Your IT infrastructure is one of the more important decisions you will make for your business. Because there are many options out there, it can be a bit of an overwhelming task to find the right choice for you, especially if you’re unsure where to begin. In this blog, we’re going to go over how to determine which option is right for your business, the different kinds of infrastructure, and factors to consider when choosing one.
Identify Your Business Needs
Since there are various factors that need to be considered before choosing an IT infrastructure, the best way to start is by determining your business needs. After that, you can go through your options based on what you think will fit your needs. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when identifying your business needs in terms of infrastructure:
- What is the intent/need of the infrastructure?
- Are we looking to reduce IT overhead?
- Are we trying to grow our business?
- Are we looking to mitigate risk?
- Will we need additional services?
- What is our budget?
Types of Infrastructure
There are multiple solutions in the market to choose from, and many times they can be combined depending on your business’ needs. Here are some of the main services you might choose from.
Dedicated Servers
A dedicated server is an off-site, data center provided server that is entirely dedicated to one user. These servers are known to be high performers in processing power, internet and storage speed. If your business needs a large amount of processing power, then a dedicated server could be the right choice. Most providers ask for a monthly fee that will include everything you need to keep your server up and running.
Colocation
Colocation data centers are popular among organizations with long term IT infrastructure requirements that have already invested in their own servers. With a colocation data center, you rent a secure space with power, cooling, and connectivity, all while retaining full ownership and control of your equipment. Many colocation providers also offer a variety of managed services and hybrid cloud options.
The Cloud
Storing data in the cloud allows you to access your data anywhere. One of the key benefits of the cloud is that it’s cost-effective as you only pay for what you use. There are different kinds of cloud infrastructure, colocation centers and dedicated servers, so it’s important to keep your needs in mind when researching your options.
Factors to Consider
Aside from your business’s needs, there are some important factors to consider when choosing your infrastructure:
- What are the risks associated with the infrastructure?
- Would you rather pay for a subscription or own the infrastructure outright?
- Do you want full control of the infrastructure or delegate some responsibility to a third party?
It’s important not to think of the IT infrastructure solely as an IT service, but how it’s going to affect the productivity and efficiency of your business as a whole.
Choosing an IT Infrastructure with Cloudsmart
At Cloudsmart, we specialize in providing high-performance solutions to the region’s leading businesses, municipalities and other organizations. With a focus on security and innovation, we can help you choose the right IT infrastructure according to your business needs.
