Connectivity Is Not Created Equal

By: Kevin Dean

Ever since the internet was introduced, we have pushed the limits of connectivity. First we saw the progression in connectivity speeds from dial-up to DSL, then mobile connections evolved from 2G to 3G to 4G speeds and, finally, connectivity spread to mobile devices, offering the ability to access networks of information in even the most remote areas.

Although connectivity is widespread today, it’s increasing in complexity. Beyond basic connections between people, data and services, there is a variety of types of connectivity that each vertical business segment prioritizes, including low latency, high capacity and global reach. However, these connectivity requirements are often overlooked by many organizations, unaware that different connections deliver different results. A large number of others know the requirements that their businesses lack but are unsure of how to successfully deliver them to employees and customers. In response to these issues, many organizations have found that carrier-neutral colocation data centers provide a wide array of connectivity options, allowing companies across industries to define and meet the requirements of their businesses and customers.

Before we dive into the intricacies of connectivity requirements for verticals, there are a number of basic connectivity standards to consider that are necessary for enterprises to meet their day-to-day objectives. These include connections that have low latency (in other words, they’re fast), provide ample capacity for growth, prioritize security and offer cost savings.

Latency is one of the biggest challenges in providing high-quality connectivity, and with good reason: according to Strangeloop Networks, a one-second delay in a website’s load time can lead to a 16 percent reduction in customer satisfaction. Similarly, many non-web-based business processes can be severely impacted by even a few seconds of latency.

A common example is a day trader who relies on near instantaneous reaction times for his trades. There are actually two types of latency at play here, and both are equally important: a fast internet connection and fast connections with key players in the trading industry. Without a low-latency connection, the day trader’s profits would be impacted and his business would suffer.

Capacity for growth is another universally important standard for connectivity. Even with a fast connection, if there isn't available bandwidth to grow into, an organization’s own growth will be stunted. To put it another way, if the day trader in our example decides that he would like to hire an employee to help with his growing business, will his connection with the New York Stock Exchange have enough capacity to keep them connected at the same high speed? Or will a lack of bandwidth mean that response times are impacted by this additional workload?

Connections must also be secure and cost-effective. Typically, both of these requirements can be resolved by housing servers in a colocated data center, a facility that boasts top-of-the-line physical and virtual security and shares operating expenses among multiple tenants to offer high performance at a much lower cost than usual.