How to choose a managed data center service provider?

When an enterprise chooses a managed data center service provider to host its IT infrastructure, there are many things to consider, such as security, redundancy, connectivity, etc.

A managed data center service provider gives the enterprise full control over the hardware, while the managed service provider is responsible for the physical security and network uptime of the IT facility. But how does an enterprise choose a good managed data center service provider?

Here are five key points for businesses to take note of:

1. Location is key

A reliable data center should focus on uptime, and the location of the data center should play a key role in the decision-making process. Working with a hosting partner that strives for 100% availability should be a key priority.

Tier 3 data centers have an uptime of 99.98% or higher, which equates to no more than 1.6 hours of downtime per year.

It is important to consider that the closer the data center is to the customer location, the lower its networking costs, so choosing a partner that guarantees an optimal location with good network connectivity is usually the best option for businesses.

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2. Safety and redundancy

As with any aspect of IT, security should be a high priority for your hosting provider. In practical terms, this means having a professional data center facilities team that will monitor network access points, power, cooling and other operational factors 24/7.

Additional resources in case of emergency are also a sign of a dedicated partner, meaning the backup power deployed by the hosting provider will provide additional redundancy and unlimited power (UPS).

3. The power of communication

Choosing a data center is not just about the physical features of the data center facility, it is also about the people who run it. The way to achieve a good partnership between an enterprise and a hosting service provider is communication, which is also crucial in terms of data security.

Whether you need to modify an agreement, report an issue, or simply ask for advice, you can expect 24/7 support from your partner’s technical team to provide a complete understanding.

4. Ability to scale

Enterprises usually add servers to expand capacity in their own data centers, which means more space, power and cooling resources are needed at the physical level. A good hosting partner can provide the option of increasing the space of the enterprise, allowing the enterprise to expand more flexibly when the business grows. Similarly, the enterprise only needs to pay for the service it uses, so there is no risk of wasting resources.

5. Flexibility and transition services

IT moves at a fast pace and priorities change easily, and your partner should be flexible enough to adapt to changing needs and provide additional services when needed.

This may mean offering a managed services model that provides consulting services for your configuration or a way to change your Master Service Agreement (MSA) mid-way through the contract. By leveraging managed services provided by a managed partner, you can ensure that your infrastructure remains operational without taking on the responsibility for it.

Essentially, any organization that values ​​IT service uptime will want to consider the above before migrating a large number of equipment and important data to a new location. Although these tips and methods are not a completely rigid set of guidelines, it is a good start.