The Hidden Costs of IT Downtime and How to Prevent It

November 20, 2024 by Jonathan Cotton

IT downtime isn’t just an inconvenience – it’s a serious threat to your bottom line.

While many organisations focus on the obvious costs of technical disruptions, the true impact of downtime often runs much deeper than initial estimates suggest.

The Business Case for Prevention

While investing in robust IT infrastructure might seem expensive, consider this: studies show that the average cost of IT downtime for mid-sized businesses can range from $5,600 to $9,000 per minute!

Put another way, a single hour of downtime can cost more than an entire year of premium infrastructure services.

The Price of IT Downtime

Direct Financial Losses

Lost Revenue: When systems go down, transactions stop. For e-commerce businesses, this translates to immediate lost sales.
Productivity Costs: Employees unable to access critical systems still need to be paid, despite being unable to perform their duties.
Recovery Expenses: The resources required to identify, fix, and verify solutions to technical problems can be substantial.

Hidden Costs

Damaged Customer Relationships: In an age where customers expect 24/7 availability, service interruptions can permanently damage trust.
Regulatory Compliance Risks: For industries with strict uptime requirements, downtime can lead to compliance violations and potential fines.
Long-term Revenue Impact: According to Forrester’s survey of IT directors, when asked where the cost of downtime comes from, 53% said lost revenue, 47% said lost productivity, and 41% said lost brand equity or trust.

Prevention Strategies That Work

1. Invest in Professional Infrastructure

Modern businesses can’t afford to gamble with inadequate infrastructure. Professional data centre solutions offer:

Redundant power systems
Advanced cooling infrastructure
24/7 monitoring and support
Enterprise-grade security measures

2. Implement Redundancy

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Consider:

Backup power systems
Multiple network connections
Geographic redundancy through multiple data centre locations
Regular backup and disaster recovery testing

3. Choose the Right Partners

Your infrastructure provider should offer:

Carrier-neutral connectivity options
Proven track record of reliability
Local support and rapid response capabilities
Scalable solutions that grow with your business

How Xtreme Networks Can Help

As a New Zealand-owned and operated data centre provider, we understand the unique challenges local businesses face. Our solutions include:

Colocation services from 2RU to 60+ cabinets
Carrier-neutral facility with multiple connectivity options
Local support team available 24/7
Proven track record of reliability and performance

Taking Action

Don’t wait for a costly downtime incident to evaluate your infrastructure needs. Consider these steps:

Assess your current vulnerability to downtime
Calculate the potential cost of system failures
Review your disaster recovery plans
Evaluate your infrastructure partner’s capability to support your business continuity

Final Thoughts

The true cost of IT downtime extends far beyond the immediate financial impact. By investing in professional infrastructure and working with experienced partners, organisations can significantly reduce their risk exposure while building a foundation for sustainable growth.

Is your business prepared to prevent and handle IT downtime? Contact our team to discuss how we can help protect your operations with our enterprise-grade data centre solutions.

5 Benefits of Colocation Data Centres for New Zealand Businesses

October 18, 2024 by Jonathan Cotton

In today’s digital landscape, data is the lifeblood of businesses. As companies in New Zealand continue to grow and evolve, the need for robust, secure, and scalable IT infrastructure is increasingly crucial. This is where colocation data centres come into play, offering a range of benefits that can significantly impact a business’s operations, efficiency, and bottom line.

Let’s explore five of the advantages of choosing a colocation data centre for your New Zealand business.

1. Enhanced Data Sovereignty and Compliance

One of the primary benefits of using a local colocation data centre is the assurance of data sovereignty. For New Zealand businesses, this means your data remains within the country’s borders, subject to New Zealand laws and regulations. This is particularly important for industries dealing with sensitive information or those required to comply with specific data protection standards.

Xtreme Networks, for instance, offers a locally owned and operated NZ Data Centre that enables data sovereignty for all businesses. This local approach ensures that your data is stored and managed in accordance with New Zealand’s legal framework, providing peace of mind and simplifying compliance efforts.

For businesses in sectors like healthcare or finance, where strict data security and privacy regulations apply, a local colocation solution can be invaluable. It allows you to maintain control over your data while benefiting from the data centre’s advanced security measures and compliance protocols.

2. Improved Reliability and Uptime

Reliability is paramount when it comes to IT infrastructure. Any downtime can result in lost productivity, revenue, and potentially damage to your business’s reputation. Colocation data centres are designed with redundancy and resilience in mind, offering a level of reliability that’s often challenging and costly for individual businesses to achieve on their own.

Xtreme Networks’ data centre provides redundant power and cooling systems, ensuring that your servers continue to operate even in the event of a power outage or system failure. This redundancy extends to network connections as well, with multiple providers available to ensure consistent connectivity.

The 24/7 monitoring and on-site technical support offered by colocation facilities mean that any issues can be quickly identified and resolved, minimising downtime and ensuring your business-critical applications remain accessible around the clock.

3. Scalability and Flexibility

As your business grows, so do your IT needs. One of the key advantages of colocation is the ability to scale your infrastructure quickly and easily. Whether you need to add a single server or expand to multiple racks, a colocation data centre can accommodate your growth without the need for significant capital investment in new facilities.

Xtreme Networks offers rack space options ranging from as small as 2RU to over 60 cabinets, providing the flexibility to start small and expand as needed. This scalability allows businesses to adapt to changing market conditions, seasonal fluctuations, or rapid growth without the constraints of physical space or power limitations.

Furthermore, the carrier-neutral approach of many colocation providers, including Xtreme Networks, allows you to choose your preferred Internet Service Provider and seamlessly integrate with your chosen cloud solutions. This flexibility enables businesses to create hybrid IT environments that best suit their specific needs, combining the benefits of colocation with cloud services for optimal performance and cost-efficiency.

4. Cost-Effectiveness and Predictable Expenses

Building and maintaining an in-house data centre is a significant undertaking, requiring substantial upfront investment in infrastructure, ongoing maintenance costs, and specialised staff. Colocation offers a more cost-effective alternative, allowing businesses to leverage enterprise-grade facilities without the associated capital expenditure.

By choosing colocation, you can convert what would otherwise be a large capital expense into a more manageable operational expense. This shift not only frees up capital for other business initiatives but also provides more predictable IT costs. Colocation providers typically offer clear pricing structures, making it easier for businesses to budget and forecast their IT expenses.

Moreover, the economies of scale achieved by colocation data centres mean that businesses can benefit from high-quality infrastructure and services at a fraction of the cost of building and operating their own facility.

5. Enhanced Security and Professional Management

Security is a top priority for any business, particularly when it comes to protecting data and IT assets. Colocation data centres invest heavily in state-of-the-art security measures that go far beyond what most businesses could implement on their own.

Xtreme Networks’ data centre offers advanced physical security features such as video surveillance, access controls, and on-site staff. These measures provide a level of protection against unauthorised access, theft, and other physical threats that would be challenging for most businesses to replicate in-house.

Beyond physical security, colocation providers also offer expertise in managing and maintaining the data centre environment. This includes everything from ensuring optimal temperature and humidity levels to managing software updates and security patches. By entrusting these tasks to experienced professionals, businesses can focus on their core competencies while knowing their IT infrastructure is in capable hands.

Choosing a Colocation Data Centre

For New Zealand businesses looking to optimise their IT infrastructure, colocation data centres offer a compelling solution. The benefits of enhanced data sovereignty, improved reliability, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and professional management make colocation an attractive option for organisations of all sizes.

By choosing a local provider like Xtreme Networks, businesses enjoy these advantages (while supporting the local economy) and ensuring their data remains close to home. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, colocation data centres provide a flexible and robust foundation for businesses to build upon, enabling them to meet the challenges of today while preparing for the opportunities of tomorrow.

Ready to revolutionise your IT infrastructure? Contact Xtreme Networks today to explore how our state-of-the-art NZ data centre can secure your business’s digital future.

Preparing Your Business for the Future: The Importance of Scalable IT Infrastructure

September 23, 2024 by Jonathan Cotton

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses of all sizes face a common challenge: how to build an IT infrastructure that can keep pace with growth and technology.

At Xtreme Networks, we believe that scalable IT infrastructure is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for future-proofing your business.

Let’s explore why scalability matters and how Xtreme Networks’ colocation services can help you achieve it.

The Need for Scalable IT Infrastructure in Modern Business

As your business grows, so do your IT needs. Whether you’re a small startup experiencing rapid expansion or an established enterprise launching new digital initiatives, the ability to scale your IT infrastructure quickly and efficiently is crucial. Scalable infrastructure allows you to:

Adapt to Market Changes: Respond swiftly to new opportunities or challenges without being held back by technology limitations.
Support Business Growth: Expand your operations without the need for frequent, disruptive overhauls of your IT systems.
Optimise Costs: Avoid over-investing in resources you don’t need immediately while ensuring you have room to grow.
Maintain Performance: Keep your systems running smoothly even as demand increases.

How Colocation Enables Scalability

Colocation services, like those offered by Xtreme Networks, provide an ideal foundation for building a scalable IT infrastructure. Here’s how:

Flexible Space and Power

Our NZ Data Centre offers rack space ranging from 2RU to 60+ cabinets. This flexibility means you can start small and expand your footprint as needed, without the massive capital expenditure of building your own data centre.

Robust Connectivity

As a carrier-neutral facility, we welcome all ISPs and cloud integrators. This gives you the freedom to choose the connectivity options that best suit your needs now and in the future, ensuring your network can grow alongside your business.

Hybrid Cloud Support

Our data centre seamlessly integrates with major cloud providers, supporting a hybrid cloud strategy. This allows you to leverage the scalability of cloud services while maintaining control over your critical on-premises infrastructure.

Managed Environment

We take care of the facility management, power, cooling, and security, allowing you to focus on scaling your core business operations rather than worrying about infrastructure maintenance.

Planning for Future Growth

When preparing your business for the future, consider these key factors:

Assess Your Current Needs: Understand your current IT requirements and project future needs based on your business plans.
Choose Flexible Solutions: Opt for infrastructure solutions that offer room for growth without requiring significant upfront investment.
Prioritize Connectivity: Ensure you have access to robust, diverse network connections to support increasing data demands.
Consider Compliance: As you grow, you may face new regulatory requirements. Choose a colocation provider like Xtreme Networks that can support your compliance needs.
Plan for Disaster Recovery: As your business scales, so does the importance of having a solid disaster recovery plan. Our data centre can be an integral part of your business continuity strategy.

Why Choose Xtreme Networks for Scalable IT Infrastructure?

At Xtreme Networks, we understand the unique IT Infrastructure needs of New Zealand businesses. Our locally owned and operated NZ Data Centre not only provides the technical capabilities you need to scale but also ensures data sovereignty—a critical consideration for many growing businesses.

We offer:

Reliable and secure infrastructure
Flexible colocation options
Carrier-neutral connectivity
24/7 dedicated support
Cost-effective solutions

Whether you’re a small startup looking to establish a professional IT setup or a large enterprise needing to expand your infrastructure, we have the expertise and facilities to support your growth journey.

In an era where agility and adaptability are key to business success, having a scalable IT infrastructure is more important than ever. Colocation services from Xtreme Networks provide the flexibility, reliability, and support you need to build an IT foundation that can grow with your business.

Ready to future-proof your IT infrastructure? Contact Xtreme Networks today to learn how our colocation services can support your business growth and help you prepare for whatever the future may bring.

Colocation Data Centres: Cost-Effective IT Solutions

August 26, 2024 by Jonathan Cotton

The ability to efficiently store, process, and access information can be the difference between success and failure in the modern competitive business environment. Organisations of all sizes face the challenge of managing ever-growing data volumes whilst maintaining speed, security, and cost-effectiveness. Colocation data centres have emerged as a powerful solution to these complex demands.

By offering a blend of modern infrastructure, cost-effectiveness, and scalable resources, these facilities are revolutionising how businesses approach their data management needs. From start-ups to established enterprises, companies are discovering the numerous advantages of colocation services.

Let’s explore this in a little more detail.

What is Colocation?

A colocation data centre is a facility housing data infrastructure. These centres provide space, power, cooling, and security for multiple companies’ computing hardware and servers and offer network connectivity. Generally speaking, colocation services are affordable, reliable, scalable, and provide access to various locations.

Colocation Data Centres Are Cost-Effective

Small to medium-sized businesses often choose colocation for its affordability. Installing and maintaining an on-premises data centre can be prohibitively expensive, and dedicated servers from data centre providers might be too costly for newer businesses. Colocation allows businesses to rent the storage and processing power they need, making it a flexible and economical option.

Additionally, colocation eliminates the need for a dedicated in-house team to manage the data centre, as the colocation provider handles all infrastructure and maintenance. This can save both time and money, allowing staff to focus on other business activities.

Colocation Data Centres Are Reliable and Offer Redundancy

Colocation centres provide the necessary backup power supplies, regular maintenance, and component replacements, ensuring high uptime and redundancy. This level of reliability is difficult and costly to replicate with an in-house data centre.

Colocation Data Centres Offer Scalability

Businesses experience growth and fluctuations, affecting their data management needs. Scaling an on-premises data centre can be complex and costly, involving significant time and financial investment. In contrast, colocation centres offer easy scalability. Businesses can simply request additional resources from their colocation provider, saving time and budget.

This scalability is particularly valuable for rapidly growing companies or those planning to expand in the near future.

Colocation Data Centres Are Strategically Located

The location of a data centre is crucial. Locations close to a user reduce latency and improve response times. In New Zealand, Xtreme Networks in Thorndon, Wellington is a premier colocation data centre and fully managed Internet Service Provider. Known for its reliability and high-quality service, Xtreme Networks has maintained an impeccable record with no outages in over five years. Directors Dion Hallam and Mike Lee, with over 20 years of industry experience, are dedicated to exceptional customer service.

Get in touch

Colocation data centres offer significant advantages for businesses of all sizes, including cost-effectiveness, reliability, redundancy, scalability, and strategic location. Xtreme Networks in New Zealand provides top-tier colocation services, ensuring high standards of reliability and customer support.

Whether you are a start-up or an established enterprise, Xtreme Networks delivers the infrastructure and expertise to help your business succeed. Get in touch.

Megaport And Colocation: Unleashing The Power Of Hybrid It Infrastructure

May 29, 2023 by xtremenetworks

Hybrid IT infrastructure is becoming increasingly popular for businesses of all sizes due to its ability to combine the best of both cloud and on-premise solutions.

Megaport and colocation are two distinct networking solutions that, when combined, can offer maximum network flexibility and scalability.

In this article, we’ll explore the advantages and benefits of using Megaport and colocation to unleash the power of hybrid IT infrastructure.

We’ll also explain how to optimize your infrastructure with these solutions and look at the cost-benefit analysis of using a hybrid IT setup.

By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of how to leverage Megaport and colocation together to maximize the potential of your network.

What is Megaport?

You may be wondering what this type of IT technology is all about – Megaport is the answer! Megaport is a global Network as a Service (NaaS) provider, allowing customers to rapidly connect to public cloud services or other customers on the Megaport Network.

It provides customers with a platform to easily spin up and manage Layer 2 connections, enabling them to quickly and easily access the resources they need. This type of technology is great for organizations that need to quickly access a range of services, from cloud to colocation, without the hassle of manual setup and without the constraints of traditional network infrastructure.

Megaport provides an incredibly flexible and efficient platform, allowing customers to quickly and easily spin up and manage virtual connections to public cloud services or other customers on the Megaport Network. This technology also allows customers to quickly and easily access a range of services, from cloud to colocation, without the hassle of manual setup or the constraints of traditional network infrastructure.

In addition, Megaport provides a secure and reliable infrastructure and a cost-effective way to access services. The combination of Megaport and colocation offers customers the ultimate hybrid IT infrastructure, allowing them to quickly and easily access the resources they need.

This solution gives customers the flexibility to access the services they need when they need them, without the constraints of traditional network infrastructure. The result is an agile, secure, and cost-effective solution that can help organizations maximize their IT investments and realize their business objectives.

What is Colocation?

Colocation is a major game-changer for IT, allowing businesses to take their operations to the next level! It’s a service that gives businesses the ability to house their IT hardware in a secure data center, while still maintaining control of their IT infrastructure.

This type of service allows companies to offload the responsibility of managing their own IT infrastructure while simultaneously benefiting from the scalability, reliability, and security of a world-class data center. With colocation, companies can easily scale their IT infrastructure with minimal effort, ensuring they can keep up with the demand of their customers.

Colocation also offers businesses the ability to access a wide range of services, such as managed hosting, cloud storage, and more. This means companies no longer have to worry about managing their hardware or software, allowing them to focus on their core business instead.

Additionally, businesses can take advantage of the latest technology and services available in the data center, such as advanced networking, security, and redundancy. This allows businesses to ensure their IT infrastructure is always up and running with minimal downtime.

Colocation is an ideal solution for businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises. It’s a cost-effective and reliable solution that provides businesses with the flexibility to quickly scale their IT infrastructure as their needs change. With colocation, businesses can maximize their IT investments while still maintaining control of their IT infrastructure.

Benefits of Combining Megaport and Colocation

By combining the strengths of Megaport and colocation, businesses can unlock the potential of their hybrid infrastructure and take their operations to the next level.

Colocation is a powerful tool for companies that need to expand their reach beyond their own physical data centers. By leveraging colocation, businesses can access secure, reliable, and high-performance data center resources with the highest level of availability.

Megaport’s cloud-based platform and global network of data centers provide businesses the ability to deploy and scale their IT infrastructure across multiple locations. This flexibility and scalability allows businesses to quickly and seamlessly integrate their cloud services with their existing data centers.

The combination of Megaport and colocation offers a number of benefits to businesses. First, businesses will have access to faster speeds and better performance. Megaport’s cloud-based platform enables businesses to access the highest levels of performance and scalability with minimal latency. Additionally, businesses can take advantage of Megaport’s global network of data centers, which offers a cost-effective means of managing the IT infrastructure.

Finally, businesses can benefit from the flexibility of Megaport and colocation, which allows them to quickly and easily deploy their IT infrastructure across multiple locations. By leveraging the strengths of Megaport and colocation, businesses can create a secure and reliable hybrid infrastructure that meets their specific needs.

This powerful combination of technologies allows businesses to maximize their IT capabilities, ensuring that they can remain competitive in an increasingly digital world. With the right combination of Megaport and colocation, businesses can unlock the potential of their hybrid infrastructure and take their operations to the next level.

Optimizing Your Infrastructure with Megaport and Colocation

With Megaport and colocation, you can optimize your IT capabilities and take advantage of faster speeds and better performance. Combining these two technologies together provides businesses with a powerful, hybrid IT infrastructure that’s both cost-effective and efficient.

The benefits of utilizing Megaport and colocation include:

* Increased Computing Power:

Colocation allows businesses to house their own servers in a secure, off-site location while Megaport provides access to the latest technologies, such as cloud computing. Together, this provides businesses with the computing power and scalability they need to keep up with the changing demands of their customers.

* Reduced Costs:

Megaport and colocation can be used to reduce costs by sharing resources amongst multiple users. This reduces the need for a large upfront investment, as well as ongoing maintenance and labor costs.

* Improved Performance:

By combining Megaport and colocation, businesses can improve the performance of their IT infrastructure, reducing latency and increasing throughput. This allows businesses to deliver a better user experience and stay competitive in the market.

These benefits make Megaport and colocation a great option for businesses looking to optimize their IT infrastructure and improve their bottom line. With the right combination of technologies, businesses can unlock the full potential of their IT infrastructure and ensure they remain competitive in the market.

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Hybrid IT Infrastructure

Discover how a hybrid IT infrastructure can help your business save money and increase performance with a cost-benefit analysis. Megaport and colocation are powerful tools for optimizing your IT infrastructure, utilizing the scalability of the cloud while reducing costs associated with traditional on-premise solutions.

By combining the two together, businesses can maximize the advantages of each, leading to a cost-effective and efficient IT environment.

A hybrid IT infrastructure offers a variety of cost savings opportunities. By leveraging the cloud, businesses can reduce their IT costs, as they only pay for the resources they need. Furthermore, because of the scalability of the cloud, businesses can scale up or down their IT resources as needed, thus avoiding large capital expenditures.

Additionally, the use of colocation services can also lower IT costs, as businesses can host their own hardware in a secure third-party facility, rather than needing to build their own physical infrastructure.

The cost savings offered by a hybrid IT infrastructure are not the only benefits it can offer. By combining the cloud and colocation, businesses can also benefit from increased performance. By using a hybrid infrastructure, businesses can leverage the scalability of the cloud to quickly and easily handle peak demand, while colocation services can provide the reliable and secure environment needed for mission critical applications.

Furthermore, with a hybrid IT infrastructure, businesses can also benefit from enhanced security and increased reliability.

The use of Megaport and colocation services can help businesses optimize their IT infrastructure for cost-effectiveness and performance. By leveraging the scalability of the cloud and the reliability of colocation, businesses can maximize the advantages of each, resulting in a cost-effective and efficient IT environment.

With this hybrid approach, businesses can save money, increase performance, and ensure their data is secure and reliable.

So what’s the TLDR?

Combining Megaport and Colocation can create a powerful hybrid IT infrastructure. Organizations can benefit from increased scalability, improved performance, and greater cost savings.

This combination of solutions also allows for greater flexibility and control, allowing businesses to quickly respond to changing needs. By taking full advantage of these technologies, organizations can optimize their IT infrastructure and achieve a higher return on investment.

The combination of Megaport and Colocation is an effective way to unlock the power of hybrid IT infrastructure.

Unlocking New Possibilities: The Benefits of Megaport to Businesses

May 29, 2023May 26, 2023 by xtremenetworks

Unlocking New Possibilities: The Benefits of Megaport to Businesses

In today’s digital era, connectivity is crucial for businesses of all sizes.

Seamless communication, rapid data transfers, and reliable connectivity have become the lifeblood of organizations. This is where Megaport steps in—a global leading Network as a Service (NaaS) provider that offers businesses the power to connect, collaborate, and grow. In this blog post, we’ll explore the myriad benefits that Megaport brings to businesses and how it can revolutionize the way organizations operate in the digital landscape.

Enhanced Connectivity: Megaport’s network infrastructure spans across numerous data centers worldwide, providing businesses with unparalleled connectivity options. With a single port, businesses can interconnect with a vast ecosystem of leading cloud service providers, internet exchanges, and networks. This connectivity empowers businesses to build agile and scalable architectures, allowing for more efficient data transfers, reduced latency, and improved overall performance.

Flexibility and Scalability: One of the significant advantages of Megaport is its ability to offer flexible and scalable solutions. Whether a business needs to connect multiple offices, expand their cloud presence, or establish hybrid or multicloud environments, Megaport provides the infrastructure to achieve these goals quickly and easily. The agility and scalability of Megaport’s services mean businesses can adapt to changing needs and rapidly scale their connectivity requirements without significant investments or lengthy provisioning times.

Simplified Network Management: Managing complex networks can be a daunting task for businesses, especially when dealing with multiple service providers and diverse architectures. Megaport simplifies network management by providing a unified platform to manage and control connectivity across various locations and cloud providers. The user-friendly portal allows businesses to monitor and optimize their network usage, provision connections on-demand, and gain valuable insights into their network performance. This centralized management approach saves time, streamlines operations, and reduces the burden on IT teams.

Cost Optimization: Traditionally, establishing connectivity between data centers, cloud providers, and business locations required significant capital expenditure and long-term commitments. Megaport disrupts this model by offering flexible and cost-effective pricing options. Businesses can choose from a range of plans that suit their specific needs, paying only for the capacity they require and scaling up or down as necessary. The elimination of long-term contracts and upfront costs empowers businesses to optimize their network spending, reduce financial risks, and allocate resources more efficiently.

Geographic Reach: In today’s globalized marketplace, businesses often operate across multiple regions and markets. Megaport’s extensive presence in numerous cities worldwide provides businesses with a global footprint, enabling them to extend their reach seamlessly. With Megaport, organizations can quickly establish connectivity in new locations, tap into emerging markets, and collaborate with partners or customers across the globe. This global connectivity accelerates business expansion, facilitates digital transformation initiatives, and fosters innovation on a global scale.

As businesses continue to rely on cloud services, data transfers, and seamless connectivity, the importance of robust and agile networking solutions cannot be overstated. Megaport emerges as a game-changer, revolutionizing the way businesses connect, collaborate, and thrive in the digital landscape. With its enhanced connectivity options, flexibility, simplified network management, cost optimization, and global reach, Megaport empowers businesses to unlock new possibilities, drive innovation, and stay ahead in an increasingly interconnected world. By embracing Megaport’s services, New Zealand businesses can embark on a transformative journey that enhances their competitiveness, fuels growth, and paves the way for future success.

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5 Reasons New Zealand Businesses Choose Local Data Storage over the Cloud.

Cloud Storage and Colocation both rely on the resilience and reliability of data centres, so why do many businesses choose local data storage over the cloud?

Cloud Repatriation: Understanding the Benefits and Risks

March 6, 2023March 6, 2023 by xtremenetworks

Cloud Repatriation: Understanding the Benefits and Risks

Cloud computing has been a major trend in the technology world for the past decade.

Organizations across the globe have migrated their IT infrastructure to the cloud, attracted by the promise of scalability, flexibility, and cost savings. However, in recent years, many companies including Dropbox, Deutsche Bank, Godaddy and Ticketmaster have started to reverse this trend by bringing their applications and data back on-premises – a process known as cloud repatriation.

Let’s deep dive into discussing what cloud repatriation is, the benefits and risks associated with it, and some best practices for executing a successful repatriation strategy for your business or clients.

What is Cloud Repatriation?

Cloud repatriation, also known as cloud exit or cloud reverse migration, refers to the process of bringing applications and data back from the cloud to an on-premises environment. The reasons for repatriation can vary, but some of the most common include:

Cost savings: While cloud computing can be cost-effective for some workloads, it can be more expensive than on-premises solutions for others. In some cases, companies find that repatriating their IT infrastructure can help them save money in the long run.
Security concerns: Some organizations are uncomfortable with the idea of storing their sensitive data in the cloud due to concerns about data breaches or regulatory compliance. Repatriating data to an on-premises environment can give them greater control and visibility over their data.
Performance issues: Although cloud providers offer high levels of availability and performance, some companies may find that their workloads perform better in an on-premises environment, particularly if they have high-bandwidth or latency-sensitive applications.

Benefits of Cloud Repatriation

If done correctly, cloud repatriation can bring several benefits to organizations, including:

Cost savings: As mentioned earlier, repatriating IT infrastructure can help companies save money in the long run, particularly if they have workloads that are not well-suited for cloud computing.
Greater control: Repatriation can give companies greater control over their data and IT infrastructure, allowing them to make changes and updates more easily and quickly.
Improved security: By bringing data back on-premises, companies can reduce the risk of data breaches and ensure that they are meeting regulatory compliance requirements.

Risks of Cloud Repatriation

While the benefits of cloud repatriation are compelling, there are also some risks and challenges that organizations should consider before embarking on a repatriation strategy:

Upfront costs: Repatriation can be expensive, particularly if organizations need to purchase new hardware and software to support their applications and data.
Increased complexity: Moving applications and data back on-premises can increase the complexity of IT environments, particularly if organizations have already invested heavily in their cloud infrastructure.
Resource constraints: Repatriation can be a resource-intensive process, requiring organizations to dedicate significant time and effort to planning and executing the migration.

Best Practices for Cloud Repatriation

If your organization is considering cloud repatriation, there are several best practices you should follow to ensure a successful transition:

Evaluate your workloads: Before deciding to repatriate, evaluate which workloads are well-suited for the cloud and which are not. This will help you make informed decisions about which applications and data to bring back on-premises.
Plan carefully: Develop a detailed plan for the repatriation process, including timelines, resource requirements, and risk mitigation strategies.
Test thoroughly: Before making any changes to your production environment, thoroughly test your applications and data in a non-production environment to ensure that everything works as expected.

While cloud computing has many benefits, it may not be the right solution for every organization or every workload.

Cloud repatriation is a strategy that some companies are using to bring their applications and data back on-premises, often to save costs, improve security, or enhance performance. However, repatriation comes with its own set of risks and challenges, such as upfront costs, increased complexity, and resource constraints.

By following best practices and carefully evaluating their workloads, organizations can successfully execute a repatriation strategy that meets their unique needs and goals. As technology continues to evolve, it’s essential for you to stay informed about the latest trends and strategies and make the most informed decisions for your organization’s direction going forward.

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5 Reasons New Zealand Businesses Choose Local Data Storage over the Cloud.

Cloud Storage and Colocation both rely on the resilience and reliability of data centres, so why do many businesses choose local data storage over the cloud?

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Want to build your own local cloud? Is leasing or buying hardware the right choice for you.

March 2, 2023 by xtremenetworks

Want to build your own local cloud? Is leasing or buying hardware the right choice for you.

Considering establishing your own local cloud?

As cloud repatriation continues to be a hot topic, and enterprises look to bring their data back to physical hardware, there’s never been a better time to position yourself as your customers own local cloud.

From security & data management, hosting & hardware, all the way through to pricing and packaging your solution in a replicable manner. With so many moving parts, let’s break it down.

Hardware… to lease? Or buy?

The technology industry has experienced severe supply chain challenges in recent years due to a variety of factors, including trade disputes, natural disasters, and geopolitical tensions. These challenges have impacted the availability and pricing of a wide range of technology products, including servers and how this evolves over the coming years is impossible to predict with any certainty.

Leasing servers and buying servers each have their own set of advantages and disadvantages, and the best option for a particular organization will depend on its specific needs and circumstances.

Pros of leasing servers:

Lower upfront costs: Leasing servers typically involves smaller capital investment compared to purchasing outright, providing an accessible entry point into establishing your own local cloud.
Maintenance and support: Many server leasing agreements come with maintenance and support included, which may save you considerably on human resource where staffing shortages continue across the sector.
Scalability: Leasing servers often provides organizations with more flexibility and scalability, as typically they can easily upgrade or downgrade their leased servers based on changing needs.

The downside?

Higher long-term costs: While leasing servers may have a lower cost of entry, the long-term costs typically end up being much more expensive than purchasing outright.
Limited customisation: Leasing may mean few options and less customisation, this may or not pose an issue depending on your ideal systems architecture.
Dependency on third-party providers: Leasing servers means you’re reliant on third-party providers to maintain and support their infrastructure, so it’s important to work with a reputable provider with a proven track record.

Pros of buying servers:

Long-term cost savings: Purchasing servers outright may involve higher upfront costs, but it typically carries much lower cost over the life of the server.
Customisation: The ability to tailor hardware and software configurations to your MSP’s specific needs, provides greater control and flexibility, while also providing room for a point of difference against an “off the shelf” solution.
Ownership: with ownership comes control and the ability to pivot and change with your business needs without being tied into a multi-year agreement.

The downside?

Maintenance and support: With ownership comes responsibility for maintenance and support, which can resource-intensive and cost your team in billable hours.
Obsolescence: Servers can become outdated quicker than you’d like, and organisations that purchase servers will need to ensure they’re investing in a solution that is designed to integrate and adapt with rapidly changing technology.

Whether leasing or buying servers, MSP’s should carefully consider their priorities and balance that with the use case of their typical customer.

When deciding whether to lease or buy equipment for building out out your own local cloud solution, the equipment itself is just once small piece of the puzzle.

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5 Reasons New Zealand Businesses Choose Local Data Storage over the Cloud.

Cloud Storage and Colocation both rely on the resilience and reliability of data centres, so why do many businesses choose local data storage over the cloud?

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The Importance of Data Sovereignty for New Zealand Businesses.

December 20, 2022December 16, 2022 by xtremenetworks

The Importance of Data Sovereignty for New Zealand Businesses.

Do you know where your data is stored and the laws it is governed by?

Data sovereignty is an important concept for New Zealand businesses to understand, particularly in an increasingly digital world where data is often collected, stored, and processed offshore in the public cloud. Simply put, data sovereignty refers to the legal framework governing the collection, use, and dissemination of data within a particular jurisdiction.

Naturally, New Zealand businesses are most familiar with the laws of our nation and model their business practices within that framework. Data stored within the cloud and it’s respective offshore clusters adds an extra layer of complexity, by being governed by unfamiliar laws with potentially very different privacy considerations than those outlined in the Privacy Act 2020.

The Privacy Act 2020 (download summary) is a significant update to New Zealand’s privacy laws containing 13 privacy principles, and aims to better protect individuals’ personal information in the digital age. The Act contains new rules on data protection, including requirements for organizations to have robust privacy policies and practices in place, and to notify individuals of any privacy breaches that may affect them.

The Act also introduces new rights for individuals, including the right to request that their personal information be erased, and the right to complain to the Privacy Commissioner if they believe their privacy has been infringed.

In terms of data sovereignty, the Act reaffirms New Zealand’s commitment to protecting the privacy of individuals and regulating the collection, storage, and use of personal data within the country. The Act sets out rules for the transfer of personal information to overseas countries, including requirements for adequate safeguards to protect the privacy of individuals.

Overall, the Act is a comprehensive and modern piece of legislation that aims to protect the privacy of individuals in the digital age, while also allowing for the responsible use of personal data for legitimate purposes.

When looking at data storage, organisations should consider the following factors.

Lawful access — the laws that regulate legal access to data.

Legal institutions — the robustness of legal institutions that oversee requests for access to data.

Privacy frameworks — the protections available for personally identifiable information.

It is rare to be able to negotiate contracts for public cloud services in consideration of the above. By adhering to the data sovereignty framework for the New Zealand jurisdiction outlined in the Privacy Act, businesses can help to ensure that they are complying with their legal obligations and protecting their customers’ personal information.

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Uncategorized

5 Reasons New Zealand Businesses Choose Local Data Storage over the Cloud.

Cloud Storage and Colocation both rely on the resilience and reliability of data centres, so why do many businesses choose local data storage over the cloud?

Need Colocation?

For over 20 years, Xtreme Networks has been helping businesses like yours with the best internet and data centre solution in the country.

We're well connected, thanks to our partners

5 Reasons New Zealand Businesses Choose Local Data Storage over the Cloud.

March 2, 2023November 28, 2022 by xtremenetworks

5 Reasons New Zealand Businesses Choose Local Data Storage over the Cloud.

Cloud Storage and Colocation both rely on the resilience and reliability of data centres, so why do many businesses choose local data storage over the cloud?

1. Data Sovereignty.

Data Sovereignty typically refers to the understanding that data is subject to the laws of the nation within which it is stored, making it an important issue to consider when using cloud computing services. By using local data storage, there is no ambiguity as to the applicable laws and protections in place for your business.

2. Peace of mind.

By storing data locally, you’re able to work closely with real people you can get in touch with directly, instead of a faceless corporation. By visiting the data centre personally, you’re able to gain first-hand experience with their standards and facilities.

3. Enhanced performance.

Storing data locally can improve the performance of applications and services that rely on that data, thanks to lower latency and greater flexibility over your choice of carrier and network design.

4. Better reliability.

Local data storage is less susceptible to outages or other disruptions that can affect cloud-based services. This can provide greater reliability and availability for applications and services that rely on access to that data.

5. Reduced cost.

In many cases, using local data storage can be more cost-effective than using cloud-based services, especially for businesses that need to store large amounts of data. This can be due to the lower cost of hardware and the ability to offset the cost of that hardware over a longer period of time.