Overview
Colocation data centres enables a number of businesses or organizations to move their data processing into an existing data centre. The data centre owner will have installed all the hardware necessary to operate servers, including power, cooling UPS and racks. Additionally they will provide internal and external security and the provision of staff often known as intelligent or remote hands who work in the centre and can change servers, reconfigure hardware or undertake maintenance on a 24/7 basis.
The primary benefits offered by co-location are immediate availability, lower cost through economies of scale and reduced capital investment. The secondary benefit is the ability to forget infrastructure worries. In particular the need, for example, to keep abreast of developments in cooling and UPS.
Colocation is offered in two forms. Retail colocation, where clients can occupy a quarter, half or even several racks. These will have already been laid out in a computer room which may also offers cages and suites. The latter giving clients a feeling of even greater security.
The wholesale colocation model offers larger clients the opportunity to contract for improved space which they can layout to their own specification within agreed parameters.
Moving from one colocation data centre to another can be time consuming, expensive and stressful. So the decision to move from in-house processing or from one data centre to another should not be taken lightly. The following are a number of topics that need carefully reviewing.
1. Future plans
The data centre industry is moving fast. So it is important that any providers of colocation fully understand the trends in the market and is structuring their facilities to enable change. Old or legacy data centres are best avoided as the majority were constructed without change in mind. As a result retrofitting them is either impractical or very costly. It is vitally important, therefore, that a colocation data centre can demonstrate that it is ahead of the game by way of their future planning.
2. Available power
At a macro level, the power hungry nature of servers is well documented, particularly as the data centre industry now accounts for a significant proportion of the world’s generating capacity.
At a micro level this has resulted in some local electricity supply companies being unable to meet all the demands of their customers. This has slowed down or even halted some data centres expansion plans. In turn having a knock-on effect for those customers wishing to scale up their activities. Again, seek proof of the power available today and into the future.
3. Innovation
The Power Utilisation Efficiency - PUE - metric is now well established and has seen a fall from 2.5+ for legacy data centres to less than 1.5 for recent developments. The ability for it to fall even further to 1.0 is realistic but only achievable through genuine innovation.
Free cooling provided by cool air or subterranean streams particularly in mountainous areas for example in Switzerland are now a valuable and sustainable commodity. So check out short listed facilities for their approach to innovation.
4. Accreditation
A colocation data centre that ticking all the accreditation boxes may not always be the best one for a particular client. There are, however, some standards that are essential, in particular IS0 27001 published in 2005 as an information security management system, which covers the examination of information security risks, the design of appropriate controls and the provision of management processes to ensure the security controls continue to meet the organisations needs.
At the other extreme List X, is a UK government standard for commercial sites processing mostly military applications. It places such strict standards for those entering the facility that it could be unworkable for some customers in other markets. Others to consider include PCI compliance and SAS70.
The question is what is right accreditation for you? What do you need and what don’t you need?
5. Scalability
Research shows that scalability in all its forms is one of the most important factors in colocation data centre design. It enables existing and potential new customers to grow their business without the need to move their data processing out of its current location. To accommodate this calls for an architecture that meets short term demands but is also capable of evolving to accommodate long term trends. Such developments must be capable of being executed quickly without creating any major disruptions.
Scalability not only refers to the physical structure of the data centre but also to the ability to accommodate increasing number and type of servers and there services.
What are your projections for the future? Can they be accommodated? What guarantee can be established for the future?
Conclusion
In short, most data centres on the surface look alike. So establish your projections for the future and see how they fit into your short listed suppliers plans.
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