COLOCATION BUYER S GUIDE Selecting a colocation provider needn't be a risky endeavour. Guidance for assessing your own colocation requirements, and a framework to assess the providers on the market. An auditable decision-making methodology.
Colocation facilities provide space, power, cooling, and physical security to house the IT equipment of multiple companies under one roof, connecting them to a variety of telecommunications and network service providers, minimising cost and complexity for end user companies. These companies are also then free to focus their efforts on the core competencies and capabilities of their business, and have fewer contracts and people to manage. Economies of scale can be gained in the following areas: 24 / 7 staff can be onsite for multiple companies (This allows for specialist staff instead of generalist staff too) Power pricing is negotiated by the colo provider and at a level where much lower prices can be achieved for all who use the data centre Larger data centres are generally better for the environment as the pooled resources are used more efficiently. (However, we recognise that there are a few impressive innovations in smaller DCs as well!) The capital investment is made by the colocation providers and costs for hosted companies are allocated to Opex budgets and are more predictable. Higher resilience colocation options can be considered in comparison with in house options, because costs are operational. The above advantages are true for smaller and larger companies alike! Growing pains.. Whether you have outsourced already, or have an in-house data centre, or are just ready to start considering some kind of hosting arrangement, growing your business inevitably means more IT infrastructure. There are a number of colocation providers in London, but which one is right for you? Where to start? Always start with your own requirements understand the needs across your business, and become a savvy buyer. Are you simply running out of space and power, or do you have a particular project that needs a facility for a fixed amount of time? What ever your needs, there is no one size fits all solution and all colocation spaces are not equal.
To figure out your needs, assess the following areas with your internal stakeholder group: Capacity requirements What are your basic needs? Do you generally have variable or fixed loads? Do you have a project-based requirement for a fixed period of time? TCO requirements What budget constraints are you working within? Do you need to reduce an overall contracted amount, or the overall TCO over a period of time? Location Where does the IT equipment need to be deployed? Figure out an acceptable geographic radius to identify who your possible providers might be. Resource availability and requirements Do you have people who need to visit the DC frequently? Do you have skills gaps on your team? Do you need 24/7 support? If so, to what technical level? How usable and accessible does the DC environment need to be? How can a provider supplement your existing team and capabilities? What / who do you need to connect to? Do you need to be close to other companies to trade, or for latency / proximity purposes? Could hosting in a DC actually provide you with business opportunities? Do your prospects already host their infrastructure somewhere? Connectivity requirements There are many kinds of connectivity. Figure out what you need from a latency, bandwidth, diversity, crossconnect perspective. Regulatory / quality / security requirements What regulatory requirements from your business apply to this initiative? Do you have a QMS? Are there security and other policies that you must adhere to? Ethos Who do you like to work with? What qualities are you looking for in a new partner / supplier? Do you have The last mile. The likelihood is unless you have some very unusual technical requirements that most providers will be able to give you the technical space that you need. But as you will see from the framework that follows, there are many more considerations to take into account. Some of your risk can be mitigated via the contract that the provider offers. For example, flexible terms could mitigate over-expenditure and reduce overall TCO. Different providers will have different pricing models. Find one that works for you, and then ask the others to convert theirs to that format. The simpler, the better. The extra mile. A final word on SLAs. If a provider is confident enough to offer 100% SLA on power, that means that they have the confidence in their operations to keep the site up beyond its technical probability. Look for these signs, which show pride in certain aspects of the services provided, and good luck with your quest!
Colocation Assessment Framework Flexibility People and processes Portfolio (product and service) offerings Technical and connectivity Contractual flexibility Efficiency Efficiency - PUE Green credentials related to cost Commitment to continuous improvement Regulatory Requirements Community Marketplace Openness to new ways of working Business prospecting opportunities Location Multiple sites Access to communities Replication distance requirements Specific location requirement Quality of Client Services On-site staff requirement (eg 24 / 7) Monitoring and reporting portal quality Speed to deploy Relationship from the start Add on services migration Add on services operational Usability of the DC Complementary services Quality of Connectivity Latency Diversity Cost Flexibility Time to implement Quality of DC Design Quality of site usability and access Quality of fit out and build Quality of operations Security Resiliency Credibility Track record of uptime Procurement supply chain requirements Roadmap Memberships and certifications Management Team and experience Requirement level Provider 1 Provider 2 Provider 3
The Virtus Difference Fresh Thinking Virtus challenges the traditional data centre landscape in London with some fresh thinking. We go beyond traditional boundaries of data centre services, with every client we aim to become a valued, trusted and flexible partner in delivering your IT strategy. Uniquely Flexible Solutions We offer solutions for Enterprise IT as well as IT Services Providers, MSPs or Cloud providers. Every component is flexible from the energy metering to dedicated or shared hall and plant to self-service portal based monitoring or fully managed services. Contracts can range from a day to a decade, and we offer the first Colocation on Demand and Connectivity on Demand services to the London market. Low TCO Above all the breadth, depth, quality, flexibility and customer service of Virtus solutions, delivers reduced TCO of data centre and connectivity services when compared to alternatives. When combined with the convenience of our London locations this is why Virtus data centres are becoming the preferred locations Kent House, 14-17 Market Place, London, W1W 8AJ