How to Speak Like a Data Center Geek: Managed Services

These days, it seems like everyone’s talking about data centers, but almost no one understands what they really do.

Our How to Speak Like a Data Center Geek blog series breaks down how modern data centers actually operate and why it matters.

One common misconception surrounding data centers is that they’re just a big box for storing servers. While it’s true that data centers provide the space, power and cooling needed to host hardware and keep it running properly, that’s certainly not all they do. For instance, some colocation data center operators provide fully managed IT services inside their facilities, including implementation support and troubleshooting.

These services help customers optimize their dedicated infrastructure environments without burdening their own IT staff. It’s one reason that colocation can provide a happy medium between the control and security of a private data center and the scalability and convenience of a cloud environment.

Managed services are where colocation evolves from infrastructure into outcomes. Let’s take a closer look at how colocation is becoming a managed infrastructure platform.

Backup and disaster recovery: Business continuity is an essential part of any enterprise strategy. Natural disasters, ransomware attacks and other unplanned incidents are inevitable, so organizations need to build a safety net to help them bounce back quickly when something does go wrong.

A managed private backup solution allows businesses to reduce risk and ensure continuity without the need to overpay for redundant hardware or perform time-consuming manual backups. The provider manages their backup infrastructure on their behalf, 24/7, using a cost-effective OPEX model.

Hybrid multicloud management: Today’s IT leaders understand how a hybrid multicloud architecture can help them avoid vendor lock-in and get the best possible combination of different public and private environments. But even if they understand the value of hybrid multicloud, successfully implementing such an architecture isn’t easy.

A hybrid multicloud management service helps remove the complexity by identifying the ideal mix of services for the customer’s unique needs, and then linking the different environments via flexible, scalable interconnection solutions and low-latency cloud on-ramps. This ensures hybrid multicloud that functions as a cohesive whole rather than a series of silos. Data and workloads move between environments as needed, and the service provider can resize the connections to keep up with the changing needs of the business.

Managed security services: Colocation data centers offer physical security services, including mantraps and biometric scanners that prevent unauthorized access to customer equipment. As important as these services are, today’s digital enterprises face threats that extend far beyond the physical equipment. They may look to the colocation provider for assistance with addressing those threats.

For instance, the provider can offer managed private firewall services that help protect their customers against advanced cybersecurity threats such as malware and phishing. These services are scalable, so customers don’t have to worry that their business may outgrow their current firewall setup.

Network enablement services: For any digital business, their network is the backbone that allows them to expand globally, connect with ecosystem partners, and exchange data to fuel collaboration and innovation. When that network doesn’t work as expected, the business won’t be able to execute their strategies or serve customers the way they need to.

The right colocation provider can help these businesses take full advantage of virtual connectivity solutions, enabling a network that’s secure, flexible and reliable. They can help set virtual connections to service providers, including clouds, and link the business’ own infrastructure in different locations throughout the world. When the network is experiencing issues such as insufficient bandwidth, the provider can scale the connections as needed.

Monitoring and alerting services: When an organization’s digital infrastructure experiences poor performance or security issues, it’s important that they know about it as soon as possible, so that they can begin addressing the underlying problem. However, not all organizations are able to perform 24/7 monitoring of their infrastructure environment. Even those that have the resources to do so may prefer not to, because it will take them away from more important things, like managing their core business processes.

The right monitoring and alerting services combine advanced technology and human expertise to give business leaders peace of mind. They can feel confident that their systems are constantly watched for potential security threats or other issues, and that when issues do arise, they’ll know about it before significant disruption can occur.

Remote server access: Deploying in a colocation data center gives businesses a private infrastructure environment they don’t need to manage all by themselves. Of course, the customer is allowed to send their staff to perform installations and troubleshooting, but that may not always be a good use of their limited time and resources.

A remote server access solution gives customers on-site support whenever they need it. They don’t need their IT staff to travel to the data center site for every little update they may need to make. These services can also include physical auditing, for the times when the customer needs exact details about their infrastructure assets and cable connectivity.

Learn more and get started with managed data center services

Across all the different forms of managed data center services summarized above, the common characteristics is that they allow businesses to reduce risk, scale globally and manage costs, while reducing the burden on their own IT staff.

These services further amplify the basic benefits that all businesses can achieve from deploying inside a colocation data center: a balance of control and privacy on one hand and flexibility and convenience on the other.

Learn more about Equinix Managed Solutions and Enablement Services: Visit us today.