For any organization in the current world that is characterized with a high dependency on computers and different information technology solutions, dependable IT systems are very essential. Management of in-house data centers often become cumbersome with the growth of organizations, and financially and physically demanding. That is where colocation services come in handy helping a business to deal with data at an affordable price while eliminating the need to invest in facilities the business may not manage efficiently. Colocation simply means that an organization can take space in an information community focus with third party benefits of security, dependability and versatility. Therefore, if you are in Quebec and more specifically if you are looking for colocation services, it is important that you find the right partner to help make this type of investment lucrative for the long haul. Here’s what you’ve gotta look out for when searching for colocation Quebec service.
1. Location and Accessibility
Location is one of the main considerations that can be made while searching for a colocation facility. Instantly, you would prefer a secure location for your facility and accessible for the technicians from the IT department. Quebec faces fluctuations in climate, therefore one has to ensure that they find a colocation provider whose facility is not located in an area vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods or for example earthquake. Another consideration would be its location with reference to your office or area of operation; this is because accessing the premises for purposes of either maintenance check-up or repairs may not require much time.
2. Security Measures
It is very important to secure any data related service since it involves delivery of highly sensitive information. It will be also important to look at the physical and virtual security of a colocation provider when assessing a firm in Quebec. When selecting the providers, look for those facilities that have round-the-clock monitoring, the use of fingerprints and other types of identification on the perimeter, and well-guarded territory. On the digital side, make certain that they implement sound firewall protection and encryption protocols and check the networks frequently for suspicious activity. Also, inquire whether they follow security compliance regulations such as the ISO 27001, that validates data security management.
3. Redundant Power and Connectivity
A power outage or network failure is likely to result to expensive down time. When selecting a colocation provider in Quebec, make sure that it has backup power supply distributed with diverse paths for the power and the network connections. Redundancy entails that the facility has UPS and generators that ensure that data center specs are powered when there is a power outage. They should also provide multiple connection from different carriers so that if one is dropped then there will always be another to take over so that there will always be internet connection.
4. Scalability and Flexibility
Like any other business, technical needs of the company will change as the company expands. Some of the factors that should be considered while selecting the Quebec colocation providers include flexibility and scalability. Regardless of whether a provider begin with a small number of racks or requires an end to end cage, it should be capable of catering to growth. Some relevant questions for a potential provider may exemplify the following ones: What is your capacity for expansion and how quickly can you deliver services as the scope ramps up? It will help you avoid the need to relocate to another plant as your physical requirements evolve in the future.
5. Support and Maintenance Services
Another consideration which is important when choosing a colocation provider is a good support team. In fact, even some of the most hi-tech centres can have problems with equipment breakdown at times or need servicing. Select a provider that has round the clock technical support and qualified staff always at the provider’s disposal. Moreover, ask them about their SLAs that contain information about the response and resolution time for the situations when problems occur.
6. Compliance and Certifications
Business entities according to the nature of their operational industry are governed by different compliance concerning storage and management of data. If your business happens to be in a sensitive or restricted sector like healthcare or finances then do check if the colocation provider is compliant with the standards called for in your industry. Some of the standard certification that one may consider for a vendor’s site include the following; PCI DSS, HIPAA, SSAE 18 among others. These kind of certifications suggest that the provider has paradigms with industry standards for protection and handling of such information.
7. Reputation and Experience
This is important when making a decision on the colocation provider within Quebec as the reputation is quite important. Ensure that you use the services of an experienced service provider that understands what is required of them. Regarding their satisfaction level of customers, one can research some of the reviews, testimonials and even case studies concerning their previous and current clients. Also, interacting directly with them, you can get more information about the quality of provided services, and existence or absence of reliability and customer support.
8. Cost and Contract Terms
Although cost shouldn’t be the only factor that should be taken into consideration, it is considered to be one of the factors. As much as possible, make sure that you clarify the pricing model as well as the components that are covered in the price. While some provide the lowest possible prices for their services, the additional costs are imposed in the form of charges for initiatives such as remote hands service and excess bandwidth. Also, check the contract terms since they put the limits on the rights granted to the business. Seek for those providers who offer some lenient terms which include the capacities to revise the service and utility that the business requires at that particular time than to stick in a lengthy contractual supply that most of the time may not be useful to the business anymore.
9. Environmental Sustainability
Companies may also be concerned with sustainable practices and therefore they select a colocation provider who practices sustainability. Today most of the data centers are trying to attain low carbon footprints with the help of renewable sources of energy, efficient cooling systems and green certifications. It would be wise to ask the provider if they take the environment into consideration especially if it is a cause that is dear to you as an organization.
Conclusion
Selecting the right colocation service provider in Quebec is really important as it will decide your downtime, security and Internetworking requirements of your IT assets. That is why, based on location, security, redundancy, scalability and support and compliance, one can find a provider that meets ones needs. Always perform a proper due diligence process on potential providers and focus on building long-term relationships so that you do not put yourself in a position where your data is not properly protected and later keft locked behind proprietary systems.