Ok, you’ve built a sizeable client base, which now compels you to – research expanding your infrastructure. Rack expense is seemingly going up every month, to the point you’re considering colocating at a differnet data center.
You’ve been actively reading through threads – posted on related forums, searching Google for info on your narrowed list of providers, initiated contact with several providers to get a feel about their operation and … you’ve been crunching numbers until the keys are worn out on your calculator. Or your Excel spreadsheet is screaming, “Please, decide one way or the other. Just do something.”
Do you really need 2N+1 or would N+1 be sufficient? Do you really need biometrix hand scans and security guards posted behind bullet proof glass? What level of security meets your operational requirments? Can your business model support your current requirements? Is your current growth sustainable, or has your ROI turned upside down?
If you’re currently hosted in LA, NY or Chicago, you’re fully aware – that the cost of power contributes heavily to the liability side of your balance sheet. Power through Ameren UE in the Midwest is significantly less expensive, as much as half in some instances. If your cost was cut in half, let’s say from $20,000.00 to $10,000.00 monthly, would it matter if your servers were colocated in Chicago or St. Louis? Maybe, but it would sure make moving a lot more attractive!
For this type of move, I absolutely recommend – going to lunch with each of the providers on your narrowed list. Why? It allows you to gain some insight into their key players awareness and in-depth knowledge of the market. Simple conversation over a platter of pasta will reveal so much more about a provider than a formal (sometimes canned) presentation.
