The increasing need for off-site data centers provided by third-party vendors is driven by organizations seeking to minimize costs associated with managing power, connectivity, space, and cooling on their premises.
However, choosing a suitable data center to accommodate an organization’s equipment can be a complex task due to the abundance of colocation providers offering a wide array of services and contract options.
The top colocation providers offer the opportunity to elevate your business to the next level. While initially opting to rent IT hardware and infrastructure may seem cost-effective in the short term (similar to traditional web hosting), as your business expands, purchasing your server hardware becomes a more economical choice.
When the time comes to host your equipment, colocation services step in by leasing racks and cabinets, allowing you to establish your server hardware within a data center’s core.
Selecting the right provider is a challenging task, and choosing the ideal operation can feel overwhelming. To assist in this decision-making process, we have highlighted some of the industry’s leading colocation providers.
Our evaluation includes a comparison of top colocation providers worldwide to assess their ability to meet your business needs effectively.
In our assessment, we have closely examined latency, considering factors such as the provider’s available data centers and, equally crucial, their geographical locations.
Top Colocation Providers Of 2024
Equinix
| Key Feature | Premier Choice for Uptime |
| Website | VISIT WEBSITE |
| Reasons to Buy | – Extensive global presence with hundreds of data centers – Robust network infrastructure – Diverse service offerings |
| Reasons to Avoid | – Support may lack a personal touch |
Equinix distinguishes itself with a significant global presence, boasting over 240 data centers across 71 cities in 27 countries on five continents. Its remarkable 99.9999% uptime positions it as the go-to choice for more than 260 Fortune 500 companies.
The company provides a broad spectrum of options for businesses, including configurations such as cages, suites, or server cabinets, and even dedicated pods that serve as private rooms.
Equinix caters to specific industry needs, offering risk mitigation solutions for financial services and a variety of virtualization opportunities.
Despite the extensive offerings, the vast array of options might be overwhelming, and smaller businesses may feel the absence of personalized support that smaller, SMB-focused colocation providers are known to provide.
Cyxtera
| Key Feature | TODAY’S BEST DEALS |
| Website | VISIT WEBSITE |
| Reasons to Buy | – Good spread of data centers – Solid network – Custom options |
| Reasons to Avoid | – Predominantly North American-based |
Cyxtera stands out with its extensive network of over 60 data centers spread across four continents, primarily anchored in the US.
This broad coverage stems from its acquisition of CenturyLink’s hardware assets, with CenturyLink continuing to provide network connections.
Cyxtera is known for its wide range of options, catering to various business needs with multiple levels of support and specifications. The strategic distribution of its data centers across the US is particularly beneficial for minimizing latency and enhancing connectivity nationwide.
An additional feature of Cyxtera is the flexibility to use your cabinets for a more customized server setup, although for security purposes, installation must be handled by Cyxtera technicians.
As a major provider, Cyxtera is well-equipped to meet the hardware support requirements of businesses looking for reliable colocation services.
Iron Mountain
| Today’s Best Deals | VISIT WEBSITE |
| Advantages | – Robust connectivity infrastructure – Operational presence across Europe and Asia |
| Limitations | – Limited number of data centers |
Iron Mountain is recognized as a mid-tier colocation providers, operating a portfolio of 21 data centers that span 9 locations in the United States.
Although its data center count doesn’t rival industry leaders like Equinix, Iron Mountain distinguishes itself with its unique strengths.
The provider is committed to environmental sustainability, with all data centers powered by 100% renewable energy.
This includes innovative cooling techniques and state-of-the-art solar power generation, such as their notable solar project in New Jersey, which set a record for the largest solar initiative at a data center in the United States.
Iron Mountain also prioritizes compliance, maintaining adherence to a comprehensive suite of global standards including HIPAA, FISMA High, PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, ISO 50001, SOC2/3, and others, ensuring secure and regulated data management for their clients.
The company’s colocation offerings are extensive, ranging from basic server colocation and cabinet options to exclusive data center suites and entire data halls dedicated to expansive projects.
With a legacy spanning three decades in the data management industry, Iron Mountain has cultivated a prestigious list of clients, featuring prominent digital companies such as Akamai and CBS Interactive, which speaks to its established track record as a trusted colocation service provider.
Digital Realty
| Today’s Best Deals | VISIT WEBSITE |
| Reasons to Buy | – Extensive global presence – Diverse carrier options – Robust infrastructure |
| Reasons to Avoid | – Higher pricing compared to some competitors |
Digital Realty is a major player in the colocation industry, boasting a significant global footprint achieved through strategic partnerships.
With ownership of over 300 data centers spanning 50+ cities worldwide, including key locations in America, Asia, Europe, and Africa, the company offers a vast network for businesses.
The company excels in connectivity, catering to the needs of critical applications in sectors like finance, healthcare, and social media.
Digital Realty not only provides standard cabinet and cloud services but also prioritizes environmental sustainability by implementing eco-friendly technologies to reduce power consumption and energy waste, earning recognition for its green initiatives.
Despite positioning itself as a premium global colocation providers, Digital Realty stands out for its localized support, ensuring that even small businesses can access tailored solutions without feeling overwhelmed by the scale of operations.
NTT Global Data Centres
| Today’s Best Deals | VISIT WEBSITE |
| Key Features | – Strong presence in APAC – Expansion in key markets like London, Singapore, Tokyo, and Virginia – Acquisition of RagingWire for US presence |
| Reasons to Buy | – Established as one of the largest colocation providers globally – Diverse portfolio catering to APAC, US, UK, and India markets |
| Reason to Avoid | – Limited information on specific services and offerings |
NTT Global Data Centres, a division of NTT Communications, has solidified its position as a leading colocation provider despite the trend of telcos divesting their data centre assets.
While primarily focused on the Asia-Pacific region, NTT GDC has expanded its reach with a significant presence in the US through the acquisition of RagingWire in 2018.
Additionally, the company has established a substantial footprint in the UK and India. With plans to increase its data centre footprint by 20% in key markets such as London, Singapore, Tokyo, and Virginia, NTT GDC is poised for further growth this year.
How To Choose The Best Colocation Provider
When choosing the best colocation provider, there are several key factors to consider based on the search results:
Location: Consider the proximity of the colocation facility to your business and disaster-prone areas. Choose a location that suits your needs in terms of accessibility, network latency, and disaster preparedness.
Security & Compliance: Ensure that the colocation provider complies with industry regulations and certifications related to data center security and reliability.
Connectivity: Evaluate the network connectivity options offered by different providers to ensure they meet your specific requirements, especially if you need to connect to specific public clouds or other networks.
Availability & Reliability: Look into the provider’s track record for uptime, disaster recovery services, power backups, and resiliency guarantees to ensure high availability for your workloads.
Managed Services: Assess whether you need managed services such as hardware deployment, data backup, or managed security services, and choose a provider that offers the level of support you require.
Support: Consider the level of support provided by the colocation provider as it can significantly impact your experience. Ensure that you receive the attention and expertise needed for your infrastructure.
Trust: Building trust with your colocation provider is crucial. Visit the data center in person to assess their operations, organization, and reliability. Trust is essential for ensuring uninterrupted service and business continuity.
Remember to conduct thorough research, evaluate these factors holistically, and prioritize your specific business needs when selecting a colocation provider for optimal performance and reliability.