Research from 2009 showed that, in companies where they were seeking data centre-based services, 52 per cent of IT managers in large companies expressed an interest in receiving advice and recommendations, rather than relying on their own experience. Fast forward to 2010 and that trend has increased to a figure of 88 per cent who said they would prefer to speak to an expert. When speaking with companies who outsource some of their data centre services requirements, that figure rises to a staggering 96 per cent!

What does this research tell us? Well, it says that specialist companies like CWCS who actually operate their own data centres rather than just renting space from a facilities management company, are seen as more trusted partners and suppliers. It says that IT and outsourcing decision makers, when they are looking for a data centre or hosting partner, really want to deal directly with the company who owns and manages the infrastructure, rather than someone renting space.

It also tells us that these same decision makers, when looking for colocation or managed dedicated servers for their organisation, would rather deal directly with the sales and support operations of the hosting company, who then go and do the work on their behalf, rather than having endless phone chains of missed calls and Chinese whispers.