There has been a major shift to digital working in the last two years, and many companies are beginning to rely on proactive managed IT services, including data center services. There’s an assumption that a data center can be located almost anywhere, just like a remote worker, but a lot plays into what makes the best locations for data centers.
When you’re looking for somewhere to store your data, location plays a bigger part than you think. Here’s why you need to prioritize as you try to locate a data center provider.
Security Matters
Your data center provider needs to be in a safe environment where security is high. Choosing a center that is somewhere with ongoing civil disturbances, for example, is a risk not only for the building but also for maintenance engineers needing to update and manage the system.
In the USA one of the biggest risks to security are natural disaster zones. Areas prone to earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters should be avoided in favor of lower-risk areas. A natural disaster can wipe out the system where your data is stored.
Network Providers and Connectivity
Always check out network providers when you plan to partner with a data center provider. Your potential data center should rely on a minimum of two to safeguard against failure and price monopoly. A successful data center needs to be able to make a lot of connections with fibers. The best way to achieve good bandwidth is to have connections to several network providers. Making sure the center has this capability before you sign any contracts is critical.
Check Out Your Customer Base
When you are choosing a data center, you need to focus on the general area where your customer base is. This affects the performance of your website and data access. You can do a ping test to determine latency. If your customers are spread across both the east and west coasts of the USA for example, choosing a provider in a central location will enable a good spread and low latency.
Cooler Climates
Data centers produce heat that needs to be removed with cooling technology. If the heat generated from the servers is not removed, there is a risk it will break down. One of the best ways to eliminate the heat efficiently is to use outside air.
Data systems located in cooler climates like Idaho are where it is easier and more efficient to remove hot air using the outdoors. In hotter climates, this method can only be used in colder months, but where temperatures are lower such as in Scandinavia, it can be used year-round.
Energy Prices
Data centers use a lot of electricity, and energy costs make up a significant proportion of the running costs. That will affect the charges you receive from the provider. You could also be faced with a price hike if the energy costs suddenly increase.
When looking for a data center, check out the energy costs in a region as it affects overall charges and your overhead costs. If your business is environmentally conscious, going to locations where there are renewable energy services is another way of reducing environmental impact.
There are several factors that affect the best location for a data center. By doing some research beforehand and checking out issues such as risk and climate, you will end up with the ideal place to support your business requirements.
Idaho Data Center
One of the most ideal locations for a data center in the United States is Idaho. Nuvek offers Idaho data centers that tick all the boxes! Get in touch with our team today to learn more about what we can do for you.