The total global volume of data is expected to reach 175 zettabytes within the next five years.
With the rise of SaaS and the Internet of Things (IoT), can companies continue to host their own data in-house? Or should they look to a third-party provider to manage their information?
This article examines third party data centres as the ideal solution to hosting critical business data.
We explain what a third party data management service is and how it differs from on-site hosting. We also outline the benefits of data centres and how colocation is the perfect choice to store your data safely.
Read on to discover the best way to manage your business data through a third-party provider.
Why the need for data management?
Data continues to play a critical role in business, from storing customer records to analysing big data through AI.
Yet all this data needs to be stored somewhere. It must remain safe, be accessible at all times, and comply with all necessary regulations.
Downtime in a world where the workplace never sleeps is unacceptable.
Databases, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), web sites—they all require uninterrupted data flow. Servers control this movement and offer authorised connections to read and update information. Misconfiguration or faulty hardware can decimate a business overnight if no one is there to help fix it.
It’s essential to not only have a system to manage business data, but also to ensure it remains available at all times.
Types of data storage
There are 3 recognised types of data storage solutions:
- On-site or on-premises
- Colocation services
- Cloud storage
On-site or on-premises
On-site data gets stored inside of a local or wide area network within the company’s own premises. For small to medium-sized businesses, that means using servers located in a dedicated data room or closet.
Full responsibility for this hardware lies with the office or IT manager.
That includes organising the installation, security, and maintenance of each piece of hardware. Any outdated equipment must be replaced and managers are ultimately liable for any downtime.
Colocation services
Companies that need bigger or better data management solutions use colocation.
Colocation services store data on company-owned equipment, but then house this equipment off-site, in a purpose-built data centre facility. Instead of having to physically house and service their own servers, they use a data centre to host their hardware.
Data centre operators like Netwise offer a dedicated solution to store your company data.
Businesses can either purchase their own servers or let us order, configure, and install them on your behalf. They’re placed in server racks, which can be divided into segregated cabinets, or even provided on a per unit basis.
Data centres are fully secured, both digitally and physically. They’re also monitored for intrusions such as hacking attempts and DDoS attacks.
Cloud storage
Cloud storage lets you save information to an off-site location, held on large distributed systems owned an operated by a cloud service provider.
Cloud providers host, manage, secure, and maintain all the necessary hardware. They’re also responsible for the infrastructure that lets you access your data.
A cloud storage system often uses multiple clusters of servers to host data. They’re termed data buckets and companies use them to hold multiple digital objects like videos or back-up files.
What is a data management third party provider?
A third party provider is an external company that’s responsible for hosting your data.
Unlike on-site storage, they help to maintain and control your servers for you. Our world-class London data centres enable our clients to colocate their own servers and utilise our high-uptime utilities.
But what are the main differences between a third-party provider and managing data on your own premises?
On-site vs online data centres
Until quite recently, most businesses traditionally stored data in-house, on the servers they keep in their offices.
That required the purchase and installation of cabling, switches, a network cabinet, and the servers themselves. Not to mention licencing the right software.
For many years, Microsoft SBS enabled Windows PCs to store and share files over a company’s network. Back-ups were saved to costly tape drives and placed in a fire-proof safe.
So why did Microsoft Small Business Server come to its end of life in January 2020?
Online data management
With the rise of broadband and fibre internet, companies abandoned on-site methods in favour of online solutions.
Modern internet infrastructure enables the sharing of terabytes of data around the world, all at the speed of light. That global network now enables businesses to store and access large volumes of information via third-party data centres.
Low latency combined with robust security ensures a better service than hosting on-site. But the benefits don’t stop there.
Benefits of a third party data management provider
Unlike your business’s premises, data centres are designed to do one thing: host your critical data.
A data centre provider like Netwise can manage your company’s data by offering:
- Multiple reliable power sources
- Resilient, high-performance connectivity
- DDoS mitigation services
- Multi-unit to full rack colocation services
- Dedicated and custom hosting
- Access to software licencing
Data centres come equipped with UPS hardware to ensure systems stay up when the power goes down.
Security software continually monitors for intrusion attempts and attacks. And they can provide custom servers to match your exact requirements.
Colocation vs public cloud
What’s the difference between a cloud host and a colocation data centre?
The main issue is where your private data gets stored.
A public cloud host saves your sensitive information on servers all around the world. There are often no geographic constraints which can cause problems when protecting data. It’s also more difficult to set-up an environment that’s dedicated to a legacy system on the cloud.
With a colocation provider, everything’s kept on your own servers.
You know exactly where your hardware is at all times, which makes life easier for GDPR compliance etc. You also manage who accesses it and what’s stored there.
If you want full control over your data but don’t want the limitations of hosting it yourself, always choose the colocation option.
Host and manage all of your data with Netwise
This article has examined the issues faced when hosting and managing data within a local network.
Not only is it less expensive to use a third-party provider to manage your information, but it’s faster and safer too. That’s why companies of all sizes choose Netwise to hold their most important digital assets.
Netwise owns and operates private data centres in the heart of London to host your critical business systems.
Our London Central facility boasts 11,000 square feet of technical space, housing up to 200 racks. Our data centre buildings run on 100% renewable energy and they’re secured by 24/7 monitored security.
See how much you can save with our colocation services by using our colocation calculator. This step-by-step process lets you choose your power, space, connectivity, and port speed requirements. Then, when you’re ready, get in touch by contacting our team.
Don’t let your data get out of control. Use a third-party provider. Use Netwise.