When you evaluate data center companies, there are several important things you need to consider. One of the biggest is colocation connectivity.
When you store data or equipment off-site, you need high availability and low latency to ensure you have the reliability and speed you need. You also need to be confident that your data center and network provider can deliver the performance and resiliency you need to keep your business running.
There are multiple data center network connectivity options, but first, you need to find the right data center for your business. Our complimentary Data Center Request for Proposal template will help you compare different data centers and ensure you get the information you need to make a good decision. This includes specifications covering:
- Building
- Data center space
- Security
- Power configurations
- Cooling capacity
- Network services
- Systems
- Personnel
- Support
Data Center Network Connectivity
You should work with data center companies that are carrier neutral. In other words, you can use the internet provider of your choice instead of being locked into using a single carrier that a data center supports. Some single-provider data centers have connections with other data center companies, allowing an interconnect so customers can choose even more carriers.
To find the data center with the best colocation connectivity, you need answers to these questions:
- What private-line networking options do you provide, and how are they supported?
- What dark fiber providers do you work with?
- What redundancy options are built into your network backbone?
- What failover options do you have in place?
- What options do you have to reduce latency?
- What are the access points for telecom?
Choosing the Right Data Center for Your Business
While evaluating data center network connectivity, you have to consider the type of data center company you need. Some have greater levels of resiliency and redundancy.
The Uptime Institute classifies data centers into four tiers, with each level having additional redundancy and resiliency. The tiers include:
- Tier 1: 99.671% availability.
- Tier 2: 99.741% availability.
- Tier 3: 99.982% availability.
- Tier 4: 99.995% availability.
A Tier 1 facility offers basic infrastructure, including cooling equipment, power generators, and UPS systems. A Tier 2 facility includes some redundant components for power and cooling. However, both Tier 1 and Tier 2 facilities require a shutdown for maintenance.
Tier 3 facilities have more redundant components to allow for continuing operations--even during maintenance periods. Tier 4 facilities have several independent and isolated systems that are fault tolerant. So in case of failure, automatic switchover prevents downtime.
Remote-Hands Support and On-Site Support
In case of a problem, your data center should have remote hands support and engineers available on-site to help with troubleshooting, reboots, and network maintenance. This eliminates the possibility of lengthy delays while you wait for your IT staff to arrive on-site to fix a problem.
Connectivity Options
There are different levels of data center network connectivity you should consider depending on your needs, including:
- Dedicated internet access with fast and reliable fiber connectivity.
- Point-to-point connectivity or multipoint-to-multiple services with Ethernet or Wavelength.
- Direct cloud connect capability for private, secure access to cloud service providers.
- Private, public, and hybrid connectivity.
- Primary connectivity and backup connectivity.
Finding the Best Data Center Network Connectivity
Not all data center companies operate the same way. You need to work with high-quality providers that offer the level of colocation connectivity and the other services you need.
The quality of your data center network connectivity depends on the quality of your connectivity provider, which is why many Texas businesses chose LOGIX Fiber Networks for data center network connectivity. LOGIX connects to 80+ data centers that provide primary and secondary connectivity. LOGIX also operates 33 of its own data centers in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston.
With LOGIX, data center network connectivity is built on the largest independent fiber network in Texas, with more than 300,000 miles of fiber and with connections to 10,000 businesses and 3,000 enterprise buildings. LOGIX has dedicated fiber connectivity between all major Texas markets and has multiple fiber rings and diverse Tier-1 internet peering points.
LOGIX provides 24x7 network monitoring from its Texas-based Network Operations Center (NOC), including best-in-class network reliability and 99.999% network availability service level agreements. If there is ever a concern about your service, LOGIX has friendly, Texas-based support teams ready to help.
Are you looking for a company that can provide the level of data center network connectivity you need for your company? Contact LOGIX at 281-688-6283 or request a quote online.