Data centers need a reliable power grid and strong internet connectivity, but the ideal locations need so much more. Along with modern infrastructure, you also want a community committed to business development and a climate that minimizes risk to your sensitive data. Below are a few factors to consider when choosing a location for your new data center.

What to Consider When Picking a Data Center

1. Reduced Risk of Natural Disasters

Even a smaller data center can hold tens of millions of dollars in equipment and information that may be worth even more. While waterproof doors, on-site generators, and other safety measures can minimize the risk, a natural disaster can still destroy the fiber lines and power grid your business relies on.

Ideally, your data center should be located away from coastal areas, which are prone to hurricanes and flooding. You should also build close to urban areas, which usually have the resources to bounce back from a disaster more quickly than rural locations.

2. Proximity to Major Cities

Real estate may be cheaper in small towns, but the distance to major cities can make it difficult to attract talent and new clients. Major corporations often want to inspect data centers in person, so being near a major airport makes your center more accessible. Proximity to a major city also gives you access to a deeper pool of skilled professionals.

3. Business Development Programs

Larger cities often have business development initiatives, including tax advantages and other incentives that can lower the cost of your project. Many may even offer recruitment assistance to new businesses investing in the local area. Cities with strong business development programs are also more likely to invest in continuously improving infrastructure, which can help future-proof your investments.

With its inland location at the crossroads of reliable, high-speed fiber lines, O’Fallon, MO, is the ideal location for your next data center. Select O'Fallon, part of the city’s Economic Development Department, is committed to helping you invest in or relocate to a community that has been named the most livable small city by SmartAsset in 2021. Visit their website or call (636) 379-5532 to learn about their business development programs.