Seattle Colocation: How to Find the Right Colocation Service Provider for Your Business
Article by Scott Brueggeman
A Seattle colocation service enables businesses to house mission-critical IT equipment in a third-party data center. By using an outside facility, companies have access to top tier carriers and advanced infrastructures they may not be able to build and support internally.
The colocation model has become popular for a number of reasons. By sharing a data center infrastructure, companies can save time and money. And, IT staff can shift their focus away from day-to-day equipment and facility issues to core business initiatives.
In addition, colocation frees up an internal network for other purposes. This reassignment of IT resources can drastically improve equipment performance levels.
A good match for a company’s colocation requirements will provide advanced physical security, power, cooling and connectivity features.
Physical Security Features
Businesses often select Seattle colocation services to provide exceptionally high levels of security economically. For example, a business can partner with a provider whose facility offers multiple layers of security. Biometrics and video surveillance monitoring systems should also be part of the colocation package.
In addition to evaluating a facility’s physical security features, it’s important to review the colocation provider’s security procedures. In other words, what processes are in place to prevent unauthorized access?
Power and Cooling Features
Power and cooling capabilities within a Seattle colocation facility can determine whether 100 percent system uptime can be delivered. Around-the-clock and fully redundant power is an absolute must with any colocation solution.
During an analysis of different facilities, companies must verify the uninterruptible power systems in place. Also, it’s important to evaluate the manner in which the facility provides back-up power. Does the provider have diesel-powered generators on-site and readily available? Do these generators start automatically when power goes offline?
Cooling systems can be somewhat complex. But it’s critical to understand the different capabilities available if downtime is not an option for a business. What type of cooling technologies does the Seattle colocation provider offer? How many units are installed in the facility and where are they located?
Redundancy is a key feature for both power and cooling systems. To prove a good business decision, access is needed to advanced colocation capabilities and features at costs lower than what can be achieved in-house.
Connectivity Features
Most businesses desire to quality their own carriers and solutions. As a result, carrier- and technology-neutral networks provide the greatest advantages for a company. Accessing a wide variety of carriers can better the happening of getting the perfect Seattle colocation solution at the right price.
The right colocation serve will offer the features above, but will also tailor its solutions to a company’s specific requirements. A Seattle colocation serve should take the clock to understand the nuances of a business and develop a reasonably priced solution accordingly.
In addition to customized services and contracts, 24/7/365 staffing is important for 100 percent uptime. A provider’s commitment to serving its customers can be easily evaluating by checking references and introduced records.
Given the large number of Seattle colocation providers in the market today, it is critical to carefully analyze each provider’s solutions and facility features.

