Colocation vs. Cloud:

Transcription

1 Colocation vs. Cloud: Can t We All Just Get Along? COLOTRAQ One Gatehall Drive Suite 208 Parsippany, NJ PHONE NUMBERS Toll Free: Local: Fax: Video Killed the Radio Star was the first music video aired on MTV (back when it actually was music television) on August 1, And, in some respects, video did kill the radio star, altering forever the landscape of commercial music radio. Not too long after cloud computing was introduced, a similar result was forecasted for colocation (and, to a lesser extent, private data centers). But has that transpired? Has the cloud killed colocation or has it at least started colocation on a steady decline? The short answer is no. But a longer answer might be this: Not in general, but it depends. A detailed, more nuanced and, as it turns out, more accurate answer is that the vital signs of colocation remain healthy. It continues to be a significant component in the world of business data management, and its foreseeable future seems assured, rather than threatened, by cloud computing. In some instances, it might even be argued that the lines between cloud computing and colocation are becoming blurred. It would appear then, to paraphrase Mark Twain, that reports of colocation s death are greatly exaggerated. In fact, the notion of 1

2 an IT-outsourcing solution that is a cloud-colocation hybrid is one that is becoming a growing reality. Colocation providers are expanding the array of services they provide to include cloud solutions that permit an easy transition between technologies -- even if provided by third parties. Why remote computing in the first place? In order to predict the future of colocation, let s not forget its past. Both colocation and cloud computing (which, for our purposes, includes shared hosting and Virtual Private Server [VPS]) were a natural progression of the outsourcing of IT operations as companies sought economies of scale, greater efficiency, decreasing complexity, and lower costs in managing data. However, no matter how cost-effective outsourcing becomes, there will always be a desire, if not a necessity, for IT departments to maintain at least some hands-on involvement with data management. Virtualization and virtualized technology have become increasingly complex -- a trend which shows no signs of abating, much less reversing. As the sophistication of data storage, delivery, and overall management increases, either the willingness or the ability (or both) of most organizations to invest in the necessary infrastructure and personnel to keep pace will decline. This almost certainly will result in reduced in-house expertise and diminished available bandwidth, both of which may render the organization even less capable of adequately meeting its data management needs. When any enterprise is trying to determine whether to outsource a part or all of its data center operations and, if so, which of the options available will best meet organizational needs, it is important to identify what those exact needs are. In other words, the organization should address these questions: What are the goals of the organization? What is the best way to interface with external cloud environments? What is the current state of the organization s IT infrastructure? Those responsible for IT should conduct an audit of all applications in use to ensure that the IT environment is optimal for a change and, if not, to rectify or remedy those items that require it. Is the current virtualization strategy sufficient for moving forward or does it need revision? What technology has been employed, and how does it fit the long-term strategy (re: outsourcing IT)? 2

3 Is there a need to switch vendors and/or technologies? Are the organization s business processes capable of handling the demands of the virtualization or are they adaptable to any changes? Are the IT department and other human resources qualified to manage the direction of the organization s data management and virtualization? Is the organization equipped to manage relationships with multiple vendors and service-level agreements (SLAs)? What technology has been employed? Which option is best for me? Once all the important questions have been meaningfully addressed, the enterprise is ready to embark on an analysis of the hosting options available to an IT department - and there are several. Here, then, are factors key to understanding the advantages of colocation in relation to the cloud and vice versa. Shared Hosting As the name suggests, shared hosting involves a single server that hosts many websites via a common resource pool. SMBs are not in the business of establishing an IT infrastructure and shared hosting essentially relieves them of that burden. Traditional VPS The operating system or server shares access to resources but is faster and more secure than shared hosting. This is a popular option for those websites that exceed the bandwidth cap. It is also preferable to shared hosting because of these reasons: Each virtual machine is independent of others; Control of operating system/server software is maintained; Each website receives its own RAM allocation, disk space, and CPU. Dedicated Server VPS hosting is shared web hosting, but dedicated servers are stand-alone hosting. The hosting resources are greater, and the web hosting space is limited to one company or client (not shared). The user engages the server remotely. However, entry costs are higher, and redundancy is a value-added feature cost. 3

4 Colocation (outsourced, off-site data centers) This option offers state-of-the-art data center design, power sources, cooling modalities, redundancy, connectivity, and security -- usually for a set monthly rate. Colocation is much more scalable than an in-house solution. A company s own data center usually has limited power capabilities, and building a second site in case of emergency is impractical (if not absolutely cost-prohibitive). The colocation vendor can provide service faster, better, and cheaper, and the economies of scale make increased security and redundancies much more affordable. Access to connectivity is one of the major advantages of colocation. Multiple carriers are not going to offer to be at the customer s premises because they don t have to be. Why would they? There s nothing in it for them. Colocation centers, however, are exactly the type of option carriers seek because of the number of potential customers present at each colocation center that require high bandwidth. Expanding the bandwidth is a simple cross-connect between users and carriers. And, although in real estate, success is all about location, location, location, in data delivery, it s all about bandwidth, bandwidth, bandwidth. Colocation services can also be divided further into two types. Here s a breakdown of them: 1. Traditional Colocation a. Business outsources the data center support infrastructure (e.g., heating, cooling, security, connectivity). It retains ownership of servers and management of all processes. 2. Managed Colocation a. Business manages no part of the infrastructure, and it remotely manages and administers networking devices, operating systems, monitoring tools, and other environmental components. b. By eliminating the need to own a physical plant or maintain IT infrastructure, costs are often reduced. However, server repairs, reboots, and other maintenance issues often come with their own set of costs when the data center has to attend to them. c. Downtime doesn t turn into doom-time. Monitored by the service provider with systems that provide the necessary redundancy, managed colocation minimizes the impact of power outages or other service interruptions. d. Use-as-needed, pay-as-you-go options are available, further reducing costs. 4

5 Cloud Computing and Virtual Dedicated Servers (VDS) This low-cost alternative (which is similar to shared hosting) is scalable and has elastic IT-related capabilities. It has the flexibility of VPS, and its resources are similar to those of a dedicated server or colocation scenario. Cloud computing is an excellent alternative for start-ups and SMBs that are uncertain of what their data needs are likely to be going forward. These companies are also unlikely to know what resources are necessary for successfully managing their IT data. Because cloud computing is scalable, it can meet differing scale needs on demand. Peak and off-period server demands can be easily accommodated by utilization of cloud computing. (This applies to cloud communications as well.) Cloud costs are also minimized because its use is basically on a pay-as-you-go basis. For SMBs who prefer not to engage in IT management, this model is ideal. Is this safe? No matter which option suits an organization best, there is one issue that all available tools for IT outsourcing face: Security. Exercise extreme due diligence when choosing a vendor or vendors. Consider using a trusted, vendor-neutral broker or intermediary such as Colotraq for your project. This applies to any and all options, from simple cloud hosting to complete IT outsourcing. Identify any data encryption and/or retention needs. Ensure that the vendor fully understands, appreciates, and can meet the necessary statutory or regulatory requirements (e.g., HIPAA). What are the security protocols? For example, when considering colocation facilities, determine whether they have the following: CCTVs Escorts PIN cod/proximity card access Locked individual cages/cabinets Biometric security measures. It seems clear that when it comes to outsourcing IT, not only does one size not fit all, one size 5

6 really doesn t fit most. That being the case, it is not unreasonable to suggest that the cloud won t kill colocation, but that it will actually interact with it on a greater basis. Whichever route a company takes, that route should be based on an honest assessment of who the company is, what it does, what it can handle, and where it wants to go. Colocation remains a very viable alternative to IT outsourcing - and so does cloud computing. Which is better? As suggested, this is a matter of what best suits an organization s current size and needs, which option is most adaptable to the growth a company anticipates, and what the enterprise can afford. But it does not have to be a one-or-the-other choice. The combination or juxtaposition of colocation and cloud services for a single enterprise may prove to be the ultimate long-term solution. 6