Operating your own data center is, without a doubt, a costly effort, and prices can vary greatly depending on the equipment you’re using as well as the location of the facility itself. You’re not just covering the costs to run the data center but, possibly, the costs of building the facility in the first place. Another important consideration is equipment maintenance and repair fees.
In fact, a 2016 study from the Ponemon Institute carried out in conjunction with Emerson Power Network (since acquired by Vertiv Co.) found that unplanned center outages have the potential to cost up to $9,000 per minute. Ouch! That being said, cost considerations are a very, very important factor for any prospective data center operator. With that in mind, one of the more important questions is “Should I lease or buy the hardware?” As with many things, there are advantages and disadvantages to both options, so let’s dig a little deeper.