Colocation Decision Checklist and Best Practices

The colocation selection process never really revolves around just one metric. Instead, an organization has to look at various variables which can comprise a solution which will directly fit in with the needs of the business.

One of the best ways to come to a decision is to outline what is important, create a check list, and follow that list during the selection process. This is the fifth article in a series on Colocation Selection and Best Practices.

Remember, many times when the choice is made, a contract is signed for a pre-determined term. This means that once the gear is in the data center — it’ll be time-consuming, complex, and expensive to move it to another site should an issue occur.

To get a solid understanding of which data center provider is the best option, working with the checklist can really help. To use it, simply fill out the boxes as the example shows, multiply the Availability/Meets Requirements score times the Importance Rating score, and add up the results. The data center with the highest checklist score is probably the colocation provider that best fits your organization’s direct needs both now and in the future.

The checklist below was designed from many of the already discussed variables in this guide. By understanding power demands, facility variables and all of the components which were discussed earlier, managers are able to make better colocation decisions.

Colocation Selection Checklist

Download the DCK Colocation Checklist below

There are some general best practices to follow when selecting the right provider. The choice to go with a data center must truly be unique since your organization’s needs will certainly differ from others — even if you are in the same industry with like demands. Consider the following:

Creating a partnership with the colocation provider will create a cohesive extension to your company’s already existing IT team. These folks will take daily charge to ensure that your systems stay healthy, viable and running. Remember, never build for today — always build for tomorrow.

To get a larger copy of the colocation check list and other colocation best practices download the complete Data Center Knowledge Guide to Colocation Selection.