How Do Data Center Providers Work With Location Neutral Companies?

For young professionals in the technology field there are two challenges that can adversely affect their job search: the balance of work and life, and their location as it pertains to the companies they are applying to. The former is extremely important; employees who allow themselves ‘down’ or leisure time tend to have higher morale and are generally happier at their work than those who do not. The latter used to be the norm as opposed to the exception. Back before developments in technology permitted it, the former used to be much more important; you either applied for a job in the same city you lived in –or one within close proximity to your city- or you had to endure a long moving process to relocate to the city you would be employed in. With recent technological advents, an employee no longer has to be in the same state as his or her employer, let alone the same city.


Benefits 

Companies that allow their employees to work remotely in this fashion are known as ‘Location Neutral’ companies. Because technology has allowed for easier access to remote systems, company employees can reside anywhere in the country and still access company assets that allow them to do their jobs. One significant benefit of this is that employees are no longer locked into moving to a new area in order to secure a job. This is especially crucial when the company operates out of cities or communities that have higher costs of living. With a location neutral employer, an employee who lives, for example, across the state from their company can log into the company’s servers remotely, access tools and instructions for their jobs, and complete work, all without either having to make a long drive or move to what may be an area with pricier real estate. When employees are able to settle where they choose and still work for their employer, they’re not only much happier and better able to focus on their jobs; they can also focus on their life outside of work. For the employer, not having a geographical limitation allows them to scout talented applicants from anywhere in the country, which broadens their potential talent pool.


Challenges 

Of course, this amazing connectivity comes with a price. In order to allow employees this level of freedom, the employees must be able to rely on connectivity with the employer’s systems. Without reliable connectivity, worker productivity will suffer. So an employer must not only find a data center provider that has the connectivity they need, but also can step back and leave things alone until the rare moments when a problem crops up.


Solution 

One major way a data center provider can provide this level of connectivity is with Blended Bandwidth. Blended bandwidth works by incorporating multiple internet feeds from multiple Tier 1 network providers. This ensures a stable connection that employees can access at any time, day or night. Additionally, a good data center provider will offer remote technical support or troubleshooting when the rare issues pop up. For example, if a company is in Colorado, but its IT center is in Arizona and needs components swapped out, the company can contact their provider, and a technician will be dispatched to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. This provides not only peace of mind for the employer, but prevents wasted time, lost productivity, and additional expenses to repair a simple component.

Katrina specializes in server products with Rack Solutions leading the IT industry for custom racking design.

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