Colocation, or “co-location hosting”, is a type of web hosting service that has become an increasingly popular way to host and manage data over the internet. But what exactly is colocation and how did it develop? Let’s take a look at the history of co-location services and explore how they have evolved throughout the years.
The first foray into colocation started in the late 1990s when providers such as AboveNet, Exodus Communications, and Global Crossing began offering dedicated servers to customers who wanted to host their own websites without relying on any single provider. This allowed companies to physically locate their own servers onsite while still taking advantage of cloud computing technology – without having to worry about installation costs or maintenance issues.
In 2003, Rackspace became one of the first major players in this space with its co-location offering. The company quickly gained traction among both small businesses and large enterprises due to its flexible pricing model and comprehensive support services.
Since then, colocation has grown more popular than ever before; it now represents an estimated 15% of the entire market for data center services worldwide! This is largely due to advancements in technology that have made colocation easier than ever before; nowadays customers can simply rent a server from a provider (such as AWS) and have it ready in minutes – all without needing physical access or specialized equipment onsite.
At its core, colocation enables customers to outsource their hardware needs while still maintaining full control over their operations – making it an attractive solution for those who want robust infrastructure that is both reliable and cost-effective. From powering small startups all the way up to supporting Fortune 500 companies – colocation continues to play an important role in helping businesses achieve success.