10 Iron Mountain Competitors and Alternatives to Consider

Iron Mountain offers a comprehensive suite of services, the most popular of which are its colocation, disaster recovery (DR), and compliance-ready data storage offerings. Despite a solid service portfolio and a sizable customer base, Iron Mountain's pricing structure, data center locations, and features are not an ideal fit for every organization.

This article presents 10 Iron Mountain competitors you can sign up with if Iron Mountain is not the right fit for your organization. Jump in to see what other options are on the market and see which Iron Mountain alternative aligns the best with your IT needs.

Top Iron Mountain Competitors

Iron Mountain operates in a highly competitive landscape, so there are many alternative options if you need colocation, DR, or data storage services. Below is an in-depth look at the best providers you can sign up with if Iron Mountain is not the right choice for your business.

phoenixNAP   

phoenixNAP is an IT services provider specializing in colocation, cloud computing, IaaS, and dedicated server hosting. Known for transparent pricing, high scalability, and compliance certifications, pNAP provides a flexible and cost-effective option for businesses seeking reliable colocation and hosting solutions.

Here are the key advantages that make phoenixNAP one of the market's best Iron Mountain competitors:

• A global infrastructure of 18 data centers and 11 network points of presence (PoPs) across five continents.
• Highly customizable dedicated servers with cutting-edge CPUs, market-leading uptime guarantees, and free DDoS protection.
• Comprehensive disaster recovery and data backup solutions.
• Round-the-clock customer support with dedicated representatives.
• Highly transparent pricing with no hidden costs and flexible payment options.
• Air-tight security provided by advanced firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDSes), and encryption protocols.
• Compliance with PCI DSS, GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2.

phoenixNAP's flexibility makes it a go-to choice for companies looking to scale their operations while maintaining cost efficiency. The strong focus on security and compliance makes pNAP particularly suitable for clients in high-risk industries like finance and healthcare.

Here's an overview of phoenixNAP's most popular services:

• Dedicated servers that offer highly customizable single-tenant physical machines.
• Bare Metal Cloud (BMC) that offers access to 50+ pre-configured instances you can deploy in a matter of minutes.
• A Managed Private Cloud (MPC) offering that provides build-to-order cloud environments with a single tenant.
• A hybrid cloud offering that enables you to integrate on-prem IT with public cloud resources.
• The Data Security Cloud platform that provides highly secure cloud storage we built in collaboration with Intel and VMware.
• Backup and restore services that enable the creation of advanced BDR solutions.
• Colocation services that enable you to set up equipment at our flagship facility in Phoenix and get access to AWS Direct Connect and Google Cloud Interconnect.

Veeam

Veeam offers comprehensive data protection and backup solutions that rival and, in many aspects, outshine Iron Mountain's services. Known for its robust data security solutions, Veeam holds a significant market share (17.96%) in the backup industry, which is a clear indicator of the vendor's service quality.  

Veeam provides a range of benefits that make it one of the more noteworthy Iron Mountain competitors for backups and recovery. Here are the Veeam's most notable advantages:

• Top-tier automated backups for SaaS applications (including Microsoft 365 and Salesforce).
• Server backups for physical and virtual servers (VMware, Hyper-V, Nutanix).
• A user-friendly interface and centralized management console that simplify backup and recovery tasks.
• Flexible recovery options with granular restore capabilities and rapid local failover.
• Seamless workload migration between on-prem and cloud environments.
• Compatibility with various operating systems and applications (SQL, Oracle, etc.).
• High levels of security thanks to immutable backups, end-to-end ransomware protection, and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Top-tier encryption (at rest and in transit) that ensures data security and integrity.
• A rich Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) offering that enables reliable off-site recovery.

Veeam's high reliability makes it an excellent choice for clients who want to boost data security and ensure rapid recovery in case of data loss. Most companies that choose Veeam over Iron Mountain's backup offerings do so because of granular restore capabilities, seamless integration with major clouds, and more affordable pricing.

Veeam's pricing depends on the specific needs and scale of the organization. Use the vendor's official pricing calculator to get a quote based on your backup requirements.

Equinix

Equinix provides data center and colocation services to businesses in need of secure, high-performance infrastructure. This vendor offers reliable storage, disaster recovery, and connectivity solutions thanks to its vast network of over 240 data centers worldwide.

Here are the most notable benefits that make Equinix stand out as an alternative to Iron Mountain:

• An extensive global presence with data centers and PoPs in over 26 countries.
• Excellent colocation services with high physical and cyber security standards.
• Cost-effective and feature-rich disaster recovery and business continuity offerings.
• Compliance with major global data security and regulatory standards (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2).
• Equinix Fabric enables businesses to establish direct, software-defined connections to partners, clouds, and networks.
• Top-tier security with biometric access controls, 24/7 surveillance, and advanced threat detection systems.
• A user-friendly portal and APIs for managing services.
• Managed services for IT infrastructure optimization and monitoring.
• A focus on data center sustainability and the use of renewable energy.
• Offerings like Equinix Metal and Network Edge enable you to deploy digital-ready infrastructure at the edge.

Equinix is ideal for businesses that require highly connected and scalable data center solutions with a focus on interconnections and global reach. Large enterprises and technology firms often find Equinix particularly well-suited to their needs.

Equinix determines pricing based on data center location, requested service levels, and power usage. Costs typically range from a few hundred dollars per month for basic colocation to thousands for advanced infrastructure solutions that involve the Equinix Fabric offering.

Digital Realty

Digital Realty is a data center provider specializing in colocation, cloud connectivity, and disaster recovery. With over 300 data centers worldwide, Digital Realty is a great Iron Mountain alternative for businesses looking for interconnected colo and DR solutions.

Here's what makes Digital Realty a top-tier alternative to Iron Mountain:

• Global data center presence in over 50 countries on six continents.
• Highly secure and scalable colo services with flexible space and power configurations.
• Access to ServiceFabric, a global interconnection platform that enables seamless connectivity between data centers, cloud providers, and partners.
• Excellent disaster recovery and business continuity solutions.
• Compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, and ISO 27001.
• Managed services that help clients optimize IT infrastructure and operations.
• Excellent edge data center solutions that enable clients to deploy infrastructure closer to end-users for reduced latency.
• Round-the-clock support and dedicated account managers.

As an extra benefit, Digital Realty is a leading purchaser of renewable energy in the industry. A total of 126 of the vendor's data centers are matched with renewable energy, with 100% renewable energy powering the provider's European portfolio and U.S. colo facilities.

Digital Realty is ideal for businesses needing secure and scalable colocation with extensive connectivity options. The vendor's ServiceFabric is a strong selling point for companies in need of seamless hybrid and multi-cloud connectivity for their colocation setups.

Centersquare

Centersquare (ex Cyxtera) offers robust data center solutions with a focus on scalability and compliance. Its Phoenix campus (PHX1) is especially notable for its low-risk location, high power capacity, and extensive network connectivity.

Here's what makes Centersquare one of the better Iron Mountain competitors:

• A global presence with a total of 72 facilities and PoPs.
• Compliance with HIPAA, NIST 800-53 PE High, SSAE18 SOC-1, SOC-2, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS.
• Connectivity to 20+ different network providers.
• A handy self-service portal that helps clients with remote management.
• State-of-the-art data center security measures (24/7 video surveillance, two-factor authentication, biometric scanners, badge readers, entrance mantraps, ballistic paneling, etc.).
• Energy-efficient data center cooling systems with N+1 redundancy.
• Access to the Digital Exchange platform that features a variety of services, including cloud connectivity, managed services, and security solutions through a single interface.
• Certified technicians available for support and remote management.

A focus on security and scalability makes Centersquare a top choice for enterprises in regulated industries. Their infrastructure is also an excellent choice for colocation clients looking to support high-density and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.

Centersquare prides itself on competitive pricing for colocation, managed services, and disaster recovery. Pricing varies based on location, power requirements, and desired RTO and RPO capabilities.

CyrusOne

With a global presence and a focus on hyperscale clients, CyrusOne offers competitive services in disaster recovery, hybrid cloud solutions, and secure storage. Its carrier-neutral colo services and emphasis on performance make it a strong choice for clients with demanding compute needs.

Here are the most notable benefits of signing up with CyrusOne:

• A global presence with 40+ carrier-neutral data centers across North America, Europe, and Asia.
• Colo infrastructure optimized for next-generation and high-density workloads.
• A purpose-built AI infrastructure (Intelliscale) designed to meet the computational demands of AI use cases.
• Certifications for HIPAA, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, SOC 2 Type 2, and SSAE 18.
• Comprehensive and highly customizable DR offerings for ensuring business continuity.
• Reliable and secure data storage services for the safekeeping of critical files.
• Direct connectivity to major network providers and cloud on-ramps (AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud).

CyrusOne is ideal for enterprise-grade clients that require scalable colocation with strong cloud connectivity. The vendor's hyperscale infrastructure makes it ideal for colocation projects that involve large-scale AI, machine learning, and big data workloads.

While CyrusOne's pricing is not public, the company prides itself on flexible costs. Clients enjoy flexible contract options, which allow them to scale up or down based on their needs without long-term commitments.

CoreSite

CoreSite provides excellent colocation services with direct on-ramps to major cloud hyperscalers. This vendor specializes in high-performance and low-latency connectivity, making it a great choice for enterprises that require fast and reliable data exchange in hybrid or multi-cloud environments.

Here are the most notable selling points of signing up for CoreSite's services:

• A total of 28 data centers across 11 strategic U.S. markets, totaling approx. 4.6 million square feet.
• High-performance colocation services with an option to pick up an SLA with 99.999% uptime.
• Direct cloud connectivity to AWS, Azure, IBM Cloud, Alibaba Cloud, Google Cloud, and Oracle, facilitated through the vendor's Open Cloud Exchange.
• Compliance with SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001.
• Robust business continuity and disaster recovery services.
• Top-tier managed services for hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
• Dedicated account managers and 24/7/365 support.

CoreSite is ideal for enterprises that need low-latency, private connections to multiple cloud providers and partners. The vendor is also a great choice for clients building large-scale hybrid cloud architectures that involve collocated equipment.

CoreSite's colocation pricing depends on rack density, space requirements, and interconnection needs. Cloud connectivity services are priced per port and bandwidth usage, with costs varying by cloud provider. DR and managed services are available as add-on services, with pricing based on redundancy and workload requirements.

Flexential

Flexential is a provider specializing in colocation and DRaaS services with strong security and compliance features. This vendor also offers various managed services that help clients manage and protect their data.

This vendor provides a range of benefits tailored to enterprise needs. Here's what makes Flexential stand out among Iron Mountain competitors:

• Highly scalable and customizable colocation services with an infrastructure capable of handling demanding AI and GPU-driven workloads.
• Excellent custom-built private and hybrid cloud options.
• Top-tier DRaaS offerings that include automated failover, continuous data protection, and customizable recovery plans.
• Direct cloud connectivity to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
• Compliance with major industry standards (PCI DSS, HITRUST, ISO 27001, SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3, and ITAR).
• Excellent managed services that include monitoring, patching, and optimization of the IT infrastructure.
• Access to the FlexAnywhere platform that offers colocation, cloud connectivity, data protection, and other services.
• SLA-backed 99.999% uptime guarantee for premium clients.

Flexential is ideal for enterprises that require scalable colo services with strong disaster recovery capabilities and integrations with multiple clouds. Companies prioritizing uptime and security will also appreciate the provider's robust infrastructure and advanced DRaaS offerings.

Compared to Iron Mountain, Flexential's presence is primarily in North America, which means it's more suitable if your operations are concentrated in that region.

Zayo

Zayo is a provider specializing in colocation and cloud infrastructure solutions. With an extensive network spanning over 130,000 route miles in North America and Europe, Zayo delivers high-capacity, low-latency services ideal for organizations with enterprise-level IT needs.

Here's why Zayo earned a place among the best Iron Mountain competitors:

• Low-latency, high-capacity bandwidth solutions ideal for data-intensive applications.
• Carrier-neutral colocation facilities with flexible space and power options.
• Several Tier III and Tier IV facilities (you can learn about this ranking system in our guide to data center tier classification).
• Direct cloud on-ramps to major providers, including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
• Highly customizable disaster recovery and business continuity solutions.
• Compliance with SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and PCI DSS security standards.
• Access to 24/7 dedicated support teams.
• Dark fiber and wavelength services for clients who require that type of infrastructure.

Zayo is a common choice for companies seeking a reliable and scalable provider with a strong presence in North America and Europe. The vendor's extensive fiber network and carrier-neutral facilities make it an excellent choice for enterprises that need custom colo setups and low-latency connectivity.  

Like most Iron Mountain competitors, Zayo determines pricing based on specific requirements. The three main factors are bandwidth needs, data center location, and requested SLA-backed guarantees.

DataBank

DataBank is a colocation provider with a strong focus on compliance and security. This vendor primarily caters to enterprise-grade companies in high-risk industries like healthcare and finance.

DataBank offers several key advantages that make it a strong alternative to Iron Mountain. Here are this provider's most noteworthy selling points:

• An extensive U.S. presence with over 65 data centers in 27 markets.
• High-density colocation infrastructure that easily handles demanding workloads.
• Excellent managed services that help clients with security, adherence to compliance, and monitoring.
• Several high-performance computing (HPC) facilities ideal for advanced AI and big data applications.
• The vendor offers an SLA with a 100% uptime guarantee for clients who cannot afford any downtime.
• An award-winning Universal Data Hall Design (UDHD) granted for the provider's highly efficient space utilization.
• Strong compliance framework for standards like HIPAA, PCI DSS, and FedRAMP.
• Dedicated customer support with 24/7 availability.

DataBank's extensive infrastructure makes it a go-to choice for large organizations seeking a reliable and scalable provider with a strong U.S. presence. The vendor's commitment to innovation, as evidenced by its award-winning UDHD, ensures clients get access to top-tier facilities designed for efficiency and seamless growth.

How to Choose the Best Iron Mountain Competitor 

The best Iron Mountain competitor for your use case depends on your specific IT needs, allocated budget, long-term goals, and where you conduct business. Before you begin comparing different colocation providers, clarify your requirements by answering the following questions:

• Do you need just space and power, or do you also need some managed services?
• Do you need a presence in specific regions for latency reasons?
• Will your company need more space or bandwidth in the future?
• Do you require HIPAA, PCI DSS, FedRAMP, or other certifications?

Answering these questions will narrow the list of potential providers down. You should then further reduce the number of vendors by looking at how each one of them stacks up in the following areas:

• Does the provider offer high-speed fiber connectivity and interconnection with major cloud providers?
• What is the provider's track record for uptime and reliability?
• Are the provider's facilities near your primary business operations?
• What are their historical uptime records?
• What kind of service level agreement guarantees does the provider offer?
• Are their facilities equipped with biometric access, surveillance, and industry-standard precautions?
• Is the data center's location prone to natural disasters or at risk of human-made incidents?
• Are their pricing models transparent? Do they offer flexible contracts and discounts for long-term commitments?
• Do they provide 24/7 support and what is their customer support response time?
• What is the provider's financial stability?

Answering these questions will help you identify the right provider for your data center outsourcing needs. You can't go wrong with any of the Iron Mountain competitors in this article, but doing your due diligence will help you find the right fit for your company.

Learn About Iron Mountain Competitors and Make an Informed Choice

While Iron Mountain offers solid colocation and DR services, there are companies that provide better features while remaining in a similar or even lower price range. Take the time to evaluate the Iron Mountain competitors reviewed in this article and assess whether one of them is a better financial or IT fit than Iron Mountain.