Cloud vs colocation: key questions for IT and infrastructure decisions
Cloud computing and colocation are two common approaches for running business infrastructure in external data centre environments. Cloud services typically run from large-scale cloud data centres, while colocation allows organisations to place their own hardware inside professionally operated facilities. Each model offers different levels of control, flexibility and operational responsibility.
Full answer
How secure is cloud computing for critical data?
Security in cloud computing comes down to controls across infrastructure, networks, identity, monitoring, and recovery, with UK data residency included where regulatory or governance requirements depend on hosting location. This FAQ addresses how cloud computing security protects critical and regulated data across infrastructure, networks, identity, monitoring, and recovery controls.
Full answer
What is edge colocation and when does it make sense?
Edge colocation places infrastructure across multiple data centre locations to support application performance, connectivity and operational requirements. Instead of relying on a single centralised site, organisations deploy workloads in regional facilities closer to where data is generated or used. This FAQ explains what edge colocation is, how edge data centres work, and when this approach fits infrastructure strategy.
Full answer
Where is cloud data stored and how does it work?
Cloud storage services run on physical infrastructure hosted in data centres. While data is accessed through cloud platforms, it is stored on hardware located in specific facilities and regions. This FAQ explains where cloud data is stored, how cloud data storage works, and why location, connectivity and control matter when managing data in the cloud.
Full answer
What is hybrid cloud computing and who needs it?
Hybrid cloud computing allows organisations to operate workloads across a combination of private infrastructure, public cloud platforms, and, where required, existing on-premise systems. It is typically adopted when a single environment does not meet operational, regulatory, performance, or continuity requirements. This FAQ explains how hybrid cloud computing works, how it compares with cloud computing vs on-premise infrastructure, and how cloud computing hosting providers and managed services support hybrid environments.
Full answer
Why does location matter when choosing a data centre?
Cloud services and digital platforms still depend on physical infrastructure hosted in data centres. Where that infrastructure is located affects how applications connect to users, how networks are routed, and how organisations manage resilience across sites. This FAQ explains why location matters when choosing a UK data centre, how regional data centres support infrastructure strategy, and why many organisations look for facilities close to their operations when placing critical workloads.
Full answer
Business benefits of colocation
Colocation allows organisations to place their own servers and IT equipment in a secure, professionally managed data centre environment. Instead of maintaining infrastructure on-site, businesses use a specialist facility that provides power, cooling, connectivity and physical security.
Full answer
Colocation data centre pricing: UK cost and ROI
Colocation pricing depends on how infrastructure is deployed, how much power it consumes, and how it is connected. Rather than a single fixed cost, organisations typically assess pricing alongside total cost of ownership (TCO) and return on investment (ROI) to understand long-term value. This FAQ explains how colocation pricing works in the UK, what drives costs, and how organisations evaluate ROI when comparing colocation with other infrastructure options.
Full answer
Cloud service models explained: IaaS vs PaaS vs SaaS
Cloud computing services are typically delivered through three main service models. Each model defines which parts of the technology stack are operated by the provider and which remain under the customer’s control. This FAQ explains the differences between infrastructure, platform and software services, and how organisations choose between IaaS, PaaS and SaaS when planning cloud environments.
Full answer
What is cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)?
Cloud infrastructure as a service (IaaS) provides on-demand compute, storage and networking, while leaving you in control of the operating system and application layer. For UK organisations, IaaS decisions often come down to operational ownership, audit readiness and where infrastructure is hosted. This FAQ sets out what IaaS includes, who it suits, how responsibility is typically split, and what to look for when comparing IaaS cloud solutions.
Full answer
What is a Tier 1–4 data centre?
Data centre tiers are used to classify infrastructure based on resilience, redundancy and expected uptime. The most widely referenced framework is the tier classification model, which defines four levels of data centre design from basic capacity to highly resilient environments. This FAQ explains how data centre tier classification works, what distinguishes each tier, and how organisations use these classifications when selecting infrastructure.
Full answer
Is colocation right for my business?
Colocation is used by organisations that need reliable infrastructure without operating their own data centre facilities. The most geographically diverse colocation provider in the UK, Pulsant offers purpose-built data centre environments where businesses can place equipment while retaining control over systems, configuration and performance. This FAQ explains why businesses use colocation, when it makes sense, and how to assess whether it fits your infrastructure and operational requirements.
Full answer
Edge colocation places infrastructure across multiple data centre locations to support application performance, connectivity and operational requirements. Instead of relying on a single centralised site, organisations deploy workloads in regional facilities closer to where data is generated or used. This FAQ explains what edge colocation is, how edge data centres work, and when this approach fits infrastructure strategy.
Q: What is edge colocation?
A: Edge colocation is the practice of placing infrastructure in distributed data centre locations rather than a single central facility. Organisations install and operate their own equipment within regional data centres to support workloads that benefit from being located closer to specific users, systems or operational sites.
Q: What is an edge data centre?
A: An edge data centre is a facility located closer to end users, operational sites or data sources than traditional centralised data centres. These facilities support distributed infrastructure by providing localised compute, storage and connectivity, while remaining connected to wider network and cloud environments.
Q: How is edge colocation different from traditional colocation?
A: Traditional colocation typically places infrastructure in one or a small number of centralised data centres. Edge colocation distributes infrastructure across multiple regional locations. This allows organisations to place workloads based on performance, connectivity or operational requirements instead of relying on a single site.
Q: Why are edge data centres used?
A: Edge data centres are used to support infrastructure that depends on location-sensitive performance or connectivity. By placing workloads in regional facilities, organisations can reduce network distance between systems and users, support distributed operations and improve application response times across locations.
Q: When does edge colocation make sense?
A: Edge colocation is typically used when infrastructure must operate across multiple locations or where application performance is affected by network distance. This includes distributed operations, latency-sensitive systems, and workloads that process data close to where it is generated. It is also used when organisations want to avoid concentrating all infrastructure in a single location.
Q: What types of workloads benefit from edge colocation?
A: Workloads that benefit from edge colocation include real-time systems, data processing platforms, and services that rely on consistent connectivity across multiple sites. It is also used where systems interact with users, devices or operational environments in different regions.
Q: How does edge colocation support low-latency applications?
A: Network latency increases with the distance data travels between systems. By placing infrastructure in edge data centres closer to users or operational sites, organisations can reduce that distance and improve response times. This supports applications that depend on consistent, low-latency performance.
Q: How does edge colocation fit into hybrid or multi-site infrastructure?
A: Edge colocation is often used to distribute workloads across multiple locations while maintaining connectivity to central platforms or cloud services. This allows organisations to run applications and data in different regions based on workload requirements. Pulsant’s platformEDGE™ supports this type of distributed infrastructure by connecting regional data centres through high-capacity network services.
Q: What should organisations consider before using edge colocation?
A: Organisations typically assess how workloads are distributed, where data is generated and accessed, and how connectivity between locations will be managed. They also consider operational complexity, resilience planning and how infrastructure will be monitored across multiple sites. Edge colocation can support distributed architectures, but it requires clear planning around placement and connectivity.
Looking to deploy infrastructure across multiple locations?
Get in touch to discuss how Pulsant can support edge colocation and multi-site connectivity for your business.
Contact Us