Many business owners still believe that enterprise-class solutions—top-tier certifications, redundant systems, and cutting-edge technologies—are reserved only for banks and global corporations. A common myth persists: “It’s too expensive, beyond our reach.” In reality, the highest level of IT security is well within reach not only for large, but also for medium and even smaller Polish companies.
The Myths Around Security Costs
The most common argument is: “Our own server room is cheaper.” Entrepreneurs often look only at the monthly cost of renting rack space in a data center. What they overlook are the hidden expenses—electricity, cooling, audits, fire-suppression systems, maintenance, and the salaries of skilled IT staff.
And even more importantly, no one factors in the cost of downtime. It’s only after the first serious outage that the true price of “savings” becomes clear.
TCO Comparison – Server Room vs. Data Center
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analyses clearly show that, over time, colocation or hosting in a professional data center is not only safer but also more cost-effective.
An on-premises server room means ongoing energy bills, investments in cooling and fire-prevention systems, regular audits and maintenance, and compliance with increasingly strict standards.
A Class 4 EN 50600-certified data center, such as Talex, offers a single monthly fee that covers everything—power, cooling, redundancy, monitoring, and full technical support.
The difference is simple: in a data center you pay for a service, not for the constant upkeep and modernization of infrastructure.
Certification Within Reach
Polish banks are formally required to use data centers compliant with Level 3 standards. Yet most choose Level 4 facilities—like Talex—to gain an additional layer of protection. Interestingly, many global providers, even those operating in Europe, only offer Level 3.
This means that Polish companies can now access infrastructure that exceeds what many international tech giants provide—without leaving the country.
Why Does the Polish Market Still Focus Only on Price?
A common belief persists that “local means lower quality.” Many executives choose global cloud providers because it sounds safer—without realizing the hidden costs of data transfer, additional services, or exit barriers.
Another misconception concerns price. In reality, the cost of maintaining servers in a professional data center differs little from that of a “basement server room,” while the level of security is incomparable.
Recommendations for SMEs
- Calculate the true cost of maintaining your own infrastructure—including power, cooling, personnel, and downtime risk.
- Compare it with the offer of a professional data center. The difference is usually small—and often the external solution is cheaper.
- Check references—if financial institutions trust Polish data centers with their data, it means those facilities meet the highest security standards.
Remember: security is not an expense. It’s an investment in business continuity and customer trust.
The highest level of IT security is not a luxury reserved for global corporations. It’s a solution within reach of every Polish enterprise—large, medium, or small. The real question is not “Can we afford security?” but rather “Can we afford to be without it?”
