Data have become the valuable asset an organization can possess. Therefore, how you manage, store, share, and protect your data should be a top concern. The benefits of a data center solution for your hosting needs have long been established. With a data center, you will be housing your mission-critical infrastructure within someone else’s facility. So, choosing the right data center is crucial. 

The right data center will provide fast, secure and reliable hosting solutions that drive efficient business operations. By the same token, the wrong one will increase the risks unplanned downtimes, breaches, and data loss. However, with overwhelming options of data centers to choose from, how do you pick the right one?

Here are factors to consider when selecting the right data center for your business. 

Considerations for Choosing the Right Data Center Solution 

Location 

Location is a major criterion for comparing and selecting data center. The general rule of thumb is to pick a data center geographically located in close proximity but not too close. The center should be at least 500 miles off-site to create geographic redundancy. It should be accessible especially if you need to upgrade or service your equipment, but also far enough to ensure it’s not affected by possible regional disasters around the on-premise production environment. 

Network Infrastructure and Connectivity 

The speed, reliability, and quality of connection is a critical requirement in a data center. Always choose the one that offers lightning-fast connectivity, especially if you run interactive and high-traffic volume business applications such as audio and video conferencing, live streaming, VoIP, etc. It’s worth noting that some data centers offer one of a few carriers to connect with. What you want is a data center that’s carrier-neutral and offers multiple fiber entrances. 

Scalability 

The ideal provider should meet your current and future needs. You may need to expand in the future or scale down due to business needs and seasonality. So, check whether the provider can sufficiently meet these long-term business needs. Data centers usually offer varying degree of scalability so its wise to find out what flexible hosting plans they offer by evaluating factors like network devices, network bandwidth, and the ability to add or remove devices as needed. 

Reliability and Reputation 

Reliability is a top consideration when choosing a data center provider. How reliable a provider is will impact your business. So, only choose a data center with a reliability of five 9s uptime, meaning they are reliable at least, 99.999% of the time. Reputation also matters; does the data center have a history of meeting or exceeding customer needs? Conduct an in-depth research, look for testimonials, ratings, and client feedback.  

24/7 Support 

What good is a data center provider if they can provide quick and efficient support, especially when you need them the most? The facility should have a dedicated team of in-house experienced support personnel and engineers to answer all questions and solve problems when needed. In addition, they should be available at all times for on-site assistance, emergencies, or important tasks, such as server checks, disaster recovery, and network maintenance.

Contact Thinline for Your Data Center Solutions 

The choice of a data center provider can be the difference on whether your business succeeds or fails, which is why you must examine and weigh your options. But with the factors to consider, making the right decision can be overwhelming. It can take time and a lot of hard work before you feel confident that you’ve found a data center that suits your business needs. Fortunately, with Thinline Tech, it doesn’t have to be. 

At Thinline, we’re focused on making it easier for businesses to identify, deploy, scale, and get the most out of data center solutions. We go the extra mile to make sure you choose a provider that can help you achieve your IT infrastructure goals, including security, reliability, scalability, and performance. Contact us today to find out how.