An outsourcing solution for businesses that do not want the responsibility of providing their own in-house technicians, housing, and maintenance may be colocation service providers. This option allows a business to purchase equipment and software that is necessary to function on a broader scale. A professional service provides the rack space for the server, technical maintenance and support, safety features, high speed internet, a climate controlled environment and backup sources in case of general power outages. Providing in-house hosting for most smaller companies is not feasible and for some large companies, it may not be as cost efficient as purchasing a colocation service.

The overhead that is required to provide housing and maintenance alone can be expensive, not to mention the fact that professional technicians must be on hand to maintain, operate and support the system. Then there are the concerns over safety issues that many corporations require in order to protect their internal data. When one of the colocation service providers are used, day-to-day issues are resolved through this outsourcing method of hosting. A colocation service offers space within a large data center which stores each client's server that is placed on separate racks designated per client.

The center is responsible for storage, power sources, security, fire safety and general oversight of the unit. While technical maintenance and support is an option at colocation service providers, a client can opt to provide technical support. In order to avoid extra in-house costs, many clients choose the option of technical outsourcing that collocation service providers can offer as well as data center housing. An all-in-one solution is preferred by many clients and may be more cost effective than providing a technical staff to oversee a client's servers. One of the most important considerations when choosing a data center is the quality of service rather than merely the cost.

While purchasing space and technical expertise can be more expensive than a shared solution, it is more important to consider the quality of a data center than just the expense since a lot is riding on how well a business server functions. A company that decides to go with a colocation service must keep in mind that service providers are located in major cities or metropolitan areas. This can be a plus or minus for a client depending on where a customer is located and what the long range outlook for the client may be. If a customer is located near a data center, access is naturally much easier when it is needed. Also, if a client decides to move from a current location to another, there will be no need for relocating its server since a data center houses the equipment.

Businesses that operate away from large cities will not have as much immediate access to their servers and of necessity may choose to purchase the services of in-house technicians for maintenance and support of equipment. The distinguishing option for most clients who choose a colocation service for their hosting needs is the complete control that it offers. The ability to configure all the functions of a server as well as choose all the appropriate software is very important for clients who want to upgrade their systems for wider business horizons. There are many collocation service providers that operate in the US as well as internationally. For more information and a customized price quote, check out several online sites that offer a wide range of server housing, technical and location options.

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