| By :
Dirik Hameed
A company may find co-location hosting a far cheaper and more convenient option than running their own It department since the host can offer them bandwidth at a cheaper rate than other alternatives and the host can maintain their servers, network equipment and data storage systems for them. A colocation service takes care of the IT side of a business so that a company can focus its efforts on other aspects of running the business. There are various means by which a co-location host can keep a datacentre safe, a few of which are discussed below. A server colo host should install fire protection measures within a datacentre. This can include the use of smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, as well as inert gases (which don't harm computers) instead of water to suppress fire. There may also be physical fire-proof walls built within the colo datacentre in order to stop fires spreading. The colocation service datacentre should have adequate security. For example in order to get into the datacentre visitors may have to be accompanied by a guard or need a PIN code or card, there may be motion sensors and CCTV within the facility and in addition patrolling guards may be utilised. Companies may have their own locked facilities for their equipment within the datacentre that requires a key to get into them. The colocation service may also employ iris scans, fingerprint recognition and voice recognition as part of its security. Co-location datacentres should have an uninterruptible power supply which will take over if the power fails so that servers and network hardware continue to run smoothly. The datacentre should also have generators on the premises ready to take over in the event of a power failure. Diesel should also be stored on the datacentre premises to keep the generators running. Numerous sets of generators should be present to provide further redundancy in the event of a power failure. A lightning protection system within the colo datacentre will assist in protecting servers against electricity spikes that result from lightning. Power should be routed through the lightning protection system, uninterruptible power supply and generator changeover panel in order to ensure a smooth supply to the servers. The equipment within a co-location datacentre requires a great deal of cooling as it generates a lot of heat. Therefore the colo provider should ensure there is adequate air conditioning with redundancy throughout the datacentre. Multiple redundant fibre optic cable bundles should be used within the datacentre, and the bundles should come into the co-location facility from several different points. In this way, if one bundle is damaged the other bundles will ensure that communication is not disrupted. The co-location datacentre may in addition make use of wireless or satellite connection facilities. Sensors for detecting water may be installed in a colocation service datacentre so that staff are made aware if a leak occurs. The points mentioned above are just a few of the things you should look out for when searching for a colocation service to ensure your equipment is stored in a safe colo datacentre.
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