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The Importance of Cross Connects in Data Centers

What is a Cross Connect?

A cross connect enables customers to create private connections between their colocation environments and other network providers, clouds, content, and application providers in the same ecosystem. 

It is a Layer 1 point-to-point cable link that connects two customers between two hardware assets within the same data center facility. Typically, cross connects are made through structured cabling systems, utilizing fiber optic cables, copper cables, or other high-speed transmission media.

What Are The Benefits Of Using A Cross Connect?

Overall, a cross connect delivers performance, reliability, security and flexibility for organizations that must integrate their systems and access provider networks. As technology ecosystems grow more complex, interconnectivity is crucial for seamless communication between individual systems and services.
  • Improved Performance - Reduce latency with a direct connection, eliminating the need to travel through external networks.
  • Enhanced Security - Lower the risk of a data breach with a private data pathway that bypasses the public internet.
  • Increased Reliability - Limit disruptions by avoiding external networks, network congestion, and bottlenecks.

What Is The Difference Between A Cross Connect And An Interconnect?

While cross connects facilitate direct connections within a single data center or facility, interconnect data centers enable connections between separate data center locations. Here are the key distinctions:
  • Scope: Cross connects facilitate direct data exchange within a single data center or facility, while interconnect data centers establish connections between geographically dispersed locations, often spanning different regions or countries.
  • Scale: Cross connects typically operate on a smaller scale, facilitating connectivity within a single building or campus, whereas interconnects span to link multiple facilities.
  • Functionality: Cross connects enable direct, private connections within a facility, while interconnect data centers offer broader connectivity, including peering, transit, and access to networks and cloud providers.

Benefits of Cross Connects with Evocative

  • On-site remote support: Expert technicians are always available 24/7/365, guaranteeing 100% uptime SLA
  • 140+ carriers: Offering the top telecom and cable providers
  • Increased speed and reliability: Experience the high performance of a direct private connection to your selected service provider
  • Volume and bundle discounts: Evocative offers discounts for multiple interconnection services
  • Effortless intra-building connection: Direct connections with Evocative are easy and can be provisioned a week or less
At Evocative, we offer a variety of cross connect media options:
  • Single Mode Fiber (SMF)
  • Multi Mode Fiber (MMF)
  • CAT 5E/6 Copper (twisted pair)
  • POTS
  • COAX
  • Wavelength Services
To enable greater flexibility and scale, Evocative engineers design every installation to simplify cable management and optimize scalability. All the while, Evocative enables fast provisioning of cross connects.

Strengthen and Secure Network Connections with Cross Connects from Evocative

The ability to connect to the right service providers, customers, and business partners is critical to success. Evocative Cross Connects deliver reliable and secure interconnectivity by providing direct, dedicated, private connections between entities across every Evocative site.

For more than 20 years, Evocative has provided customized IT solutions to global organizations. With interconnected points of presence across the United States, Europe, and Asia and 68,000 servers under management, we can serve businesses of all sizes and industries.
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