Today’s businesses are increasingly reliant on technology. With a whole range of interconnected software, apps and communication platforms now controlling automated business processes for businesses of all sizes, technology is at the very heart of what we do. While everything is running smoothly this provides incredible opportunities for businesses looking to expand beyond what would have been possible without technical innovation. But there is, of course, a downside to our reliance on tech. When a real disaster strikes, IT teams can be left powerless – and work may quickly grind to a halt.
Thankfully there are steps that companies can take to protect themselves from the dangers posed by disasters, whether from natural events like fires and floods, to cyber attacks designed to target a company’s IT systems. A great disaster recovery plan is of course vital for any business, but even more so if a company would be left unable to operate should its systems go down unexpectedly. For many companies, colocation is a big part of that disaster recovery plan.
Colocation’s role in disaster recovery
Designed to dramatically improve the resilience of IT systems no matter what happens, colocation strategies are now being used by companies looking for protection against a wide range of threats, from cyber security incidents to natural disasters, and even new hazards brought about by climate change.
Combining fail-safe infrastructure along with robust power and networking options, colocation providers make sure businesses continue to run when they might otherwise have been forced to down tools.
Many colocation providers offer emergency offices, where teams can gather and resume work if their usual office becomes inaccessible. This is an increasingly popular option for companies that are often affected by natural disasters such as storms, hurricanes or flooding.
A colocation office space ensures that teams are still able to offer customers support and respond to queries efficiently, even if their usual office is out of bounds. Whether teams need to update customers on changes to their orders or planned deliveries, or simply reassure them that their orders won’t be affected, keeping communication channels open is a real advantage. If teams are able to stay in touch with customers, clients and suppliers, confidence will remain high and no damage will be done to hard-earned reputations.
Why might a business need a colocation plan?
Disaster recovery should be a priority for all businesses, no matter how big or small the company is. Cyber crime poses a real threat to small and medium sized enterprises, as well as much larger more complex organisations. And with the threat of cyber attacks growing every year, this is something that no business can afford to ignore.
Organisations operating in areas that are particularly prone to extreme weather events have an added reason to consider disaster recovery, but the truth is that no company is completely immune to the threat of such a disaster, so it’s something that’s always worth planning for – no matter how unlikely it might seem!
Some companies choose to design their own disaster-resistant infrastructure, creating an additional facility where data can be housed securely, far away from their main data center. While this is a good option for businesses with significant resources at their disposal, it requires considerable investment, meaning it’s well out of reach for the vast majority of businesses. But companies that don’t have vast budgets available for disaster recovery can still benefit from a colocation strategy, by partnering with a reliable colocation provider.
The benefits of colocation for disaster recovery
A colocation strategy provides a wealth of benefits for companies hoping to protect themselves from a wide range of different threats. Take a look at some of the key advantages of including colocation in your disaster recovery plan to see how this option might save the day if disaster should strike at your company.
Cost-effective
Colocation providers offer a cost-effective service, making it possible for smaller companies to take advantage of colocation. At a colocation center, the costs involved in maintaining the facility and keeping it running smoothly are shared between a number of different businesses. With no one company footing the bill for the entire operation, costs are significantly reduced.
Experienced support staff
Dealing with an emerging disaster can be incredibly stressful, so it pays to have a team of qualified, experienced support staff on side. Available to offer advice and assistance no matter what challenges a business happens to be facing, colocation support teams can help keep operations running from day one of a disaster right through to the recovery process.
Top level security
Security is always a huge concern in any disaster, whether it be a cyber attack or a natural event. With a colocation provider looking after valuable data and sensitive information, businesses no longer have to worry about the potential damage of data leaks and other attacks. Colocation providers offer state of the art security features, from 24-hour monitoring, firewall services and advanced threat detection to automated attack mitigation.
Resilience
Colocation enables businesses to rapidly improve their resilience, giving teams the confidence to embark on ambitious expansion strategies without hesitation. This resilience is vital for companies hoping to strengthen their reputations, improve the services customers are offered and outsmart the competition. Providing physical resilience as well as heightened security features, colocation providers can significantly reduce downtime.
Emergency office space
Physical office space might mean the difference between teams being able to keep your company running, and many services having to stop. If this could be the case for your company, it’s worth thinking about another benefit of colocation: emergency office space. Many colocation providers include this as part of the package they offer. Emergency offices come fully equipped with desks, phone and internet connectivity and all the other equipment your teams will need.
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Collocation provides a number of great benefits for businesses hoping to limit the impact of a disaster and keep unplanned downtime to a minimum. The cost-effective solution is ideal for businesses of all sizes, providing the enhanced security features and support that companies need to quickly improve their resilience to a wide range of different disasters. Talk to our team to find out more about how colocation could help protect your company.
