subject: Las Vegas Data Center: How To Look For Quality [print this page] While companies are considering budget cuts across the board in this economy, their Las Vegas data center is certainly not among them. Construction of data centers has boomed over the last couple of years as companies realize that it's a more cost efficient and effective way at managing their data systems. As more and more businesses rely on the technology, many companies have sprung up to fill the need. How do you tell a good Las Vegas data center from a bad one?
Is Tech Support Available 24/7?
This is an important issue to establish. Does your data center offer hands-on, 24/7 emergency help? Your colocation is essential to your business. If it goes down, even in the middle of the night, you need someone on hand who can get it back up and running as soon as possible. Check to see if these services are free with your package or if they cost extra. It's not uncommon for some companies to charge up to $100 an hour for this service, while others include it standard in their package.
Consider Bandwidth
The strength of a Las Vegas data center comes down to bandwidth. Make sure your company has plenty available. Some services will offer low monthly fees, but then overload their bandwidth, resulting in a sluggish system. Make sure your company has plenty of flow to meet your needs.
Choose State of the Art Facility
The quality of your Las Vegas data center depends on the infrastructure in which it is housed. You want highly scalable, super fast connections that have redundant pathways to guarantee fluid bandwidth flow. The system should have a prime source electrical generator backed with electrical power, redundant A/C systems, 24/7 on-site support. The system should also be kept in a secure location that can be relied on.
How Long has the Las Vegas Data Center Been in Business?
Experience proves a data center has an established reputation. Don't get one of these companies that's only risen to fill up the sudden demand. Choose a company that has been around and knows what it is doing. Ideally, your provider should be in business for at least 10 years. You want somebody who survived to tell about the dot com boom.
Do They Charge Extra for Cross Connects?
Try to find a Las Vegas Data Center that doesn't charge for up to 10 cat 5 cross connects per customer cabinet. A good company will include this service with the typical set up fee, but some have been known to charge extra, sometimes as much as $350 a month. Finding one that doesn't rack up your fees can save your company considerably.
Weigh the Total Package
Some companies will have power fees as well as charges for extra racks and bandwidth included in their fees. Weigh their services against the cost of the package. While one Las Vegas data center may charge higher than another, there may be a good reason. Get the details about their services and find out what is and what is not offered.
