Managed colocation: what is included and who provides it
Managed colocation adds operations to the cabinet: remote hands, monitoring, backups, patching, managed network and sometimes hardware. It sits between plain colocation and managed hosting. Below: what is typically included, how it is priced, a checklist and 3 providers that state managed colocation services on their own sites.
What is managed colocation and how does it differ from colocation?
Plain colocation rents space, power, cooling and a network port; you run the servers. Managed colocation bundles operations on top: on-site remote hands, monitoring and alerting, backup and storage, OS patching, managed firewalls and network, and sometimes hardware supply. It is priced as the colocation base plus per-device or per-hour service fees, or as a flat monthly service tier. Data center as a service (DCaaS) is the same idea sold as a subscription.
What is typically included
- Remote hands and smart hands: reboots, swaps, cabling, visual checks, with a monthly allowance and hourly overage.
- Monitoring and alerting of power, environment, network and, optionally, hosts and applications.
- Backup, storage and disaster-recovery services attached to the cabinet.
- Managed network and security: firewalls, DDoS protection, cloud on-ramps, cross-connect management.
Pricing logic
- Base: cabinet or kW price of the underlying colocation (see the pricing pages).
- Service tier: per device, per hour or a flat monthly fee for a defined scope and SLA.
- Hardware: rented or owned; rental shifts capital cost into the monthly fee.
Buyer checklist
- Get the service scope as a list of tasks with response and resolution times, not as marketing tiers.
- Separate the colocation base from service fees so you can benchmark each against market prices.
- Confirm which tasks count against the remote-hands allowance and the overage rate.
Companies offering managed colocation
Recorded from each company's own website on 2026-09-26: what it states it does, where it operates and which certifications it names. Not a ranking; no company pays for inclusion. Missing companies were not yet checked.
| Company | Headquarters | Regions | Stated services | Certifications named | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TierPoint | St. Louis, USA | 40 data centers in 20 US markets | Colocation with remote hands, network services, hybrid cloud, disaster recovery, managed cloud, business continuity workspace | not stated | TierPoint — Colocation · 2026-09-26 |
| Expedient | Pittsburgh, USA | 10 US data centers: Phoenix, Denver, Baltimore, Boston, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Memphis, Milwaukee | Colocation with redundancy and SlimLine cages; backups, storage, monitoring and maintenance of hosted hardware and software | not stated | Expedient — Colocation · 2026-09-26 |
| DataBank | Dallas, USA | 76 data centers across US West, Central, South, East and the United Kingdom | Colocation from single cabinets to custom suites; managed security and managed services; 1 GW critical IT load, 4.98 million IT sq ft | not stated | DataBank · 2026-09-26 |
See also
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FAQ
Does Coloprice provide managed colocation?
No. Coloprice is an independent data portal. This page explains the service and lists companies recorded from their own websites; a brief submitted below is routed to matching providers under a disclosed referral arrangement. Rankings and the Coloprice Score are never for sale.
How were the managed colocation companies selected?
Each entry was recorded from the company's own website on the date shown, capturing what it states it does, where it operates and which certifications it names. The list grows as companies are checked; absence means not yet checked.
How do I get comparable quotes for managed colocation?
Send the same brief to several providers: scope, location, asset or rack count, timeline, compliance requirements and the deliverables you expect (certificates, validation reports). Ask for line-item pricing so you can compare like for like.
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