Colocation security is the difference between a smart investment and a risky one. Whether you manage your own racks or rely on managed colocation, the real challenge is knowing what protections matter most—and what questions to ask before signing a contract.

Our discussion includes:

• How colocation security keeps your infrastructure out of trouble
• Why security gaps in colocation are more common than you think
• The 10 best practices that matter most in 2025
• Questions that separate reliable providers from risky ones
• The certifications that actually mean something
• What secure colocation gets you when everything’s done right
• How Meter handles colocation without leaving you in the dark
• Quick answers to common questions about physical and network security
• Why Meter Connect makes colocation security simpler from day one

What is colocation security?

Colocation security protects your colocated servers, infrastructure, and data from physical and cyber threats. That includes everything from who can access your rack to how your network traffic is segmented.

It covers three layers:

• Facility protection like cameras, access logs, and environmental safeguards
• Network and device security including segmentation, firewalls, and remote access control
• Compliance protocols such as biometric tracking and audit trails

Colocation shifts part of the responsibility to the provider—but not all of it. The facility is secured by their team, but you manage the stack. That includes your operating systems, apps, and access controls. Gaps often appear when teams assume the provider handles everything.

Compared to on-prem setups, colocation removes some of the overhead. You don’t need to manage power, cooling, or physical security. But if your provider’s controls are weak—or your own policies fall short—your risk climbs fast.

It also differs from the total cloud management system. In cloud environments, you never touch the hardware. In server colocation, you still own and maintain your equipment. That makes physical access, network segmentation, and device hardening your responsibility.

Even basic maintenance—like swapping a drive—requires someone to access your rack. If that process isn’t tightly controlled, mistakes or breaches can happen.

Plus, if you’re in a regulated industry, your compliance burden doesn’t go away. You’re still on the hook for protecting data—even if the building is certified.

For more information, or simply to study up on the subject, you can check out our "What is colo?" article.

Why colocation security matters for modern businesses

Companies are leaning into colocation services to cut costs, boost performance, and extend their hybrid cloud stack.

However, the threat landscape keeps shifting:

• Physical theft still happens—especially in under-secured or poorly staffed facilities.
• Natural disasters like flooding or fire can destroy racks if protections fail.
• Insider threats, whether intentional or accidental, can be just as disruptive.
• Advanced cyberattacks often target data centers with weak segmentation or outdated firmware.

You also have to factor in compliance. If you handle health data (HIPAA), card data (PCI-DSS), or sensitive customer information (SOC 2, ISO 27001), a weak security posture can lead to serious violations.

Some industries also face geographic restrictions. Data may need to stay in a specific region or meet local protection laws. That makes your choice of facility—and their controls—part of your compliance strategy.

Most providers now follow a shared responsibility model. The facility is their job. Your team still manages device-level controls, segmentation, firmware updates, and activity monitoring.

Also, not every provider offers visibility into how their controls work. If you can’t audit their processes or request proof, you’re flying blind.

10 Colocation security best practices

Good colocation security takes work from both sides.

Your provider protects the building, while your team protects the gear. These best practices help you lower risk, stay compliant, and keep your systems up and running.

1. Choose a Tier III or Tier IV certified facility

Start with the building. A Tier III or IV rating means the facility meets stricter uptime standards and has tested systems in place for power, cooling, and physical protection.

These certifications come from Uptime Institute and aren’t self-assigned—your provider should be able to show proof.

A proper Tier III site offers at least 99.982% uptime and includes around-the-clock security staff, plus two or more independent power and cooling systems. If they can’t back that up, keep looking.

2. Require multi-layer physical access controls

Physical access is one of the most common weak spots in colo security. A secure facility should have security staff on-site at all times, not just during business hours.

Entry points must use badge readers or biometrics to track who goes in and out. Some facilities use mantraps—two sets of locked doors that slow anyone trying to sneak in.

Video surveillance should run 24/7, with footage saved for review. Ask how the provider logs visitor access. Each entry should be tied to a specific person, never a shared pass or generic badge.

3. Environmental controls should already be in place

Environmental threats aren’t rare—they happen more often than people think. We’ve seen outages from HVAC failures, broken sprinkler systems, and surprise floods.

A good facility should have fire suppression, not just alarms that ring. Their cooling system needs to be monitored and cover more than one zone. They also need leak detectors and, in some areas, bracing for earthquakes.

Colocation means trusting someone else’s building to keep your systems online. Make sure their protections aren’t just promised—they should be tested and documented.

4. Implement network segmentation and isolation

Flat networks make it easy for malware or bad actors to move through your systems. In a colocation setup, that risk grows—since many tenants share space and upstream infrastructure. You need strong network isolation from the start, using VLANs, private circuits, and strict firewall rules.

Meter designs every environment around secure network design principles. That means customer traffic is segmented using internal VLAN tagging, dedicated control planes, and separate uplinks. Even in a shared facility, your traffic stays isolated—locked away from other networks and threats.

5. Monitor everything: Logs, cameras, and networks

Monitoring isn’t just a checkbox—it’s your early warning system. Real-time alerts should cover physical access, like badge swipes and door entries, along with activity on your network devices. That includes signs of rack tampering, suspicious traffic, and login attempts from unknown sources.

You also need access to historical logs. If something breaks or goes offline, those logs help you figure out what happened and when. Without them, you're guessing in the dark.

6. Prioritize redundant power and connectivity

Downtime usually starts with a single failure—then spreads. That’s why colocation providers must build in multiple layers of backup. Power should come from more than one utility feed, with battery-backed UPS systems and diesel generators ready to take over.

On the connectivity side, you need diverse upstream providers and separate physical paths to keep traffic moving. This kind of network redundancy prevents a localized outage from taking everything offline. If one path fails, your traffic should switch over without disruption.

The focus of redundancy isn’t about backup plans—it’s about keeping your systems online without waiting.

7. Audit providers’ compliance certifications

Certifications don’t replace due diligence, but they give you a solid starting point. A trustworthy provider should meet standards like SOC 2 Type II for operational controls and ISO 27001 for information security.

If you work with healthcare or payment data, HIPAA and PCI-DSS may also apply. Always ask for the full audit reports, not just logos on a website. Some providers display outdated certifications they no longer hold, and that puts your compliance at risk.

8. Run risk assessments and penetration tests

Security changes fast. What protected your systems last year might not hold up now.

You should regularly test your own colo setup, starting with internal network risk assessments and scheduled penetration tests to check firewalls and access controls.

It’s also smart to review your provider’s controls every year and confirm they still meet your needs. Ask how often they test their systems. If they can’t answer clearly, that’s a sign something’s off.

9. Secure your own equipment

Even in a colocation facility, your hardware is still your responsibility. You need to protect it with locked racks or cabinets, use tamper detection tools, and keep your firmware up to date.

Encrypting drives adds another layer of defense, especially if someone gains physical access. Don’t assume your provider handles this—most colocation contracts make it clear that securing the gear is your team’s job.

10. Understand the shared responsibility model

In colocation services, you and the provider each manage part of the environment. The provider takes care of building security, power, cooling, and physical access. Your team is responsible for securing devices, managing operating systems, applying patches, and locking down your applications.

If that division isn’t clear, gaps appear fast. Ask your provider for written documentation that shows exactly who handles what. It should never be left to guesswork.

Questions to ask your colocation provider

These questions help reveal how seriously your provider treats colocation security. The goal isn’t just to ask—they need to back up their answers with real processes and documentation.

How do you handle physical access to customer equipment?

You should hear that access is staffed 24/7, logged per individual, and tied to unique badges. Some providers also require escorts for visitors or maintenance.

What’s your redundancy and disaster recovery plan?

Look for dual power and network paths, battery backups, diesel generators, fire suppression systems, and tested recovery playbooks.

How is customer data segmented at the network level?

Expect VLANs or private circuits, dedicated firewall rules, and isolated management networks to keep traffic separated.

What certifications does the facility have?

They should be able to show valid reports for SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001. If you handle healthcare or payment data, ask about HIPAA and PCI-DSS.

How frequently do you audit or test your security controls?

You want to hear that audits happen at least once a year and include third-party reviews, penetration tests, and internal security checks.

Colocation benefits—when security is done right

Secure server colocation gives you:

• Higher uptime and disaster recovery without building your own facility
• Scalable compute without major capital investment
• More control than public cloud while offloading physical risk
• Shared costs and operational oversight with a provider that manages the infrastructure

When your provider gets security right, colocation becomes a smart way to scale safely.

Meter builds secure enterprise network infrastructure—starting with the cables and ending with the control panel.

Meter delivers:

• End-to-end network installation, security, and support
• Dedicated customer environments, segmented at both the physical and network layer
• Remote management, live monitoring, and automated alerts
• Carrier-neutral connectivity, so you’re never locked in

Everything we offer is designed with compliance and operational simplicity in mind.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know my equipment is physically safe in a colo facility?

Look for 24/7 staffing, biometric access, locked racks, and logged entries.

Can I control who accesses my server in a colocation environment?

Yes, most providers allow customer-controlled access lists, badges, or PIN-based entry systems.

How is network traffic segmented in colocation?

VLANs, private fiber, and separate firewalls prevent cross-customer data exposure.

What type of backup power do colocation providers use?

Dual feeds, battery backup (UPS), and diesel generators—plus load tests to verify failover.

Get a secure infrastructure without the headache

Colocation security depends on more than locked doors and camera logs—it also relies on the connection that ties your infrastructure together.

Meter Connect gives you a dedicated ethernet line built for secure, high-performance transport between your colocated systems and the rest of your network. It’s private, reliable, and built to support compliance from day one.

Plus, because Meter also delivers a vertically integrated network, you’re not stuck managing everything alone. We handle the hardware, monitoring, and segmentation behind the scenes—so your team can focus on what’s running, not what might break.

Request a quote from us today on Meter Connect.