Is colocation secure?
Is access to computers really limited to their staff, as they claim?

If you have any experience of this, or advice, or link, I am interested to know.

Thank you for your help.

If you can visit the facility, do so. Then you can see for yourself.
Some places in America have armed guards posted.
I can't see why anywhere would allow non-staff into the server rooms. They all have at least rudimentary security.

Are you after colocated or hosted servers ? Colocation means it's your machine, and you have to get it to them and probably maintain it. Hosted means it's their machine but they rent it to you.
I've had both, and to be honest, rented is better. You can rent a newer model at any stage and upgrade, rather than having to get rid of a boat anchor and buy a new machine.

If renting a hosted server, and depending on your needs, I would always go for a dedicated server. This means you have control over the whole physical machine. A virtual server means there are many "servers" all on one machine.
Virtualisation is cheaper, and has advanced in security over the years, but you will still be sharing resources (CPU time, RAM, etc).

If you only have one website, with not much traffic, get a virtual server.
If you want to host several sites and use databases and name servers then get a dedicated server.

It's all about your needs really.

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Normally you would only be able to access even your own colocated systems by arranging an access time and accompanied by a staff member. It is in the colo company's interest to keep the customer's machines secure.

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Thank you both for your answers.

What I was planning to do is to have a LAN of 4 machines plus a separate server containing a WEB site, in colocation in the US, dedicated or rented (if more convenient) as soon as funds permit.

Only the server and one machine in the LAN will be connected to the Internet.

It seems some (or possibly all) companies offer to purchase equipment of your choice for you that you can set up and load with files remotely (from Australia). You can also upgrade to more powerful and bigger machine without affecting access very much (according to their web sites)

Depending on what a visitor wants to do from the WEB site, the other machine connected to the Internet will link with one of the other three computers on the LAN.

I have never done anything like that, you might have hints and tips to help that could save me reinventing the wheel.

Thank you for your help.

Every colocation facility that I've ever been to has different rules for access to server areas. Some use locked racks, while others create chain-link cages for each customer. Some require escorts, but others do not. You can always add BIOS/fireware/bootup passwords, but this can introduce other challenges if you have your servers power-cycled for any reason. Make sure that the facility is close by or they offer remote KVM. Your best best is to read all their policies/documentation and visit the facility to see if it matches up in real life.

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My old colo was The planet. You can rent a private network, linking however machines you want, and have one ip for the public network. Don't rush into this. Cheap != better.
But, to be honest, the US is cheaper than anywhere else.

I can't speak for the Planet now as I don't use them any more, but I didn't leave because of the service.

PS don't ever BUY a machine !
Ever !

Trust me.

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