To address data center closures, consolidation, migrations as well as emerging core-to-edge initiatives, organizations look towards colocation providers to provide additional services besides the traditional space, power and cooling. Today, the lines of distinction between retail, wholesale and managed service providers are blurred by colocation providers offering additional services to address hybrid and digital transformation initiatives. Organizations use colocation services with data center interconnect fabrics to integrate multiple applications, data types and data sources in a secure, predictable, lower-latency fashion enabling digital business success. In many cases, data centers are transforming into noncore, remote facilities relegated to non-x86 workloads and legacy applications. Some colocation providers offer interconnection services to enable edge-to-core digital objectives.
Gartner defines the IT asset disposition (ITAD) market with three service categories: core disposition services, secondary hardware services and ancillary life cycle services. Core disposition services are essential to ITAD processes and evaluated on a make-or-buy scale. Secondary hardware services involve acquiring used equipment from ITAD providers. Ancillary life cycle services, such as software harvesting and redeployment, are offered by full-service ITAD providers. ITAD is crucial for IT sustainability, mitigating Scope 3 emissions and supporting the circular economy.