How to create a reliable server infrastructure in Europe?

Demand for colocation services is dictated by the extremely high cost of construction and maintenance of data centers. An average company has to spend at least 25 million dollars per year and also consider the constant growth trend.

Colocation in Europe is a warehouse with self-serviced servers at the facilities of data centers. This helps companies to save on their equipment management and maintenance by reducing IT infrastructure costs.

Colocation services are in demand in the following cases:

• scaling or consolidating data centers to reduce operating costs,
• reducing costs on IT infrastructure support (no need to invest in the data center support, focus on supporting your business).

Advantages of renting a colocation server:

• access to your server from any country in the world, high speed of the communication channel for receiving and transmitting data,
• machine rooms with air conditioning and guaranteed independent power supply,
• information and physical security,
• independent backup data center,
• remote management and outsourced maintenance available.

Disadvantages of collocation:

• limited access to the data center (for example, only during the working day),
• obsolescence of equipment, responsibilities for its disposal,
• purchase, configuration, and maintenance of equipment at the customer’s expense.

How to arrange a reliable colocation?

Data centers offer different conditions for server colocation. The higher the level of reliability, the more fault-tolerant is the hosted equipment.

To find an optimal price for services, compare tariffs at the colocation store. It is necessary to consider the reliability of the data center, its geolocation, the number of units and IP addresses, the capacity of the equipment, the width of communication channels, the period of placement of the equipment.

The benefits of server colocation will be obvious if you follow simple rules:

• It is better to purchase equipment in the country where it is planned to connect servers to the data center.
• The choice of a site and a provider depends on the number of equipment units placed.
• Small companies can conclude a service contract with a small hosting provider or a third-party contractor. For large companies, separate branches need to be arranged.
• Read the contract terms and price lists carefully.
• Purchase only new equipment from reliable brands with warranty service.
• Buy extended warranties and make outsource contracts for a long period of time.
• Consider the peculiarities of labour legislation.
• Solve all emerging issues only under the contract, no informal negotiations.
• Consider the real needs of customers and conclude a contract on terms convenient for the company, remember that large discounts are not a priority.
• Logistics issues are easier to solve through external contractors (for example, in some cases it is cheaper to leave the equipment than to try to sell it or transport it to another country).