How To Choose a Location for Your Data Center

Servers take up a lot of space and not every company has the room. Often the need to expand a server room leads to problems due to a lack of resources. The solution is an offsite data center rather than keeping it at the same site as the business. Choose a location center for your data center that is secure, reliable, and gives you the space you need.

Location

Location is of utmost importance when searching for the right data center. Offsite is sometimes necessary, but it can’t be too far away.

When technical difficulties occur and the company’s IT people need to get to the server, having it too far away costs everyone time and money.

Also, you’ll need to consider the internet connection. At a certain distance, speed and connection may begin to lag, making the server and data center useless. Fiber connections improve this greatly, giving a company about a 25-mile radius to work with.

If living in an area that is prone to natural disasters, finding a data center running on its own grid could be a wise decision. As everything else fails, the server keeps running.

Temperature

The recommended temperature setting to keep a server running effectively is anywhere between 64 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with a humidity level of 20 to 80 percent.

One way to reduce the risk of high temperatures damaging a server due to overheating is to use SSD (solid-state storage) rather than a hard drive. Overheating can cause irreversible damage and destroy the server. SSDs won’t overheat as a hard drive can—and as a bonus, they take up less space.

Security

A company’s server holds all data—from payroll to future goals and everything in between. That information needs to be safe and protected. One breach could cost an enterprise millions of dollars.

Software protection is a must but so is physical protection. Before choosing a data center, understand what the security system is and how protected the server will be.

Reliability

The reality is a power outage that lasts for a week or more could lead to the bankruptcy of a company. It’s that important. Does the center offer backup power in emergency situations?

As mentioned before, loss of power means loss of productivity and can also mean dangerous temperature changes. Find a center that takes these issues seriously and has a UPS (uninterrupted power system) to protect your server.

Capacity

For most companies, future plans include growth. As a company grows, so do its server needs. A data center that can handle the increased network needs will be needed for reliability and network speed to continue.

Choose a center that supports fiber optic cabling to ensure a safe and efficient future for the server.

Keep in mind these five points as you choose a location for your data center and your company will enjoy years of safe and efficient servers.