Data Center Design by PTS Data Center Solutions, Inc.

Data Center Co-Location Services

As the operating hub for network service delivery, your data center demands 'best-of-breed' technologies that support the mission critical environment. PTS ability to provide always available, scalable, networking solutions makes our services the next step for companies seeking more reliable IT functionality, at a lower initial capital cost. Through our co-location and managed service partners, PTS satisfies your company's data center performance objectives and expectations for fast and seamless growth.

By eliminating the up-front infrastructure costs associated with building your own data center, data center co-location and/or utilizing a managed service provider allows you to deploy IT infrastructure based on the company's current network requirements with less impact to your budget. In co-location, servers and network equipment are housed off-site, typically at the service providers premises. One benefit is should your company relocate, co-location permits your network to stay up and running without the need for interruption.

Co-location service providers are judged by the services availability their data center facilities provide. Those operating data centers offering continuous maintainability, system redundancies, multiple active power & cooling delivery pathways, fault tolerance, and enhanced physical security are typically judged better than those without. PTS provides consulting services to clients evaluating multiple co-location providers, to help you make an informed decision.

Typically, co-location providers charge by the following:

• Total physical space required (usually by cabinet footprint)
• Amount of bandwidth required for network connectivity
• Amount of UPS/Generator protection needed
• Quantity & type of power distribution required
• Amount of cooling required
• Level of physical security required

Additionally, many data center co-location providers offer managed services including data backup services, patch management services, monitoring services, and configuration services for an additional cost. These out-sourced services take the place of the cost of having the in-house staffing and tools required to execute these tasks.

An off-shoot of co-location is hosting providers. Hosting providers typically provide the underlying network services delivery equipment as well as the server your applications are hosted on. This is unlike the co-location model where you have full control over server configuration because the equipment and software belong to your company. While utilizing a hosting provider is typically less expensive initially, co-location provides you the ability to upgrade or expand beyond what is normally permitted by hosting providers, allowing for greater flexibility.

Co-location and out-sourced managed services play a strategic role in modern IT operations. Companies that make use of data center co-location can count on achieving faster IT services delivery than those that undertake a data center design and construction project. Co-location proves to be easier on your company's bank account in the short-term, but less attractive if your company's space requirements are large, its management requirements intensive, and its load substantial.