Key Point: Colocation data centers are essential for business continuity as they provide secure and dependable infrastructure to house their IT systems, critical operations, and data.
Colocation has become a vital requirement for many businesses due to the increasing number of climate change-related disasters and cases. In order to ensure uninterrupted operations, organizations are actively seeking ways to enhance their IT resilience.
Are you prepared to face the modern-day risks that can potentially disrupt your business? Building a business continuity plan involves being ready to overcome not just one isolated disaster event, but a series of interconnected challenges and risks that can have a cascading effect.
These risks include severe natural disasters, remote work complexities, supply chain disruptions, and cyberattacks. To address these threats, companies need to prioritize resilient disaster recovery plans and consider utilizing server colocation services provided by data centers, such as those in Malaysia.
The Colocation Data Center is specifically designed with safety in mind from the very beginning.
Colocation has become an essential feature for many businesses as they grapple with the increasing frequency of climate change-related disasters and legal actions tied to climate change.
However, numerous organizations are focused on establishing IT resilience, which allows them to maintain operations even in the face of disruptions.
International Data Corporations (IDC) defines IT resilience as the ability to safeguard data during disruptions, effectively respond to unforeseen outages, and expedite data-driven business initiatives.
Colocation offers an ideal setting for organizations to cultivate IT resilience through robust networking, power infrastructure, redundant IT frameworks, and an infrastructure that can withstand disasters.
In this regard, colocation data centers play a crucial role in supporting disaster recovery and business continuity by providing secure and dependable infrastructure to house an organization’s IT systems, critical operations, and data.
These facilities possess multiple power and network connections, backup generators, and storage systems, ensuring that critical systems remain operational even in the midst of a disaster.
Moreover, colocation data centers typically employ various disaster recovery protocols, including regular backups, redundant systems and facilities, and remote access options. These measures enable organizations to swiftly recover from outages and sustain operations with minimal disruption.
Furthermore, the physical separation of data center facilities helps mitigate the risk of a single disaster affecting multiple sites. By opting for a colocation data center to house their IT systems and data, organizations can achieve heightened levels of resilience and availability, thereby reducing the likelihood of business interruptions and ensuring uninterrupted operations in the face of a disaster.
Why the Data Center is a reliable partner for data recovery and business continuity
Reliable and secure data center colocation facilities offer several compelling reasons why organizations should trust them with their disaster recovery and business continuity needs.
Redundant Infrastructure
First, these facilities boast redundant infrastructure, including multiple power and network connections, backup generators, and backup storage systems. This redundancy ensures that critical systems remain functional even during the most challenging circumstances, such as natural disasters or power outages.
Physical Security
In addition to robust infrastructure, data centers prioritize physical security. They employ stringent measures such as biometric access controls, comprehensive video surveillance, and secure cages to prevent unauthorized access, theft, and damage to sensitive data.
Disaster Recovery
Furthermore, data centers have comprehensive disaster recovery planning in place. This includes regular backups, redundant systems and facilities, and remote access options. With these measures, organizations can swiftly recover from outages and maintain operations with minimal disruption, even in the face of unexpected events.
Expertise
Another advantage of partnering with a data center is the expertise of their operators. These professionals possess the knowledge and experience to design, implement, and manage complex IT infrastructure and systems.
Their expertise ensures high levels of reliability and availability, giving organizations peace of mind in their disaster recovery and business continuity efforts.
Scalability
Scalability is another key benefit provided by data centers. They can adjust their services to meet the evolving needs of businesses, offering flexible solutions that cater to organizations of all sizes. Whether an organization expands or downsizes, a data center can accommodate their changing requirements.
Cost Saving
Most small and medium-sized businesses don’t have the capacity to build a disaster-ready on-premises data center, let alone manage information and applications. Network equipment, power, real estate, and internet connectivity can run into a large amount of money.
How to Choose a Colocation Provider?
Before selecting a colocation provider, it is essential to consider several crucial factors, such as the following:
1. Facility Standards
Check if the facility is advanced and has reliable, high-speed connections to major internet networks. Make sure there are backup power supplies and generators in case of power outages, as well as redundant HVAC systems. Also, confirm that the provider offers round-the-clock on-site support for any problems that may arise.
2. Internet Resources
Enquire about the colocation provider’s internet network connection size and network details to ensure they offer top-quality connectivity.
3. Provider Experience
Determine the length of time the colocation provider has been in business, particularly in supporting business continuity and disaster recovery incidents. Choosing a provider with a proven track record and extensive experience is crucial for reliable support in critical situations.
4. Financial Stability
Evaluate the financial status of the colocation provider. Opting for a financially sound company not only ensures better pricing but also enhances overall technical security.
A stable provider is less likely to impose hidden or excess charges to compensate for financial burdens. Look for a provider that has consistently demonstrated profitability over an extended period.
5. Specialization
Determine if the company specializes in colocation and business continuity/disaster recovery (BC/DR) services or if they offer other services as well. A provider dedicated to colocation and BC/DR is more likely to possess the necessary expertise and infrastructure to meet specific requirements, including maximum internet speed, flexible and expandable space, security, and technical support.
6. Network Redundancy and Internet Connections
Enquire about the provider’s network redundancy and the size of their internet connections. To be considered a tier 1 internet backbone with the fastest connections, providers should have high-bandwidth backbone resources, such as OC192 or larger.
Additionally, they should maintain direct connections of 10 GB, 100 GB, and even up to 100 TB, along with Gigabit Ethernet resources, to multiple national and international internet networks to ensure true redundancy.
7. Security Measures
Examine the security measures implemented by the provider. This includes the presence of digital surveillance cameras throughout the facility, key card locks, and potentially biometric access (such as fingerprints) at all entrances and exits.
Confirm if there is an enforced access list and ask about the security of personal cabinets and cages.
8. Power Protection
Enquire about the power protection measures in place. Providers should have continuous redundant uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and generator-backed electrical power. Backup battery banks are also essential to maintaining continuous power availability.
9. Internal Equipment Space
Assess the availability of internal equipment space. To ensure maximum security and avoid potential shared technical issues or theft concerns, it is advisable to find a provider that offers secure locking cabinets and cages.
10. Customer Base
Request a list of the provider’s customers. The presence of reputable, brand-name customers can be an indication of the provider’s reliability and quality of service. Consider reaching out to the provider’s customers directly to gather their perspectives and feedback.
11. Additional Charges
Enquire about any extra fees for services such as cross-connects, IP addresses, and power. Ideally, select a provider that offers up to 10 Cat 5/6 cross-connects per customer cabinet without additional charges. Look for providers that include free IP addresses with their service. Furthermore, assess if power for colocated servers and equipment is included without hidden costs.
12. Future Requirements
Evaluate how the provider plans for future requirements. A successful colocation provider should have the capability to accommodate customer growth and evolving needs. Research the pricing structures for future upgrades, including additional BC/DR services and internet bandwidth, to understand how you will be charged as your business expands.
By obtaining answers to these questions, businesses can make informed decisions when selecting a colocation provider that aligns with their specific requirements and ensures a secure and reliable environment for their IT infrastructure.
In a Nutshell
Server colocation is a key component in ensuring business continuity for organizations in Malaysia. By leveraging data center services in Malaysia and implementing effective business colocation strategies, businesses can protect themselves from potential disruptions.
This plays a crucial role in establishing resilient disaster recovery plans that address the diverse range of risks, including natural disasters, remote work complexities, supply chain disruptions, and cyberattacks.
Through proactive planning and utilizing server colocation, businesses can minimize downtime, safeguard critical data, and maintain uninterrupted operations.
With the ever-increasing importance of business continuity and disaster recovery, companies can depend on the expertise of the IT professionals of an established colocation provider, such as Exabytes, for server colocation and disaster recovery.
It is a wise decision for organizations looking to thrive in an increasingly volatile and uncertain business landscape.
View Exabytes Colocation Service Plans
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