At its most fundamental level, evaluating colocation proposals involves comparing providers’ responses against your organizational needs, as defined during the scoping process, and usually involves confirming four fundamental questions.

Users generally evaluate colo candidates on capacity, reliability, efficiency, telecom, risk avoidance, managed services, financial stability, expertise, costs, and a few other attributes.

With its minimum of mechanical parts and what feels like guaranteed service from the local utility, some owners and operators may be lulled into believing the power system runs on its own and they only need to pay attention to the IT equipment.

Using insights gained through dozens of colocation selection projects worldwide, this article discusses 17 points that should be evaluated during the scoping process in order to ensure success.

No matter the size of the facility, every data center must remain online around the clock. This requires personnel to regularly monitor the status of critical equipment and the environmental conditions around it, especially when DCIM systems aren’t in place.

While many data centers have embraced newer cooling technologies that are inherently more efficient than the systems of the past, outdated control strategies aren’t enabling these systems to deliver precisely the right amount of air to equipment racks with the greatest efficiency.