Colocation in Datacenters
The essentials for IT professionals: maximize the performance of your infrastructure while optimizing your costs and security.
What is datacenter colocation?
Datacenter colocation (“colocation” or “colo”) allows your company to rent physical space in a third-party datacenter to house your own IT equipment. This model gives you access to professional facilities without the massive investment costs of building your own data center.
In practical terms, you bring your servers, storage systems and network equipment and install them in the rented space, while the colocation provider provides redundant power supply, air conditioning, high-availability Internet connectivity and 24/7 physical security.
Unlike the cloud, where you rent shared virtualized resources, with colocation you retain total control of your hardware, technical architecture and software. This complete control enables you to optimize your systems precisely to your specific needs, while benefiting from a robust, professional infrastructure. You retain ownership of your equipment and responsibility for its maintenance, but you don't have to worry about the real estate, electrical or cooling constraints that represent the most costly and complex aspects of a datacenter environment.
Solutions to suit every need
Unit location (U)
Rental of individual units (1U, 2U, etc.) in a shared rack, ideal for isolated servers or small infrastructures.
Quarter/Half/Full rack
Rental of part or all of a rack, to house several devices in a dedicated, secure space.
Private cage/suite
Space physically separated by partitions or fences, offering an extra layer of security and greater autonomy.
Private room
Rental of an entire room in the datacenter, ideal for large infrastructures requiring a totally dedicated environment.
Why choose colocation? The decisive advantages
Technical excellence
- High availability guaranteed by Tier III/IV infrastructures (99.982% to 99.995%)
- Redundant systems (power, cooling, network)
- Premium multi-operator connectivity with minimal latency
Cost optimization
- Predictable CAPEX to OPEX conversion
- Economies of scale through shared resources
- Faster ROI than in-house solutions
Competitive advantage
- Strategic geographic presence without new physical sites
- Compliance and certifications (ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HDS...)
- Greater business continuity even in the event of a major incident
Key technical criteria for your choice
Critical infrastructure
Electricity
Density (kW/rack), redundancy (N+1, 2N), power quality
Cooling
Adapted capacity, efficiency (PUE/WUE), advanced technologies
Network
Operator diversity, bandwidth, latency, path redundancy
Security
Access control, 24/7 surveillance, specialized fire protection
Added-value services
Remote & Smart Hands
24/7 on-site technical support
Cross-connects
Direct interconnections with other customers
Monitoring
Advanced monitoring of your infrastructure
The future of colocation
Technological innovations
- High-density racks (30+ kW) for AI and HPC
- Liquid/immersive cooling solutions
- Edge and micro-datacenters for mission-critical applications
Environmental excellence
- Optimal energy efficiency (PUE < 1.2)
- Taking water consumption into account (WUE)
- Renewable energy power supply
- Circular economy and reuse of heat
Datalok: Your privileged access to the best colocation solutions
Our marketplace revolutionizes access to colocation by directly connecting infrastructure owners and businesses.
- Instantly compare offers according to your precise technical criteria
- View real-time availability in different datacenters
- Book immediately without endless negotiations
- Efficiently manage all your contracts via a single interface
- Optimize your costs with total transparency
- Benefit from personalized support throughout your project
Whether you're looking for a few units in a shared rack or a complete high-security room, Datalok connects you with suppliers who meet your exact technical and budgetary requirements.
Ready to optimize your IT infrastructure?
Need assistance with your datacenter colocation project? The Datalok team is at your service to advise and support you every step of the way, from the initial assessment of your needs to the complete migration of your infrastructure.