Wisconsin Colocation
Public cloud is excellent for variable workloads. For steady, predictable workloads the total cost and control equation often favors colocation or bare metal.
| Factor | Colocation | Public Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware choice | Full | Limited to provider options |
| Physical access | Yes (or remote hands) | None |
| Network design | Your switches, your topology | Provider networking |
| Exit cost | Move the hardware | Data transfer + re-architecture |
For many steady-state workloads the three-year total cost of ownership is lower in colocation once you account for hardware, power, and bandwidth. You also retain physical control and avoid some of the operational surprises that come with shared cloud infrastructure.
Add server and networking purchases, warranties, spares and eventual replacement or resale value.
Compare rack space, power, bandwidth, remote hands, staffing, backups and disaster recovery against cloud compute, storage, egress and support.
Cloud elasticity and managed services may justify a higher monthly cost. Colocation may be attractive for steady loads, but savings depend on utilization and staffing.
