How to choose a data center provider

How to choose a data center provider

Choosing a colocation partner to house, protect & connect your company’s critical IT infrastructure is a big decision. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to differentiate between data centers. At first glance, many data center partners may look the same, but dig a little deeper, and you’ll find significant differences in the services they offer, their green sustainability certifications, their security compliance certifications and their flexibility to offer custom-made solutions.

How do you select the right colocation partner? By focusing on what is important to your organization, both now and in the future, you can align yourself with a provider that speaks your language and will help you exceed your business goals. Choose a data center partner that meets your specific needs for sustainability, security, location, scalability, compliance and connectivity.

Asking the right questions is a big part of the equation. Here are eight considerations with targeted questions to ask that will help you choose the right colocation partner for your business.

Partner with a trusted brand

Choosing a colocation partner is a long-term commitment. You want to work with a company you can trust. Look for a stable company with a long, successful track record of serving customers in top industries that offers the services you want and transparency in their operations. Make sure that they not only understand your current needs but can support your growth strategy for the future.

Customers wisely choose a data center provider that has good financial backing and isn’t reliant on just a few tenants. Colocating with a data center whose top five clients are all in the same industry and represent more than half of their revenue is risky business. If the loss of just one customer could deal a large financial blow, reconsider. Running and maintaining a data center is expensive, and you’ll be the one who suffers if they suddenly need to cut their operations team or support staff.

Iron Mountain is a global business with a long track record of storing, protecting and managing information and assets. Thousands of local enterprises work with us, as do 95 percent of the FORTUNE 1000. For more than half a century, Iron Mountain has been protecting and securing what our customers value most, from critical business information to geological samples, works of fine art to original recordings of treasured artists. For decades, Iron Mountain Data Centers have been delivering this same trusted service to our data center clients.

Choosing a colocation partner to house, protect and connect your company's critical IT infrastructure is a big decision. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to differentiate between data centers. At first glance, many data center partners appear the same, but once you dig a little deeper, you'll find significant differences such as:

• Services Offered
• Green Sustainability
• Security & Compliance Certifications
• Flexibility

Asking the right questions is a big part of the equation. Download our eBook to uncover the 8 things to consider when choosing a colocation partner.