November 04, 2009
Managed vs. Unmanaged Colocation
Though two distinct types of services, just like a dedicated server, colocation solutions come in the form of managed and unmanaged. It is important to understand the differences and your exact requirements before choosing a facility to colocate your equipment. This is the only way to determine the right service for your individual specifications and requirements. To give you a closer look at what they have to offer, we will go over the pros and cons of these two colocation services.
Managed Colocation
Managed colocation is the best option for the business that lacks the time and IT resources needed to maintain their equipment. When opting for this service, you generally do not have to manually perform all the tasks required to keep your systems online. In the typical managed arrangement, you simply lease space for your servers along with any other services you may need and the hosting provider takes care of all the maintenance. This is a turn-key solution that frees you of thing such as performing reboots, software upgrades, troubleshooting and other tasks that are necessary to keep your equipment running efficiently. Managed colocation offers the advantage of the infrastructure and data center to store your hardware with the added benefit of not having to put in the physical labor. The only thing you really have to do is move your equipment and run your business. Of course there are disadvantages, with the most significant usually being a substantially higher price for the pampered treatment.
Unmanaged Colocation
Although unmanaged colocation hosting probably sounds far more tedious, there are some benefits to be reaped. Opting for this arrangement gives you much greater flexibility when it comes to hardware, software and other components you want to incorporate. While you are essentially forced to operate within the limits of the data center facility, you still have the utmost control to take action at your leisure. This flexibility is extended by the freedom to go come and go to the facility as needed. Depending on the contract, a managed solution may limit your access to the facility as well as the tasks that can be performed in regard to your equipment. The major drawback here is that your technicians must be available to travel to the colocation center and tend to your systems at the drop of a dime.
Conclusion
After reading this, it should be clear to see that managed and unmanaged colocation services are geared towards two different customers. If you have the required IT resources, an unmanaged service might be the best option as it will provide you with the highest degree of control while helping you keep some money in your pocket. The managed variety allows you to move your hardware and leave all the technical aspects in the hands of the provider. Regardless of which type of colocation you choose, remember to conduct your due diligence to make sure the host has the facility and expertise to meet your exact requirements.
Categories: Colocation Hosting |
Tags: dedicated server,
data center,
colocation,
colocate,
unmanaged colocation,
troubleshooting,
software upgrades,
reboots,
managed colocation,
IT resources
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