Managed Hosting & the Future of IT

Posted by Karen on Oct 13, 2014 12:00:00 AM

These days even small businesses are starting to benefit from managed hosting as not only does it help them save money but also ensures their data is secure at all times. However, large companies have been using this form of technology for years in order to expand their businesses and stay one step ahead of their competitors. Thanks to the development of new technology, managed hosting has become an affordable and flexible solution for nearly all types of businesses. This is just one of the reasons why Digital Realty marketing director EMEA Omer Wilson recently discussed the benefits of managed hosting and colocation at Computing's Data Centre & Infrastructure Summit in London. In his speech he said: "It's not just about the data centre anymore; it's about the connectivity. For large corporates and financial services we're seeing public and private cloud moving closer together. Gartner says that 50 per cent of all large enterprises will have some form of hybrid cloud by 2017, and we're certainly seeing that happening." At the moment cloud-based managed hosting services are seen as an advanced form of technology, however it is expected to become more widely used in the very near future due to its flexibility and ability to provide ROI. For example, many companies who previously thought they could not afford managed hosting services are now benefiting from monthly contracts, giving them the ability to pay for what they use and save money should they reduce their usage. At the same time, businesses that are expanding need not worry about having to purchase extra hardware if they have a managed hosting package. Not only does this reduce additional hardware costs but also wait times, as delivery of new hardware can often takes weeks. As managed hosting solutions can provide businesses both ROI and time-saving solutions it is no surprise to see that a number of companies are starting to offer these services – however some may not be up to the task of managing and protecting large amounts of sensitive data. This is why it is essential for any business looking to invest in managed hosting or cloud services to properly research the market as well as how adaptable their current systems are. Starbucks Coffee’s EMEA IT director Robert Teagle recently discussed this issue at IP Expo 2014, and said: “IT systems complexity is one of the biggest challenge. A new piece of excellent technology may not work well because it doesn’t fit or sync well with existing IT systems. That’s why having a proof of concept and piloting the technology before investing in it is very important.” One thing that all businesses should ensure regardless of the type of managed hosting package they use is that security is their provider’s main priority. For example, at Fluidata’s Network Operations Centre in Hemel Hampstead (named ‘Centro’) we have installed advanced security technology such as retina and fingerprint scanners. In the case of a power failure we also have UPS and diesel backup, while our onsite technical customer support and security team are on site twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Storing and protecting data is becoming an increasingly prominent issue in the technology sector, which is why so many companies are already moving over to managed hosting. However, those that are not ready for their data to be fully hosted can benefit from colocation services where equipment, space and bandwidth can all be leased on a monthly basis. The future of IT is changing, and with this change it is important to understand the services available to you to help make your business safer and easier to manage. If you would like to know more about Fluidata’s managed hosting and colocation services please get in touch with us today to talk to one of our dedicated account managers.

Topics: News