If your organization is like the typical business in the contemporary world, it’s probably generating a significant amount of data. Maybe it’s a hospital, with its patient records; a field management company holding information on the properties it takes care of; or a bank with an extensive database of several hundred thousand customers.

You need to keep all that information somewhere that’s secure, in a location that lets you access the data when you need it. After all, you will have to use it at some point. And that’s what data centers are for.

Data centers are the hard, physical structures that support whatever processing or storage you’re able to do on internet-based platforms. They hold the servers that allow expansive networks to exist and function. Without them, we might not have widespread connectivity as we now know it.

What is a Data Center?

A data center is a location in which organizations house their critical applications and data. These centers comprise servers, storage systems, routers, switches, and other equipment that enable businesses and other setups to store and manage their data and applications.

A lot of power is required to sustain the storage and computing that goes on within these facilities. As a result, they will also come with Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and backup generators, as well as the cooling and ventilation that are needed to prevent equipment from heating up.  

Data centers are typically located away from the businesses that store data in them. In most cases, they are run by a different company, such as a managed services provider that allows businesses to keep or rent server and storage space with them.

Organizations are opting to hold their data and applications with data centers because they cannot manage the equipment required to do this within their business premises. This might be because they can’t afford to build an on-premise data center themselves, or they don’t want their physical spaces taken up by such a facility.

What You Should Consider Before Choosing a Data Center

What if your organization generates a lot of data and uses applications for which it needs supporting infrastructure?

You might want a data center to give you the supporting infrastructure you require. And if you’re in Nigeria, there are a handful of options you can choose from.

But how do you know which one of the available alternatives will offer you the right kind of service?

Here’s a list of criteria that should help you whittle down the field of options and select one that works best for you.

1. Security

Here, you want to look at both the data center’s physical and network security.

Ensure that your data center uses software that protects your data and applications from intrusive actors. You should ask the service provider about their provisions on this front, and decide if they are robust enough for you.

Physical security measures should also be in place. These include security cameras and biometrics identification. Access to the facility should be restricted to staff and other authorized personnel. Security guards may also be required where necessary.

It’s important that your data center ticks this box. Because they hold a lot of sensitive data, they might be targeted by cybercriminals who want to break into their systems. With strong security provisions in place, these threats can be resolved.

2. Location

The distance between your organization and the data center you use could determine the speed of connectivity you get from your servers. The farther the center is from your establishment the slower it might get.

Many businesses in Nigeria rely on service providers located outside of the country. This also means that they have to rely on data centers located thousands of miles away from Nigeria. This sometimes leads to higher data latency, manifested in slow download times.

If you are an organization in Nigeria, you can speed up your connectivity by using local data centers such as the one run by Layer3. By hosting your resources with them, you could cut out the issues you have with slow networks, and ultimately reduce your business’s costs and increase its productivity.

3. Infrastructure and Scalability

What kind of infrastructure does your preferred data center have?

These facilities will usually have hundreds or thousands of servers housed in racks, with multiple rows of these racks available. If your servers are of a particular size, you should ensure that the rack space is sufficient to take them up.

Their power supply is also an issue. Make sure they use a reliable power source, with good back-up options.

But you should be thinking of your future needs as well. Is there enough room for you to expand, in case you want to scale up your capacity?

4. Support

You should be able to call or send a message to your service provider if there’s a problem with something that they are responsible for. Data centers typically have 24/7 monitoring and support, so you should get a response to your questions regardless of when you contact them.

Before you decide to pitch your tent with them, be sure that they can communicate with you clearly, in language that isn’t too technical. You want to understand what they are saying so you can always take the right action in response.

5. Reputation

Is your data center reliable? What sort of presence do they have in the IT industry? What are their present clients saying about them?

These are some of the questions you could ask of any data center you’re looking to work with. Get a feel of the public perception of their professionalism and expertise. If it’s relevant, find out whether they have served organizations in your industry.

There’s a higher chance that you will get satisfactory service from a facility that is known to offer quality to its clients.

Layer3: Reliable and Secure Data Center in Nigeria

If you would like to find out how data centers can help your business grow, you can contact the IT consultants at Layer3. They could look at your organization’s needs and suggest solutions that work specifically for you.

Layer3 also offers data center services, along with network design and implementation that deliver efficient networks for your business.

Contact us here to schedule a session with our experts today.