Data Center Outsourcing

I have done my fair share of outsourcing and have also accepted my share of outsourced work.

Outsourcing can be an excellent tool for getting things done, especially when a business is short-handed or simply does not have the means to maintain a full-time staff. Outsourcing can be done in a variety of industries and, with globalization on the rise, it is becoming more and more commonplace.

Data center outsourcing is one of the largest sectors of the outsourcing industry. Data centers have much work to do and need qualified, skilled people to do the work. Outsourcing opens up their pool of available talent and allows projects to be completed in a timely, efficient manner, at a fraction of the cost.

Now, it is not uncommon for companies to outsource to people and firms right here within our own country. However, the cost of doing so is often prohibitive. The next best thing is off-shoring, which is controversial, but also has it’s perks.

Businessweek recently ran an article rating the best countries for outsourcing. While they made some good points, I did not quite agree with their scores.

I have had my own experiences with outsourcing to some of the countries they listed and have also heard stories from others in the business world, so here are my picks for the top 5 countries for data center outsourcing:

USA:

If you’re not comfortable with off-shoring, for whatever reason, you can keep your money right here in the U.S. economy by outsourcing to individuals and firms operating on U.S. soil. It will cost you more than off-shoring; however, you will receive the services of professional, highly educated/trained individuals and will eliminate the costs associated with regular payroll and maintaining employee benefits.

UK:

Outsourcing to the UK will cost about as much as in the U.S. Still, this offers the same perks, as far as expenses, and will have you receiving services from highly educated, professional people who are also quite grateful to have the work and the income, considering the job market and economy in the UK.

Off-shoring, as I mentioned before, is rather controversial. Many folks feel that the jobs need to remain within U.S. boundaries and that off-shoring is the cause of many of the problems facing the U.S. job market and economy today. I have not yet determined my stance on the issue, as I can see the positives on both sides of the debate. However, I do advise those who are considering data center outsourcing to proceed with caution, as there are some places where the services you receive will be performed by untrained, uneducated folks who are looking for a quick buck; quality service just isn’t their utmost priority.

Philippines:

Believe it or not, there are some fairly well educated,, professional people in the Philippines, ready and willing to take on your outsourcing needs. They know what they’re doing, are happy to have the work and will even do it for around $300-$400 per month.

Japan:

One country that, surprisingly, failed to appear on Businessweek’s list is Japan. I would outsource work to Japan in a heartbeat. Why? The Japanese people value hard work and education. They are as professional and as ambitious as any outsourcing originator could hope for. Their prices may not be as low as some countries, but then again, you do get what you pay for.

China:

China ranked really high in the Businessweek article. This does not surprise me. Like Japan, China also values education and hard work. Yes, there are some practices in China which are a thorn in the side of other countries, especially the U.S., but most of these practices are related to the government and should not keep one from utilizing China for their data center outsourcing.

Closing Advice:
There are plenty of other countries to which you can outsource. Many offer excellent service and superb pricing. Still, make sure that those you are working with have a strong understanding of the English language; at least enough to carry on a comprehensible conversation. Minor language and grammar errors do not present a huge barrier, as these can be resolved with a little editing (if written) or through listening a bit more closely. Also, just do your homework. If you’re going to outsource, ask around for recommendations and find out who rates best before you hand a portion of your workload over to be completed outside your own firm.

We live and work in a world that revolves around and thrives on technology.

Computers are the essential component of that technology, and few businesses these days, both big and small, would or could conduct their day to day dealings without them.

Most businesses will need a secure computer network and a controlled environment for handling and maintaining the network and servers. This is the data center.

Smaller companies often opt to keep their data center on-site. Their reasoning might be for security or quick and easy maintenance. This is great, if your computer network is rather small and inexpensive.

However, larger companies with a need for more data storage and even professionals with the knowledge and skills to maintain the network and servers, might just find that outsourcing is the perfect choice for their business.

Data center outsourcing means hiring an off-site data center with the ability to store mass amounts of data, remotely network your computer systems and provide support 24 hours a day. Utilizing this kind of service provides your company with many advantages.

Outsourcing helps to keep your costs lower and provides a central network for all of your servers (although there is also the option of co-location, where part of the companies servers are on-site and part are outsourced). The network remains secure, even in the event of a natural disaster or some other catastrophic event.

By outsourcing, your information is kept safe and intact, giving you peace of mind. Remote users are often provided with live telephone support, the faster speeds and frequent updates provided by the service will also be of great benefit to your company.

Should your business have a need for data storage, consider the benefits of outsourcing. It might just be the smartest investment you ever make!

This is my first post on the blog. We are going to discuss the various benefits, disadvantages, pros, and cons of data center outsourcing on this blog. We will also get into specific locations – what works – and what doesn’t.

If your business could benefit from outsourcing – then this blog will hopefully serve as an invaluable guide to give you the tricks and tools of the trade.