Tips on 6 Data Center Colocation Considerations There is a third option for companies that want to operate their own servers or lease external ones -- colocation. Colocation centers house your equipment in professional server rooms. Each data center is different, however. To find the best colocation center, you should evaluate candidates based on six key factors. Uptime SLA The availability of servers is crucial, and even a short interruption can be extremely costly. Today, most colocation providers guarantee 100% uptime for their clients, and anything less is unacceptable. For full access, you need reliable network connections. Colocation centers make use of multiple ISPs and multiple WAN connections to create a network that remains functional even in the event of network traffic overload or physical damage to the connections. Software changes are the major cause of downtime. Server administrators regularly upgrade software, install security patches, or modify serve...