At its core, colocation functions as a web server storage service. In a colocation facility, your dedicated server will be stored safely in the most secure setting possible. However, before making the choice to use a colocation web hosting service, you must first understand how the environment operates.
How Does Colocation Hosting Operate?
With colocation web hosting, you are actually renting space in a web storage facility. If you own a dedicated server, a colocation facility will allow you to utilize a state of the art data storage center. From here, you can connect to the internet via their T3 or T4 connections, which will be far superior to any other connection you can use.
How Much Does Colocation Hosting Cost?
The cost of using a colocation hosting account typically hovers around the range of $300 per month. The precise cost is a bit tricky to measure because you are charged only for the amount of bandwidth your server utilizes. Unlike standard web hosting services, with colocation, you only pay for the usage of high speed bandwidth and a safe and secure environment.
You must factor the cost of your own server into your monthly expenses when considering colocation hosting. You will also need to allocate a certain amount of money in your budget for maintenance and repair if there is ever damage. If the damage was a result of a faulty condition or error on the colocation hosting company’s part, then they would be responsible for the expense of repair.
Inside a Colocation Facility
A colocation facility is very much like the inside of a medical or science lab. The temperature is always monitored and controlled. The environment is kept perfect and pristine at all times, creating the most ideal condition to keep your sensitive data. There are air regulators, such as humidifiers, as well as dehumidifiers.
The floors have state of the art cooling systems to keep fresh, cool air circulating up and around the web servers at all times. There are filters in all of the cooling systems to ensure that there is no chance of any type of debris ever getting into the servers.
There is constant security all day, every day, year round. The facility employs security guards that walk the compound 24 hours a day. Every employee who walks into the facility is required to wear protective clothing and gear to make sure the conditions in the facility are never compromised.
The walls are covered in a unique material to keep any dust or dirt from attaching to them and building up. There are high tech fire extinguishing systems in place in each and every server room. Indeed, colocation hosting facilities are by far the safest environments to store your web servers.
Do Colocation Facilities Offer Support?
Unfortunately, colocation facilities typically offer minimal tech support. Some colocation hosting facilities will offer technical support packages for which you pay extra, however, the technical support is usually limited to IT support.
Many server administrative or maintenance tasks can be performed remotely, but for those issues that cannot, IT assistance could become necessary. Ask the colocation hosting facility you are interested in what their support packages, if any, entail. If the facility you choose does not offer IT assistance, you may want to shop around for one that does.
Who is Colocation Hosting Most Geared To Benefit?
The people who will not benefit from colocation hosting are those who have smaller businesses, as well as individuals who do not own their servers. Colocation hosting facilities are not recommended for people who just use their websites for personal use, such as blogging or web forums.
However, if you are the owner of a very large company that has multiple dedicated servers, colocation web hosting would be a great benefit to your business. For anyone who has their own dedicated servers and would like to ensure they are kept in an extremely safe and secure environment, colocation hosting facilities are a smart option.
