Colocation is a popular solution for businesses of all sizes, life stages, and industries. With that in mind, here is a straightforward guide on how to compare colocation services in Denver.
Colocation is a data center service where businesses rent physical space to house their servers and IT infrastructure within a third-party facility.
Unlike traditional on-premises hosting, colocation provides a secure, high-performance environment with advanced cooling, power, and networking capabilities.
This approach allows companies to benefit from the data center’s infrastructure and management while retaining control over their hardware and the data on it.
Here are the top 10 key features of colocation.
Physical space options: Colocation providers offer various configurations, such as racks, cabinets, and private cages, to accommodate different IT needs.
Power redundancy: Facilities provide uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), backup generators, and diverse power feeds to ensure continuous operation.
High-speed connectivity: Colocation data centers have multiple carriers, providing low-latency, high-bandwidth internet and network connectivity.
Interconnection services: Colocation data centers provide direct connections to cloud providers, internet exchanges, and other businesses within the facility, enabling faster and more secure data transfers.
Cooling and climate control: Advanced HVAC and cooling systems regulate temperature and humidity to prevent hardware overheating.
Security measures: Features like biometric access, surveillance cameras, and on-site security staff protect customer equipment from unauthorized access.
Compliance certifications: Data centers adhere to industry standards (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001) to meet regulatory and security requirements.
Scalability: Businesses can expand their colocation footprint as IT infrastructure needs grow without major upfront investments.
Business continuity and disaster recovery: Many colocation facilities are built with geographically diverse locations, redundant systems, and disaster recovery capabilities to ensure uptime during emergencies.
Remote hands support: On-site technicians provide maintenance, troubleshooting, and physical server management for remote customers.
Here is an overview of the 10 most important factors to consider when choosing the right colocation provider for your business.
Location: Choose a facility that is accessible for your IT team but far enough from natural disaster zones to minimize risks. Proximity to business operations can also impact latency and maintenance efficiency.
Reliability: Look for providers with strong uptime guarantees, typically backed by SLAs (Service Level Agreements). Tier III or Tier IV data centers offer the most robust uptime guarantees.
Security measures: The facility should have robust physical and cyber security to protect infrastructure. These measures should include fire-suppression systems.
Compliance certifications: Ensure the data center meets industry regulations and certifications (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA) relevant to your business sector.
Network connectivity: A good colocation provider offers multiple carrier options, direct cloud connections, and high-speed, low-latency networking to support business operations.
Power and cooling infrastructure: Assess the provider’s power redundancy (e.g., UPS, generators) and cooling efficiency to ensure equipment stays operational under any circumstances.
Scalability: Ensure the provider can accommodate future growth by offering flexible space, power, and connectivity options as your business expands.
Disaster recovery capabilities: Evaluate the provider’s backup solutions, redundancy measures, and disaster recovery services to ensure business continuity.
Remote hands support: On-site technical support should be available 24/7 for maintenance, troubleshooting, and hardware management, especially for remote teams.
Cost and contract terms: Compare pricing, hidden fees, and contract flexibility to find a provider that aligns with your budget and business needs.
Here are five key points to consider when evaluating colocation services in Denver.
Denver’s semi-arid climate, high altitude (over 5,000 feet), and fluctuating temperatures can impact data center operations. Thinner air affects cooling efficiency. It’s therefore crucial for providers to implement advanced cooling solutions such as liquid cooling or high-efficiency air conditioning. The dry climate also increases the risk of static electricity, making humidity control systems essential to prevent damage to sensitive equipment.
Denver is a growing interconnection hub, attracting major tech companies like IBM, HP, and Oracle. Colocation providers should offer multiple carrier options, direct cloud connections to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, and redundant fiber routes to ensure low-latency and high-speed connectivity.
Selecting a provider near Denver’s business districts, such as the Denver Tech Center (DTC) or downtown, ensures easy access for IT staff and reduced latency for local clients. Businesses in finance, healthcare, or tech may also benefit from proximity to industry-specific hubs.
Colorado offers tax incentives for data centers, including exemptions on IT equipment purchases and energy efficiency rebates. Ensure your provider takes advantage of these financial benefits to lower operational costs.
A provider involved in Denver’s tech community can offer strategic value beyond colocation. Look for participation in local organizations like the Colorado Technology Association or industry events, which can provide networking opportunities and insights into regional tech trends.
For customers requiring a wide range of fast connectivity options in Denver, DataBank has key interconnection points at our carrier hotel data center in downtown Denver. Deploying your technology in a carrier hotel data enables you to speed your time-to-market for new services, reduce latency, scale your applications without switching data centers, and lower your carrier costs.
Learn more about DataBank’s four Denver metro data centers, including key mechanical information, interesting facts about the region, and colocation options and benefits.
The factors affecting the cost of colocation in Denver are much the same as the factors affecting the cost of colocation in other cities. Here is a quick overview of them, along with Denver-specific considerations.
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