Cloud-based hosting is the go-to option for many businesses, large and small. It provides great flexibility while keeping things simple. Sometimes, however, you need your own server equipment. Whether it’s to meet compliancy needs, maximize control, or simply because you prefer to own instead of rent, there is still very much a place for physical hosting in today’s cloud-based world.
However, if you own your own equipment, that means you’ll need to house and power it. While a server is essentially just a computer, it comes with some critical requirements:
- Continuous power supply
- Digital and physical security protection
- Total temperature control
- A fair amount of space
- And more
If you’re able to accommodate those needs, you might choose to keep your servers in-house. Otherwise, there is colocation. Colocation is where you store your own equipment in a third-party data center that’s built to handle the special requirements of server equipment.
Not sure which option is best for you? Let’s take a look at both.
What's the difference between in-house hosting and colocation?
In-House Hosting
With in-house hosting, you’ll need to setup a proper server room on your property. This will need to be fitted with power-supply redundancies so that your servers don’t crash if the power in the building unexpectantly goes out.
The primary benefit of in-house hosting is immediate access. If you have the IT staff to manage and support it, they’ll able to get directly to it at a moment’s notice. Of course, that also means you need to have an in-house IT team that can support it as needed.
If your team is already stretched thin, it can be yet another thing they have to deal with.
Additionally, many offices, even larger ones, simply aren’t equipped to meet the needs of a server system. It can also increase your utility costs more than you think.
Colocation
Colocation is pretty straight forward. You supply the equipment and a data center takes care of the rest. A proper data center is well-equipped to house and supply server equipment, making sure it stays protected and running properly.
While there is some initial setup cost, along with the on-going rental fee, the expense of colocation is actually comparable to the cost of in-house hosting. That’s not to say you should put your server equipment in just any data center.
You want to make sure it’s a trustworthy facility that can exceed your needs and provide room for growth.
Reliable Colocation Wherever You Are
At DataYard, we can handle almost all IT and hosting needs. From cloud hosting to colocation and beyond, our data center is equipped to meet your storage and security requirements. With colocation at Data Yard, you’ll receive 24/7/365 access, so you can get to your equipment whenever you need to.
Need additional support or guidance for your server setup and infrastructure? Our team of IT consultants in Dayton, Ohio can help ensure you have all of your bases covered.
Contact us today!