THE EDGE
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
businesses should consider whether
working with a data hosting provider
that offers good value for money is
the most cost-effective solution. And
while cost should never be the sole
factor when deciding on a data hosting
provider, businesses should not assume
that the most expensive service is
the best, as different options will suit
different companies.
6. Data centres should promote
environmental efficiency
While cost is important, businesses
should also take environmental
efficiency into account. In today’s
society, organisations of every size
should be helping contribute towards
improving the environment worldwide,
in whatever way possible. More
businesses are now putting their efforts
into reducing their environmental
impact and data centres can be one
way to address this. Many providers are
able to deliver a more environmentally-
friendly service, thanks to economies
of scale and the ability to deploy the
latest cooling technology. This is just
one of the ways that a data centre can
reduce its energy consumption that a
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Issue 03
business may not be able to do itself. It
should be noted, though, that a balance
should be struck between choosing an
environmentally-friendly data centre and
one which meets all of the other criteria.
Why colocation can be a
key approach
Colocation can be an excellent option
– particularly if the provider adheres to
the six points above – for businesses
that either cannot afford data centres of
their own, or that simply would rather
not have to manage this themselves.
Enterprises with limited space and
resources may opt for colocation, as it
is often a cheaper and more effective
use of the space available. Depending
on the location this could be particularly
valuable and would allow for more on-
site space to be dedicated to other areas
of the business.
Choosing a data hosting provider can
be quite a complex decision and should
not be undertaken lightly. However,
considering the six tips discussed here
should help to form the foundation
of the choices that IT leaders have to
make. If a data centre provider is found
to be weaker in any of these areas, then
the consequences can be disastrous if
something were to go wrong.
With businesses increasingly relying on
data hosts to manage and protect their
precious data, making the best decision
while keeping business objectives in
mind is crucial for enabling the company
to grow. ◊
CHOOSING A
DATA HOSTING
PROVIDER
CAN BE QUITE
A COMPLEX
DECISION AND
SHOULD NOT BE
UNDERTAKEN
LIGHTLY.
www.intelligentdatacentres.com
CMY
K