Let’s be honest: the words “SOC 2 audit” or “HIPAA compliance review” can make even the most experienced IT manager break into a cold sweat. There’s the documentation, the policies, the endless questions from auditors, and that nagging feeling you’ve forgotten something critical.
But here’s some genuinely good news: if you’re colocating your infrastructure in the right facility, you’ve already checked off a massive chunk of your compliance requirements before the auditor even walks in the door.
The Audit Anxiety Is Real
Compliance audits are exhausting because they touch every corner of your IT operation. Physical security. Access controls. Environmental monitoring. Power redundancy. Fire suppression. Network security. The list goes on.
For most businesses, that means documenting everything, from who has keys to the server room to how you’re monitoring temperature and humidity. It means demonstrating 24/7 surveillance, backup power systems, and proper procedures for virtually everything.
If you’re running your own server room or closet, every single one of those items is on your shoulders.
The Colocation Shortcut Nobody Talks About
Here’s where colocation changes the game: when you move your equipment into a facility that already holds SOC 2 Type II and HIPAA certifications, such as our Sacramento data center, you effectively inherit a significant portion of the compliance work.
Think of it like renting an apartment in a building that already passed inspection. You don’t need to prove that the building has working fire exits, proper electrical systems, or code compliance. The landlord already did that work. You just need to handle your own space.
The same principle applies here, except instead of fire exits, we’re talking about biometric access controls, redundant cooling systems, and 24/7 security monitoring.
What You’re Actually “Borrowing” From Us
When we say you can borrow our compliance, here’s specifically what that means:
Physical Security Controls
Our facility already has layered security with biometric access, 24/7 on-site staff, video surveillance, and man-trap entry systems. Your auditor doesn’t need to verify all of that from scratch; they can reference our existing SOC 2 Type II certification.
Environmental Controls
Temperature monitoring? Humidity controls? Fire suppression? We’ve already got comprehensive systems that are certified and documented. That’s a whole section of your audit checklist you can essentially skip.
Power & Infrastructure
Redundant power feeds, backup generators, UPS systems, and documented testing schedules are all already certified under our compliance frameworks.
Access Logging & Monitoring
Every entry into the facility is logged. Every person who gets near your equipment is documented. The audit trail already exists.
How the Shared Responsibility Model Works
Now, to be clear, colocation doesn’t mean you have zero compliance work. It’s a shared responsibility model.
We handle:
- Physical facility security
- Environmental controls (power, cooling, fire suppression)
- Building access and monitoring
- Infrastructure certifications
- Disaster recovery for facility operations
You handle:
- Your equipment configuration and security
- Data encryption and handling
- Network security policies
- Application-level controls
- Your own business continuity plans
The beauty of this split? The physical infrastructure, which is expensive and complex to certify, is already in place. You can focus your energy on the application and data layers where your business actually lives.
What Your Auditor Actually Sees
When audit time rolls around, here’s how it plays out differently with colocation:
Traditional Setup:
Auditor asks: “Show me your physical security controls for the server environment.”
You: Scrambles to document badge systems, prove 24/7 monitoring exists, explain your security procedures, provide access logs…
With Certified Colocation:
Auditor asks: “Show me your physical security controls for the server environment.”
You: “We colocate at Datacate’s Sacramento facility, which holds SOC 2 Type II certification. Here’s their SOC 2 report covering our physical security requirements.”
Auditor: “Great, that covers it.”
That’s not an exaggeration. A properly certified colocation provider gives your auditor a pre-packaged answer to dozens of questions.
The SOC 2 Type II Difference
You might be wondering why we specifically mention SOC 2 Type II. Here’s why it matters:
SOC 2 Type I is a snapshot. It shows controls existed at one point in time.
SOC 2 Type II is a time-based attestation; it demonstrates that the controls have operated effectively for at least six months. It’s the difference between saying “we have a security system” and proving “our security system actually works and has been tested.
When your facility holds Type II certification, it signals to auditors not only that appropriate controls exist but also that independent auditors have validated them over an extended period.
For HIPAA specifically, this is huge. HIPAA doesn’t have its own certification, but it requires organizations to implement specific safeguards. A SOC 2 Type II report demonstrates that many of those physical and environmental safeguards are already in place and working.
The Real-World Time Savings
Let’s talk practical numbers. A typical SOC 2 audit for a small to mid-sized business can take 3-6 months of preparation if you’re doing everything in-house. You’re writing policies, implementing controls, gathering evidence, and then undergoing the audit.
The physical security portion alone can consume weeks of the timeline, including documenting procedures, gathering logs, demonstrating continuous monitoring, and validating access controls.
With certified colocation? That entire physical layer gets compressed into a simple reference to the facility’s existing certification. We’re discussing potentially cutting your audit prep time by 30-40% by eliminating the physical infrastructure component.
It’s Not Just About Passing the Audit
Here’s something else worth considering: the ongoing compliance burden.
Maintaining compliance isn’t a one-time event. You need continuous monitoring, regular testing, and constant documentation. For physical infrastructure, that means quarterly generator tests, annual fire suppression inspections, ongoing access log reviews, environmental monitoring… the list never ends.
When you colocate in a certified facility, all ongoing work is handled automatically. We’re already required to maintain our certifications, so all those tests, inspections, and reviews occur whether you’re aware of them or not.
Your compliance burden doesn’t disappear annually and resurface at audit time; it simply stays checked off, continuously.
Why We Own and Operate Our Facility
One more important detail: Datacate owns and operates our Sacramento data center. We’re not reselling space in someone else’s facility or white-labeling another provider’s infrastructure.
This matters for compliance because it gives us direct control over every aspect of the facility. When an auditor asks who’s responsible for maintaining certifications, the answer is simple: we are. There’s no third party to coordinate with, and there’s no ambiguity about who manages what.
It also means we can provide direct support during your audit. Need a tour for your auditor? We can arrange it. Need specific documentation about our controls? We have it. Need to verify something about our procedures? We’re right here.
The Bottom Line
SOC 2 and HIPAA audits don’t have to be panic-inducing nightmares. Yes, they’re serious and require proper attention. But you don’t need to solve every compliance challenge from scratch.
By colocating in a facility that’s already certified for SOC 2 Type II and HIPAA compliance, you’re checking off half your compliance boxes before you even start. The physical security, environmental controls, and infrastructure requirements, which are among the most complex and expensive to implement, are already in place.
That leaves you free to focus on what actually matters to your business: your applications, your data, and your customers.
And when that auditor calls to schedule your next review? You can actually answer the phone without that sinking feeling in your stomach.
Because half the work is already done.
