Rather than contacting their trusted technology supplier with a defined requirement, customers are saying they want a particular service or application at a monthly price with a Service Level Agreement (SLA).  This is where partnering with a Data Centre to provide a Colocation solution can deliver real value.

Of course, Colocation is not just about “storage” any more.  A Data Centre partner that owns and manages its entire infrastructure will not only have all the key technologies and expertise in place, it will also own all the necessary licenses to deliver specific hosted services.

For example, with hosted solutions such as Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS), the Data Centre owns the licensing and controls the infrastructure.

Not only does this mean all the necessary technology and expertise is under one roof, rather than being managed by multiple providers; it also gives customers more flexibility in terms of the solutions they can use and how they pay for them. OpEx models are a far more manageable way of paying for hosted services than a traditional CapEx model – allowing customers to take on the services they want in a cost-effective manner.

At Node4, we appreciate that entering a Data Centre partnership is a major decision to undertake, so here are five top tips to help partners choose the right one:

1. Specifications: Make sure your Data Centre partner has the right technical specification to match your infrastructure needs. This goes beyond the standard power and connectivity specifications and means drilling deeper into the specifications that underpin the services you will use.
2. Service: Ensure that your Data Centre partner’s service levels meet the needs of your business. This is crucial if you rely on IT systems to carry out critical everyday business tasks and need an partner that will allow you to remain responsive at all times.
3. Support: Check that your Data Centre partner provides an on-site support team to ensure there is expert support whenever you need it. Ideally, the support centre should be manned 24/7.
4. Scalability: Work with a partner that supports additional services to the ones you currently need. For example, if you’re a car dealership with multiple branches looking to roll out Colocation and a hosted telephony solution your IT needs may change in line with your business growth. Work with a partner than can scale the solution up or provide other services such as Cloud and Connectivity.
5. Flexibility: Confirm that your Data Centre partner owns and controls its infrastructure. This will give you more flexibility and valuable insight over its variety of solutions, ensuring that you get the exact services you want and are not restricted to pre-determined packages.

When choosing a Colocation partner it is important to look for a Data Centre that provides a complete range of services. This means that you can take advantage of other solutions such as Cloud, Connectivity and Communications and can scale-up or extend your IT provision in accordance with business growth.

Forward-looking businesses, particularly SMEs, are embracing technology as an enabler for growth. They are already using modern communications technologies such as UC and SIP services and looking at ways technology can improve the business.

Paul Bryce
Business Development Director