Essential Insights for IT Leaders: Sourcing Colocation

As data demands surge and AI workloads push infrastructure to its limits, IT leaders are under pressure to rethink how they source, scale, and manage their environments. Whether you're evaluating global colocation options, considering a hybrid infrastructure model, or planning a cloud migration, you're not alone.

These are the questions we get every week and the ones Arkitech Group helps answer every day.

What’s the biggest mistake in sourcing colocation space?

Waiting too long.

Power and capacity are increasingly constrained, especially in high-demand markets and for AI-optimized workloads. Lead times for space, power, and deployment are real.

If you wait until the need is urgent, your options may already be gone.

Plan early—even if your deployment is still months away.

How do I know if a data center can support my density needs?

Not all data centers are designed for high-density or AI workloads. When vetting a facility, ask about:

• Power availability per rack (not just total capacity)

• Cooling infrastructure (direct-to-chip, liquid, or air-based systems)

• Support for advanced configurations like hot/cold aisle containment or immersion cooling

If you’re deploying GPUs or training AI models, traditional rack specs likely won’t be enough.

Can I mix colocation with cloud infrastructure?

Absolutely.  And in most cases, you should.

Colocation is ideal for steady, predictable workloads that need control and cost efficiency. Cloud platforms are better for variable or burst workloads.

A hybrid infrastructure strategy offers the best of both: stability where you need it, agility where you want it.

What questions should I ask a colocation provider before signing a contract?

Use this checklist to evaluate providers effectively:

• What’s your available power per square foot or cabinet?

• What cooling systems do you support?

• How quickly can I scale as needs grow?

• What’s your average deployment lead time?

• What’s your carrier profile (e.g., neutral, direct cloud on-ramps)?

• What’s included in your SLA?

Need help vetting providers? That’s exactly what we do.

Is bare metal cheaper than cloud?

It depends on your workload.

• Consistent, always-on workloads → Bare metal typically wins on cost and performance.

• Variable or seasonal workloads → Cloud often provides better flexibility and ROI.

The key is building an infrastructure model that reflects how your workloads actually behave.

Can I move to the cloud and still keep my hardware?

Yes.  And many enterprises do.

A hybrid approach lets you migrate cloud-ready workloads while keeping legacy applications or custom hardware in colocation. This lowers risk, avoids disruption, and supports modernization without a full lift-and-shift.

Where can I explore global colocation availability?

Use www.colocapacity.com.

It’s built for infrastructure decision-makers and lets you search real-time colocation availability by provider and location, across U.S. and global markets. Filter by region, power, and growth readiness.

At Arkitech Group, we use this platform to help clients plan with visibility and confidence.

Who is Arkitech Group and how can we help?

We’re your infrastructure strategy partner.

Arkitech Group helps IT leaders:

• Source the right colocation providers

• Plan scalable, high-density infrastructure

• Manage cloud transitions and hybrid deployments

• Bridge the gap between planning and execution

Whether you're building for growth, managing overflow, or navigating complexity—we’re here to help you move with confidence.

Let’s Talk

If these questions sound familiar, it’s probably time we had a conversation.

Reach out to Arkitech Group—we’ll help you plan smarter, source better, and scale faster.