A datacenter is a datacenter is a datacenter. Server racks here, fans there, and cables wrapped every which way to Sunday. Simple, right?
…Not so much.
When it comes to datacenters, there is an unsettlingly wide spectrum ranging from the truly robust and reliable, to even less secure than the average office server room. If you’re toying with the idea of colocation or cloud computing, then, it makes good sense to investigate the best-quality datacenters in the area, and the features that differentiate them from the rest.
As a Rockville-based IT services provider who offers both cloud computing and colocation services, we’ve dedicated a significant amount of time to vetting the facilities in the area. So, conveniently, we’ve done much of the relevant research for you!
Below we’ll work through what elements you need to look for in a datacenter, along with a list of some of the best facilities in the DC Metro area.
What to look for in a datacenter facility
Here are the main elements to consider when you’re evaluating a datacenter:
- Staffing. Is the datacenter staffed at all times? Is there a dedicated security presence beyond an off-site Network Operations Center (NOC) that is performing security functions? Are these staff tracking the comings and goings of each visitor to the datacenter? Is the facility vacant on weekends and open to anyone with a badge?
- Physical Security. Does the facility perform multiple kinds of authentication, including badges, PIN/passwords, and biometric scans? Are there security traps that isolate visitors who cannot provide proper identification? Are server racks closed and locked?
- Internet. Does the datacenter provide Internet, or do you have to contract your own? Do they offer a blended redundant Internet solution, where they handle the complexities of ISP failover and routing? Do they have points of presence for major ISPs in the region? Should you need a direct connection to the facility, what will it take to bring your MPLS into the fold?
- Power. Does the datacenter have redundant power at all locations, with fully-isolated battery and generator power? Is the utility power in that part of town reliable?
- Support. Is there 24/7 support? If you’re out of town and one of your systems needs to be rebooted or a drive needs to be replaced, will they be able to respond to your request? How quickly? At what cost?
- Capacity. How much capacity does the datacenter have in the event that you need to expand your presence?
- Tier. What tier is the datacenter based on its uptime? The levels are 1-4: Tier 1 has no redundancy (up to 28 hours of unexpected downtime per year), all the way up to Tier 4 which has fully-redundant power, Internet, and cooling at all points (less than 30 minutes of unexpected downtime per year).
- Certification. What kind of certification does the datacenter have? The industry standard is SAS-70, or SSAE 16 SOC-1 Type II.
The best datacenters in the Washington DC/Maryland/Virginia area
Here are the big names in the datacenter arena—these are facilities that we would recommend you investigate when you’re looking into colocation or cloud computing:
- RagingWire. RagingWire has facilities in Sacramento, California and Ashburn, Virginia. Their Ashburn facility houses our entire cloud computing environment, so we clearly put a lot of (literal) stock in its reliability.
- Equinix. Equinix has a presence in five countries and 12 U.S. cities including the Washington, D.C. Take a look at their website here.
- CyrusOne. CyrusOne manages over 30 datacenter facilities, one of which is located in Sterling, Virginia. Click here for a closer look.
- Zayo (formerly Latisys). Zayo runs datacenters in Irvine, Denver, Chicago, and Ashburn. Check them out here.
Hopefully this list will give you a head start when it comes to locating a datacenter that fits your organization’s needs.
Remember: when it comes to the security of your data and your network equipment, taking the time to do your homework, check references, and make an educated decision is more than worth the effort.