But at a company like Spirit Telecom, a great deal of thought and planning goes into ensuring data is transported without interruption. The company’s main data center in Columbia, S.C., houses a number of Spirit Telecom’s products and services, but its primary function is to keep traditional and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls moving.

The data center is located in the company headquarters in what most people would probably consider a surprisingly small room – a testament to how technology like servers and telephone switches grow smaller with each improvement. The data center switches 30 million minutes of domestic and international calls each month.

When businesses are reviewing communication providers, they may not think to ask about the data center, but it’s an important tool for your business, because it means your calls and other communications make it through the networks, switches and cables in a matter of seconds without any problem.

Spirit Telecom’s data center is climate controlled and protected from any A/C problems thanks to generators and battery backup systems. The center is outfitted with a special fire suppression system that can extinguish a fire without damaging the internal components of the servers and switches.

The center also is carefully monitored with video surveillance, and only authorized employees can enter with badge access. This means your data – particularly any sensitive materials – are protected.

As your business reviews a communications company, don’t hesitate to ask about the data center, backup procedures and security. You’re entrusting this company with data and phone calls that keep your business productive and profitable, so it doesn’t hurt to spend a few minutes asking about how they get from one place to another.