Data is virtual — until it isn’t. The many terabytes of cloud data being generated every day have to reside on a server somewhere. With demand for both virtual and physical space soaring, finding the right location for data centers is becoming increasingly competitive. While the cloud may be everywhere, some data center locations are more strategic than others.
The data center market across North America saw tremendous growth in 2015, with multi-tenant data center (MTDC) providers in the United States alone earning revenues of $115.3 billion and experiencing 6.1% growth. Companies continued to outsource their IT platforms, lease third-party facilities and adopt cloud services, while many data center operators are evaluating upgrades to their facilities or scoping out new locations.