Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies are adopting on-cloud applications to support remote operations. However, this doesn't mean that data centers are going to be completely eliminated anytime soon.

In fact, while the cloud offers many benefits, it's not fit for all applications. Some networks must remain located at remote facilities to meet performance, security, or even regulatory compliance rules.

The challenge is: maintaining equipment located at remote sites is, most of the time, difficult and expensive. The purchase price of your network equipment usually represents as little as one-quarter of the total cost of ownership - implementation, maintenance, and management make up the remaining three-quarters. Not to mention real estate, power and cooling costs, as well as the salaries and benefits of the team needed to keep everything up and running.

A colocation site with a remote monitoring system can offer relief from these costs and headaches. Competent monitoring system manufacturers, like us, will provide complete support for the equipment you have at your facilities and give you around-the-clock monitoring and management to make sure your network is secure and performing optimally.

Moving Your Network to a Colocation Site

Colocation facilities are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to the traditional data center. Moving your network to a colocation site frees up space and eliminates many operational costs. More importantly, colocation services offer the benefits of a hardened facility with robust security controls. Redundant infrastructure and network connections increase availability and reliability.

Traditional colocation sites, however, won't free up your network staff. While the building owner is responsible for managing and maintaining the colocation facility, you still have to manage your network and applications.

So, to achieve even better efficiency, you need a remote monitoring system that will provide you with 24x7 monitoring, management, and support for your network hosted in the colocation facility. It provides you with all the benefits of managed services while also eliminating the costs and complexity of operating a data center.

How DPS Can Help With Colocation Monitoring

Cloud adoption is on the rise. But, if the cloud isn't the right choice for your network and you need to save some costs, relocating your equipment to a colocation site might be an efficient option for you.

But, you still need to keep an eye on your equipment at your colocation facilities. Even at those sites network failures can happen, environmental levels can spike outside thresholds, even human intrusion is a real threat.

Sending your network technicians to manually monitor your colocation sites is not cost-effective, though. The best way to monitor your equipment is through a remote monitoring system.

We design and manufacture remote monitoring systems for multiple applications, including managing colocation sites. We offer many monitoring strategies, such as deploying a remote terminal unit (RTU) that will remotely alert you of changing equipment conditions, or even when tampering occurs.

The NetGuardian M16 is an example of an efficient RTU that will give you complete colocation site visibility. It's a great device for monitoring individual cabinets or several if they are all at the same location.

Here are some of the M16 features and capabilities:

• 16 discrete alarm points that you can use to keep an eye on your main door and on your cabinets.
• 2 control relays that can be used to trigger a camera when there is an unauthorized door breach.
• Plug connectors to make it easier to terminate wires.
• Built-in web interface that will make monitoring easy from any computer with an internet connection.
• D-Wire sensor ports that will allow you to daisy chain up to 16 D-Wire sensors to monitor the temperature and other environmental levels in your colocation site.

Also, here are some of the benefits of monitoring systems from DPS:

• Reliable, secure monitoring and control systems that operate 24x7
• Support for legacy devices
• When you need simply call our 24x7 support number
• We offer week-long Factory Training classes throughout the year for our clients
• 30-day, no-risk, money-back guarantee

Not monitoring your colocation sites can come at a high price. We offer custom solutions to help you manage your network. Let us help you with your monitoring needs so you can focus on your core competencies.