Data centres are the backbone of our digital economy, but most people do not think of them or their importance until something breaks. The UK managed services provider Redcentric this week announced that it is in talks to offload its data centre operations, which consist of around eight sites with roughly 41MW of capacity. The company is reportedly in advanced discussions, though no deal is certain, highlighting the strategic decisions providers make in a rapidly changing market.
While it may seem a corporate decision, hosting reliability impacts far more than boardrooms and IT departments. Whether it is businesses handling financial transactions or homeowners watching movies on a Friday night, it is the robustness of these back-end systems that allows for continuous operation.
Reliable Hosting Beyond the Enterprise
Reliable hosting quietly enables millions of everyday users’ online experiences. Whether utilising gaming systems or streaming services, back-end systems are stable and allow for continuous access. From watching a film to choosing a casino game, most digital platforms depend on these unseen systems.
For example, even in the world of online casinos, most players top picks in 2025 rely on secure cookie management and robust data centre infrastructure to deliver a seamless experience. These casinos often operate through platforms that host games supplied by multiple providers, ensuring a vast library of options.
Much like how Netflix gives users hundreds of films to scroll through, players are presented with extensive catalogues of slots, tables, and live games. When hosting cannot be relied upon, both businesses and individuals face disruptions, and confidence in digital spaces can quickly erode.
Why Data Centre Reliability Matters for Businesses
Reliability is essential; even minutes of downtime can cost thousands in revenue. Industry experts estimate that the cost of unscheduled downtime at hundreds of thousands of pounds per occurrence.
Another pillar is security. Trusted hosting providers supply SSL certificates, malware protection, and regular backups to protect both operational data and customer information. This ensures compliance with data regulations like GDPR while reinforcing customer trust.
Performance also matters. A page load time on mobile of 10 seconds can increase bounce rate exponentially compared to faster speeds. High-quality hosting providers offer better speed, which is essential for businesses to keep potential customers interested. Equally important is the stability of operations; if a hosting company goes out of business, a stable hosting provider will help keep businesses from being pushed into expensive emergency migrations..
The Consumer Perspective
Reliability of online services translates into fewer annoying interruptions when streaming movies, online shopping, or mobile banking. With more people relying on digital platforms for entertainment, news, and even live sporting experiences, staying connected online has become an essential part of daily life. Security of personal data is also contingent upon safe hosting environments that safeguard personal data during logins and transactions.
Speed matters as well: sites that load quickly are better for users and have lower bounce rates. For the average user, good hosting means completing a purchase or not purchasing at all. With mobile devices now the primary method of online access, hosting resilience ensures services work seamlessly across platforms.
Emerging Demands and the Future of Hosting
This need for hosting infrastructure will only continue to increase. Emergence of AI workloads as well as edge and 5G computing, is increasing expectations for speed and lower latency. Simultaneously, sustainability issues are pushing data centres to also find a compromise between reliability and greener operations.
The potential sale of Redcentric is indicative of a broader trend in the industry, with many providers looking at whether they want to continue to own their own infrastructure or instead rely on global cloud hyperscalers like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. The location of servers matters little; what counts is that reliable hosting underpins both business functions and people’s daily online lives.