How we use and access technology is changing–but we don’t need to tell you that. Storing your data used to be complicated because you had to manage every part of it. Today, the best data centers are not like they used to be. Back then, you might need to buy equipment and have it in your office or rent space for it, then manage all of the cooling and redundant power to prevent outages. Today, data centers, colocation, and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provide safe and secure data storage.
If you are thinking of moving to a data center or reevaluating your current data center but have questions about the process, you are not alone. Data centers are not all the same. Here are three key things to know before you determine the best data center.
Data Center Power Density Requirements
Power density is complicated and many businesses don’t know how much they need. However, some functionalities including AI, VR, and cryptocurrencies need more power density. Some data centers have a minimum power density per square foot requirement. This can change the dynamics of your evaluation. For example, if your hardware or servers can fit comfortably into 5 racks, you may still have to buy 10 racks or a larger cage to support the power consumption, and you end up paying for space you don’t need.
Data Center Security
Security is key when it comes to finding the best data center. You don’t want your information housed anywhere, you want to make sure it comes with the security level that your business or industry requires. Many data center providers offer additional security products and services built in or as add-on for customer cloud workloads. Those include Antivirus, SIEM, IDS/IPS, DDoS Mitigation, Vulnerability Scanners, and full SOC.
Best Data Centers on Public Cloud
Some data center vendors have direct network connections into public clouds like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. They also can help companies manage the public cloud to optimize expenses. We’ve discussed some things to be aware of with public cloud on the blog previously. Like any cloud service, you should understand what you are paying for, what the security is like, and what happens to your information if they experience an outage or security breach.
The options for finding the best data center can seem complex. But as vendor management experts, we can help you find the provider that best suits your needs. Our data center locator tool has access to over 1600 data centers from over 60 providers around the world. We can easily sort options by provider, geography, service type (Colocation, Private Cloud, Public Cloud), cloud connect options, data center tiers, and compliance. Our RFP Alternative allows us to engage only the right vendors for your needs and manage the evaluation process so that you still make the key decisions, but we do the heavy lifting. Contact us today to find out more about data center vendors.