What Place Does Colocation Have in a Cloud Based World?

For many companies, having their own servers has become a thing of the past. Where once, a business had to find space to place racks, run wiringprovide backup power, etc., they can now utilize someone else’s servers halfway across the world. 

Even for companies who need high-performance, extra security, and 24/monitoring, cloud hosting solutions can provide dedicated server space that keeps up with all of their demands. 

But in-between cloud servers and in-house servers, there is another option: colocation. 

Colocation is when you house your own physical server equipment in a third-party data center. You handle the purchasing and configuration of the equipment. The data center keeps it secure, powered, and cooled.  

This has proven to be a popular solution, as it frees businesses from having to store their dedicated servers in their own buildings. Advanced systems can make noise and run hot, not to mention they need backup power sourcesextra security measures, and high-speed network access. 

By placing your equipment in a data center, you can free up your own real estate and remove the responsibility of keeping your servers powered, protected, and connected. It’s a best of both worlds approach. 

However, as cloud hosting and dedicated virtual servers have grown in capabilities, many have moved away from colocation. Some have even gone as far as to say that colocation is dead. This is not true. In fact, colocation is on the rise. 

Why is that? It’s simple. Some businesses need their own equipment.  

And others just like having ownership over it. 

There are a few reasons why you may want colocation.

Specific Hardware Requirements 

Every business has different hardware, compliance, and security measures to follow. Cloud servers take a universal approach to hosting, providing more of a “one-size-fits all” solution, even if there are some options you can customize. 

With colocation, you choose every part of your setup, which means you can tailor it to your specific needs. In some cases, a company’s software and/or internal systems may require server hardware that simply isn’t popular enough to be found as an option for cloud hosting. 

Technical Knowhow 

Due to the fact that you’re purchasing and configuring your own equipment, colocation does require some advanced IT knowhow. For companies with IT workers on staff, this is great, as it allows them to setup their system exactly how they want it.  

And we know firsthand how particular IT people can be about the way things are configured. 

Ownership 

Cloud hosting, even when you’re using private or dedicate servers, is a rental service. You are paying someone to use their equipment. When you stop paying them, you lose the ability to use that equipment. They may also have specific rules regarding how you use the equipment. Some businesses are completely fine with that. 

Others prefer ownership. 

With colocation, the equipment is yours to use as you wish. If you decide to change who you’re partnering with for hosting, you can take your equipment with you. 

In Need of Colocation? 

Our Data Center in Dayton, Ohio is equipped to handle all of your server needs. Whether you want private cloud hosting, shared hosting, or space for colocation, you can expect a high quality, customer driven experience. 

Our colocation services are scalable and move-in ready. At DataYard, you’ll have 24/7/365 access, should you need it. Meanwhile, we’ll make sure your equipment stays secured, protected, and connected.  

Our Data Center is Here for You

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COLOCATION SERVICES


How Data Backups Can Help Your Business Meet Compliance

I am often baffled on how often I need to explain the importance of backing up business data. Personally I feel like I need to backup my own personal data two or three times out of fear that I’ll loose years worth of my life in photographs. Those feelings of fear do not seem to translate to everyone when it comes to their business data, but maybe it should.

What type of compliance does my business need?

Depending on the industry there may be multiple layers of security and data compliance regulations that are required by law. Most businesses have at least one industry compliance measure that requires some degree of security and backups. Not meeting compliance on these measures can result in fines, penalties, and in some cases close down the business.

Many compliance measures require some level of security and safeguarding be in place with business data. If your business keeps record of personal information like name, address, phone numbers, emails, etc. or even more sensitive data like financial or medical there are strict rules to how you protect that data. One layer of protection is how you’re going to keep it stored and ensure that it does not get lost.

What do backups have to do with compliance?

Backing up data ensures that data is protected from being lost due to unintentional actions, failure or disaster. Imagine running a medical office and losing a server that stored information about patients treatments. If that server is not backed up that data is gone and could set patients and doctors behind by weeks, months or years in their treatment. In this scenario people’ lives are affected drastically not to mention the compliance fees and fines that the office may face. Due to scenarios like these there is often a backup strategy that is required in most compliance regulations.

What compliance measures does my business need to address?

If you’re not sure what requirements your business needs to meet we’ve made a list below of different compliance regulations by industry. If you want to know how we can help you become complaint on any of these regulations or other feel free to contact our team so we can be your guide.

Finance:
• Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
• Basel II
• Electronic Fund Transfer Act, Regulation E (EFTA)

Healthcare:
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• Health Information Technology for Economic Clinical Health (HITECH)
• GDPR

Education:
• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
• Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
• Data Protection Act (UK)

Government Compliance Regulations:
• Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIs)
• Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA)

General Business:
• Sarbanes Oxley Act
• Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DDS)
• Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act

State Specific:
• Massachusetts 201 CMR 17 (Mass Data Protection Law)
• Nevada Personal Information Data Privacy Encryption Law (NRS 603A)

International:
• Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPED Act)
• European Union Data Protection Directive

We can protect your data from yourself.

USER ERROR

Is the source for the majority of data loss. Our backups provide a safety net from little mistakes becoming major catastrophes.

COST OVER COST

The cost of backups is minimal in comparison to what a business could face in fines or data recovery fees.

PEACE OF MIND

Live and work without the worry of little mistakes and threats or malicious activity because we have your back (ups).

GET YOUR BACKUPS HERE