​​What Is Colocation (Colo)? Everything You Need to Know

If your business depends on consistent uptime and data security, where you house your IT infrastructure matters. Many organizations are finding that colocation – often referred to as “colo – offers the performance and protection they need without the cost and complexity of having to build and operate their own data centers.

But what is colocation, exactly? And how does it compare to keeping servers in-house or moving entirely to the cloud? In this guide, we’ll explain what colocation is and what to look for when choosing a colocation facility.

Colocation Definition: What Is Colo?

Colocation is a service where businesses place their own IT hardware, such as servers, storage devices, and networking equipment, inside a third-party data center. It’s increasingly popular – current projections show global demand for data center capacity is expected to more than triple by 2030.¹

With colocation, you own and manage your equipment, but the colocation facility provides:

• Space: Rack, cabinet, or cage space for your hardware
• Power: Redundant, high-capacity electrical connections
• Cooling: Industrial-grade climate control to maintain optimal operating conditions
• Connectivity: High-speed, carrier-neutral internet connections
• Security: Physical and digital safeguards to protect your assets

Think of it as housing your servers in someone else’s highly secure, always-on building, while still maintaining full control over your IT infrastructure.

What Is a Colocation Facility?

A colocation facility is a professionally managed data center designed to store IT equipment for multiple tenants. Because you’re sharing the building and resources with other companies, you gain access to enterprise-grade infrastructure at a fraction of the cost of building your own data center.

These facilities are engineered for high availability and reliability. They include redundant power systems and backup generators to keep your equipment running during outages, as well as precision HVAC systems to ensure your hardware always operates under optimal conditions. And because they provide access to multiple network providers, you get more options for speed, redundancy, and performance.

Security is also a top priority. Colocation facilities use a layered approach that may include biometric entry systems, 24/7 on-site personnel, CCTV monitoring, and controlled access points. This combination of infrastructure, connectivity, and security lets businesses operate their own hardware in an environment that’s more resilient and better protected than most on-premise server rooms.

What Is a Colocation Server?

A colocation server is simply your physical server hosted in a colocation facility. You purchase, configure, and maintain the hardware, but instead of hosting it on-site, you place it in a colo facility. Many businesses colocate multiple servers to create high-availability clusters, disaster recovery systems, or hybrid cloud environments.

6 Benefits of Colocation Over In-House Hosting

A colocation server deployment offers several advantages for businesses, including:

1. Lower Infrastructure Costs

Rather than spending millions to build your own data center, colocation services let you pay a predictable monthly fee for space, power, and connectivity. This makes it easier to budget for IT expenses while using high-end infrastructure, which can free up capital for other strategic initiatives.

2. Better Connectivity Options

A carrier-neutral colocation facility gives you direct access to multiple ISPs, cloud providers, and network exchange points, so you can choose the best mix of providers for your organization’s needs. Because these connections are often available on-site, you can switch or add carriers without physically moving equipment or reconfiguring your network from scratch.

3. Enhanced Reliability

Downtime is expensive, both in lost productivity and potential revenue. Colocation providers design their facilities with redundant power and network connections, along with failover systems, to minimize outages. Plus, many offer uptime SLAs of 99.99% or higher – a level of reliability that’s difficult to achieve in most in-house environments.

4. Stronger Security

Colocation facilities typically use multiple layers of security, including biometric access controls, continuous video surveillance, and on-site staff. These measures reduce risks like unauthorized access, theft, or tampering with your housed equipment. 

5. Seamless Scalability

Scaling an on-prem data center usually requires expensive infrastructure upgrades. Colocation lets you expand your IT footprint by adding racks or cabinets as you grow, so it’s easier to respond to new opportunities and demand spikes without any major disruptions.

6. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity

Hosting servers off-site adds a layer of resilience in case your primary office is affected by an outage or other disruption. Many businesses include colocation facilities as part of a disaster recovery plan to make sure critical systems stay online even during emergencies. 

What Is Colo Pricing?

Colocation pricing will depend on the amount of rack space you need (measured in rack units, cabinets, or cages), the power draw of your equipment, your network bandwidth requirements, and the level of support and services included.

Typical pricing models include:

• Per-U pricing: Pay per rack unit of space
• Per-cabinet pricing: Flat rate for a full rack
• Custom cage pricing: For larger deployments with dedicated physical security

While costs can vary, many businesses find colocation more cost-effective than building and maintaining their own facilities.

Colocation Meaning in the Context of Hybrid IT

For many businesses, colocation is often part of building a flexible, hybrid IT strategy.

A hybrid model may combine on-premise equipment for local workloads, public cloud services for scalability and agility, and colocation servers for mission-critical workloads that require maximum control. This approach lets you keep sensitive workloads on your own hardware while still taking advantage of the speed, security, and uptime that a colocation facility offers.

What To Look For in a Colocation Facility

Not all colocation facilities are created equal. When evaluating data center providers, consider factors like:

Location

Choose a facility close enough for your team to access easily but far enough from your primary site to avoid shared risks from local outages or disasters.

Power and Cooling

Look for features like redundant power feeds, backup generators, and industrial-grade cooling to ensure consistent operation.

Connectivity

Make sure the data center offers a mix of carriers and high-speed network connections, which are essential for reliable performance.

Security

The facility’s security measures should include:

• Biometric or card-based access control
• 24/7 security personnel
• CCTV monitoring
• Mantraps and secure entry points

With these protections in place, you can have greater confidence that your critical systems are always safe.

Compliance and Certifications

If you must meet industry regulations like HIPAA, PCI DSS, or SOC 2, make sure the colocation facility meets or exceeds these standards.

Service Levels

Review the provider’s SLAs for uptime guarantees, response times, and on-site support availability.

Is Colocation Right for Your Business?

Not sure if colocation is the right move for your organization? Colocation could be a good fit if:

• You’re running out of space or power in your current server room
• Your current hosting setup can’t meet your uptime or performance needs
• You want access to faster connectivity options
• You need to meet strict compliance or security requirements
• You’re planning a hybrid IT or disaster recovery strategy

Ultimately, colocation gives you the ability to control your company’s own equipment – while leveraging the cost-saving and expertise of a dedicated data center provider.

Find a Best-Fit Colocation Facility With CommQuotes

Colocation needs aren’t the same for every business. For some, it’s about cutting costs. For others, it’s about boosting uptime, meeting compliance requirements, or building a hybrid IT environment. The right colocation provider should align with your unique goals and give your organization the infrastructure, connectivity, and security to support long-term success.

That’s where we come in.

At CommQuotes, we leverage our relationships with thousands of trusted data center and colocation partners to match you with providers that truly fit your needs. We’ll take the time to understand your goals, do the legwork, and present the best solutions at the guaranteed lowest prices – all at no cost to you.

Ready to explore your colocation options? Contact us today to get started.

Sources:

1. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/ai-power-expanding-data-center-capacity-to-meet-growing-demand