Does the colocation facility offer a cost savings between 20-70% over my existing option and for how long? If not then either find one that does or re-examine your requirements to ensure that a colocation option is truly an option best suited for your organization.
Does the colocation facility allow me the freedom to focus on my core competencies without worrying about the data center infrastructure? If you respond no to this then move to the next facility.
Does the colocation facility meet your geographical requirements? Is it a disaster recovery location? Does the site need to be within a short or long distance from your staff? Does it meet your weather hardening requirements (hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc).
How flexible is my power and cooling options? Do I have options to purchase more power and cooling? What are my limitations? Can I monitor my power and cooling? Can I purchase my power by the kW? If you have an IT platform that evolves and is growing then you need a provider that can be flexible.
What does the power configuration of the data center look like? Now for many who are less familiar with data center infrastructure you may be best served to use a consultant to help you with this part of the evaluation. If you decide to go solo then here some advice. Most colocation providers offer a primary source and a redundant source in the event of a power failure that is designed throughout the entire power train from the utility to the distribution. Most importantly ask how the colocation provider conducts maintenance and is protected against failures. What you are looking for is a facility that has a concurrently maintainable design which means that if any one component should fail or require maintenance there is a back-up to keep you up and running.
What does the cooling configuration look like? Similar to your electrical system you want to see a concurrently maintainable design. In today’s increasing density environment you also need to know how the colocation provider will address your density needs over time. Look for the solution provider who is able to deliver from low to high density in the same footprint that you first start in. Of course this requires planning between you and the provider, but you want to be sure that your colocation provider can assist with your growth needs without having to shut down and move your equipment.
How energy efficient is the colocation provider’s facility? What is the PUE of the data center? Can I purchase an agreement that locks in a PUE level that will be maintained during the life of my agreement? Was the building designed and built using energy efficient technologies and best practices? What Green certifications does the data center have (LEED, Green Globes, Energy Star).
What does the maintenance schedule and history of this facility look like? Have there been any outages? Was the facility properly tested after it was built (Commissioning)?
How secure is the facility? Does it have 24×7 Security? Are cameras visible everywhere? Is the property gated? How accessible is the infrastructure equipment? Is there a man trap at the entrance of the building? What forms of security access is being used (Biometrics, HID Cards)? How accessible will the site be for my personnel to enter and exit the building?
What will be my experience when entering and leaving the facility? Will I feel as if it is my own facility with excellent customer service or will I feel as if I am just another number? Will I have customer amenities such as offices, break rooms, lounges and tech rooms? Will I have access to a secure loading area, storage, de-crate and burn in room?
Will I have access to a 7×24 help desk that responds im################y to my needs or do I need to take a number and wait for a call back?
Will I have access to engineering and technical support on site in the event that I need it?
What type of expansion capabilities is available if I grow my footprint? Can my expansion be contiguous to my existing space?
What does the network connectivity look like at the facility? Are there multiple carriers, are the carriers that have agreements with already located at the facility, are there local loops as opposed to cross connects from within the suite, what does the availability of the network infrastructure look like – are there two carrier rooms?
Can I receive increased bandwidth with reduced bandwidth costs?
Is the colocation provider carrier neutral supporting multiple ISP’s to choose from that is competitive in pricing?
What does the network security look like? Firewalls/ IDS systems.
What does the fire protection system look like? Is it pre-action sprinkler or ga######us suppression or both? If an alarm goes off away from my equipment then does the entire data center power need to be shut down?
What does the Service Level Agreement (SLA) look like? A strict SLA ensures that you get a guaranteed level of services – better than what you would have in-house.
What is the experience of the colocation provider’s team? Experience advantage: You get the advantage of years of experience in managing data centers and qualified technical personnel working to keep your business critical systems functioning smoothly around the clock.
How is the colocation providers Help Desk support? What are their response times to a problem? Am I speaking with a phone call taker who will pass on my need or am I speaking with a direct technician or engineer.
list of questions to develop your own colocation provider checklist
