--- title: "Essential Insights for IT Leaders: Sourcing Colocation" description: Discover essential strategies for sourcing colocation, hybrid infrastructure, and migration to optimize your IT environment with from Arkitech Group. image: https://blog.arkitechgroup.com/hubfs/Colocation%20Option%205.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://blog.arkitechgroup.com/essential-insights-for-it-leaders-sourcing-colocation#main-content) [![arkitechgroup-logo1282x474-1024x379-3](https://blog.arkitechgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/arkitechgroup-logo1282x474-1024x379-3.png?width=166&height=62&name=arkitechgroup-logo1282x474-1024x379-3.png)](https://arkitechgroup.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Our Solutions](https://arkitechgroup.com/solutions.html) [Our Solutions](https://arkitechgroup.com/solutions.html) Jul 9, 2025 7:00:00 AM # Essential Insights for IT Leaders: Sourcing Colocation ![Picture of Josh Mitchell](https://blog.arkitechgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Arkitech%20Logos/josh_pfp_sitting.png?width=50&name=josh_pfp_sitting.png) [Josh Mitchell](https://blog.arkitechgroup.com/author/josh-mitchell) Share: [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.arkitechgroup.com/essential-insights-for-it-leaders-sourcing-colocation) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://blog.arkitechgroup.com/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**](http://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. 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[Read more](https://blog.arkitechgroup.com/finding-it-cost-savings-without-cutting-your-team) [![arkitech-dark-mode](https://blog.arkitechgroup.com/hubfs/arkitech-dark-mode.svg "arkitech-dark-mode")](https://arkitechgroup.com) [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkitech-group) [Arkitech Group Website](https://arkitechgroup.com/) [Follow us on Facebook](mailto:info@arkitechgroup.com) ##### Our Mission Designing secure and reliable solutions for forward-thinking technology leaders  ©2024 Arkitech Group ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Josh Mitchell", "url" : "https://blog.arkitechgroup.com/author/josh-mitchell" }, "dateModified" : "2025-07-09T13:59:59.993Z", "datePublished" : "2025-07-09T14:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Essential Insights for IT Leaders: Sourcing Colocation", "image" : [ "https://blog.arkitechgroup.com/hubfs/Colocation%20Option%205.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.arkitechgroup.com/essential-insights-for-it-leaders-sourcing-colocation", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.arkitechgroup.com/hubfs/arkitechgroup-logo1282x474-1024x379%20(1).png" } } } ```