There are many reasons why companies seek a colocation facility for their data center needs. Perhaps it’s the benefit derived from a cost-effective, quick-access solution. Or, there may be a desire for a higher tier Level facility with better infrastructure and tighter security.  Whatever the drivers may be, for the desired results to be achieved, a critical step is to have a disciplined approach to evaluating potential colocation vendors to ensure the desired results are achieved.

One of our objectives here at AIS is to make sure we help our clients help themselves.  We are putting together a handy RFP template that puts some discipline around the vendor selection process.

There are six main sections:

1.    Corporate Overview
2.    Facilities
3.    Managed Services
4.    Professional Services
5.    References
6.    Solution Pricing

Within each of those categories is a list of criteria that you can rate with responses weighted and scored to provide a comprehensive vendor selection process.

The template we are developing is comprehensive and reflects what we’ve learned over the years from our collective experience with helping numerous companies with their data center infrastructure needs.   We know the questions that need to be asked which can really help circumvent the evaluation process.

For more than 20 years, AIS has delivered forward-thinking advice, technology, and operation-enhancing solutions.   We can help you address every aspect of your infrastructure -- including how new solutions may affect the bigger picture.

Consideration for Selecting a Colocation Facility

The following is a top line list that companies selecting a colocation facility should think about.

•    Facility Tiers 1-4, there are differences
•    Business stakeholder needs and guarantees
•    Power requirements
•    Service Level Agreements (SLA)
•    Network throughput
•    Legal, Regulatory and Compliance requirements
•    Geographic considerations
•    Disaster Recovery
•    Managed Services
•    Professional Services
•    Managed Security Services


Want to discuss?  Just email AskanExpert@americanis.net and we'll get a dialog going.

--Mark D

Editor's note:  Mark DeJohn, vice president of sales at AIS, has over twenty years of successful sales management, sales and management consulting experience with various information technologies and professional services.