Glossary

Definitions and background information on Colocation (server housing), data centres, power supply, security, technical support and the main reasons why companies prefer Colocation.

Definition of Colocation and server hosting

Colocation, often referred to as server housing, involves relocating server hardware to a professional data centre operated by an Internet service provider.

Why data centres are crucial

Data centres are usually connected to a high-performance fibre-optic network, which enables impressive data transfer rates. The advantage of the Colocation lies in the specially designed rooms provided by these centres. Due to the heat generated by the hardware, constant climate control is necessary. Alarm and CCTV systems provide additional security, whilst special gas extinguishing systems are deployed in the event of a fire.

Power supply and technical support

To provide the best possible protection for the servers, data centres are equipped with multiple redundant power supplies. At Colocation, qualified technicians are also on site at all times to ensure maximum server availability. This means that any hardware issues can be resolved immediately. It should be noted that, despite the high power consumption of data centres, the costs for customers are often above the local average. These costs vary depending on energy consumption and cooling requirements.

Why companies prefer Colocation

Trouble-free operation of hardware servers is of crucial importance to many businesses. Colocation offers an effective solution for this in the data centre. The high data transfer rates of the fibre-optic network and the increasing demands placed on server rooms lead to higher capital expenditure. However, by renting space in a data centre, companies can flexibly adjust their capacity, which guarantees both cost-efficiency and maximum availability.