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enable their clients to deliver on the promises of today’s connected devices. Partner for Protection Every IT leader has (or should have) security at the forefront of their mind. For MSPs that offer security solutions – and MSSPs (managed security service providers) whose value proposition hinges on security expertise – colocation provides an added layer of protection. Not only do colocation providers have features and policies to manage access to physical assets, they also have processes for protecting digital infrastructure. Some offer additional security services, such as burstable bandwidth and blended ISP connec- tions to mitigate DDoS attacks. In addition to protecting physical and digital assets, the right colocation providers can help MSPs and their clients comply with regulatory require- ments designed to protect consumers. To receive a certificate or attestation that establishes regulatory compliance, a data center must have their opera- tions reviewed by an accredited or authorized agency. MSPs should look for colocation providers that have proven their commit- ment to information security by demon- strating compliance with standards such as SOC 2 Type II and ISO/IEC 27001. Additionally, MSPs can serve clients in regulated sectors with colocation partners certified in ISAE 3402 (formerly SSAE 18) for financial reporting, HIPAA/ HITECH in healthcare, and PCI DSS 3.2 for credit card payments. Finally, while the best colocation providers proactively comply with regulation, using their services does not eliminate the burden of regula- tory reporting. A colocation partner should offer full visibility into its audit logs and make it easy to access audit reports on-demand. A Partnership for the Future At some point, every IT leader will be tasked with expanding their IT infrastruc- ture to take advantage of new opportuni- ties. And they often find they lack the existing staff and/or expertise to support that expansion or business growth. Fortunately, MSPs offer IT services for a fraction of the cost of hiring as well as a fresh, outside perspective – but MSPs are only one part of the equation. Many organizations will also require the physical infrastructure of a modern data center. Colocation shifts that expenditure from a capex to opex investment and makes it easier to scale as an organization grows. In a crowded industry, coloca- tion services can provide MSPs and their clients with a crucial competitive advantage. And for MSPs, choosing a non-competitive colocation partner can be the difference between driving additional business or leaving money on the table. o Ernest Sampera is a co-founder of vXchnge, a carrier-neutral colocation services provider with edge data centers across the United States. For more information, visit vxchnge.com. Get info. Find answers. Share ideas. Your connection begins at USA.gov – the official source for federal, state and local government information. Equals total government connecting. PLUS PART INFO GETTING PART IDEA SHARING 3.25 in. 4.625 in. 63 May 2021 | CHANNEL V ISION