When running a business online, bandwidth and security are typically the two crucial factors you look at – how much traffic can your site support and how is your data going to be protected? However, it all starts with a company having the right infrastructure, hardware and the proper facility to house it all. Therefore, the more vital question is, “what should you look for in a data center?”

Let’s start with the building. A data center should have thick, sturdy walls, built with fire-resistance material. There should be fire protection systems including smoke detectors, fire sprinkler system, and fire walls. The building should have few to no windows for climate control and vandalism prevention. In addition, it should be located in an area that has a low risk of natural disasters occurring.

Now, once inside the building, there should be several layers of security surrounding the network hardware and equipment. Upon entering, there should be some form of identification required of each person such as a PIN code or even biometric scanning. Security personnel should be on site 24/7 checking identification to ensure no one unauthorized can get inside. Along with identifying all visitors, another security measure is to have all server racks enclosed in key-locked cages or cabinets. Inside these key-locked cages containing the server racks should be another key-locked cage or cabinet containing the server itself. You should have peace of mind knowing your data center has infallible security.

Not only should you consider physical security when choosing a data center, but you also need to look at power, cooling, internal and external connectivity, and disaster recovery.

Your data center should have generators and battery backup in the case of utility power failure. Usually the generators run on diesel fuel or sometimes are even connected to a flywheel and diesel engine to ensure there is enough power to keep the center up and running. However, battery backup systems should be in place to power the servers while the switch is made from the main grid to powered by the generators. No network connectivity should ever be lost during the transition between power grids in the event of a utility power outage.

Climate control in your data center should not be overlooked. Cooling is critical to prevent a server from overheating andcrashing. Inadequate cooling could dramatically reduce the lifespan of your server. A data center should have multiple HVAC units depending on the size of space it occupies. Redundant climate control systems should be enabled to assure proper temperature and humidity at all times.

Just as important as cooling systems, fire suppression systems must also be in place. Dry pipe (foam) sprinkler systems are preferable, as water can damage equipment as much as fire can. Look for data centers using FM200 suppression material. This is a common and effective chemical compound used to extinguish fires and is as safe for humans as it is effective at fighting fires.

Internal and external connectivity must also be considered when choosing a data center, since after all this is the main reason data centers exist. The routers, switches, and cables that run through the data center must have the ability to handle large amounts of traffic for extended periods of time. They must also have the ability to cross-connect to other networks, so your company's network is not limited to the data center building. A data center should be carrier neutral so that no matter what company owns the actual data lines, signal from any service carrier can be run through those lines. This way both business owners and data center operators have flexibility in configuring the network.

A data center must be equipped with recovery capabilities in the event of a natural disaster. You should inquire what disaster recovery capabilities your potential data center has. Remember, natural disasters are always a possible threat, and data crashes could happen at any time. Without having backup and disaster recovery capabilities in place, permanent loss of data could occur in the event of a natural disaster.

Choosing the right data center is crucial to keep your business up and moving, and considering the security, power, cooling, connectivity and disaster recovery when selecting a data center will ensure that your network has what it needs to serve your business. Be sure to ask questions like, “What is your power back up situation?” and “What systems do you have in place in case of a fire?” when making your decision on a data center, and please choose carefully.