Nov 19, 2024

Equinix Metal Alternative: HorizonIQ’s Dedicated Infrastructure for a Seamless Transition

Sameer Aghera

In a significant shift for the data center and cloud infrastructure landscape, Equinix recently announced that it will be shutting down its Equinix Metal service by June 30, 2026.

This move comes after the company decided to cease selling new bare metal services and deprioritize the development of new features for its Metal offering. 

While this decision may come as a surprise to many, it highlights the changing priorities within the company, as it focuses more on larger, hyperscale-focused data centers and colocation services.

Equinix Metal’s Journey and Exit

Equinix entered the bare metal market in 2020 through the acquisition of Packet, a prominent player in the Bare-Metal-as-a-Service sector. 

The acquisition was part of Equinix’s strategy to expand its service offerings and provide customers with an alternative to colocation and public cloud services. 

Equinix rebranded Packet’s services under the name Equinix Metal, and the company sought to combine the flexibility of bare metal infrastructure with its extensive global colocation network.

Despite its potential, Equinix Metal struggled to gain the momentum expected in a highly competitive market dominated by cloud giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft. 

Even as Equinix made incremental updates to Metal, such as the addition of Dell PowerStore as a Storage-as-a-Service solution earlier this year, the bare metal service accounted for only a small fraction of Equinix’s revenue, less than 1.25% according to recent financial reports. 

This, combined with the broader strategic shift under the leadership of new CEO Adaire Fox-Martin, led to the decision to sunset the service entirely by 2026.

In a letter to customers, Equinix executives Jon Lin and Mike Campbell assured users that the company would continue to support Metal’s performance, security, and stability until its final shutdown. 

However, for businesses with contracts extending beyond this window, Equinix is encouraging customers to explore alternative infrastructure solutions, including colocation and third-party options.

HorizonIQ as an Equinix Metal Alternative

For businesses relying on Equinix Metal’s bare metal services, the search for a viable alternative is now top of mind. That’s where HorizonIQ comes in. 

At HorizonIQ, our focus has always been on delivering bare metal and managed private cloud services to meet the unique needs of businesses that require more control, flexibility, and performance from their infrastructure.

Unlike Equinix, which has a broader focus on colocation and large-scale data centers, we specialize in providing high-performance, customizable infrastructure solutions with a dedicated focus on bare metal and private cloud services. 

HorizonIQ is backed by significant investment from leading firms like BlackRock and Invesco, which positions us to scale our services and continue offering the support businesses need to stay ahead of the curve.

Whether you’re currently using Equinix Metal or considering your options for the future, we’re here to help you navigate the transition to a solution that prioritizes the performance, security, and flexibility your business demands. 

We’re proud to offer a range of solutions tailored to meet the needs of companies looking for an infrastructure partner who understands their challenges and is committed to helping them succeed.

What HorizonIQ Offers to Equinix Metal Customers

At HorizonIQ, we recognize that infrastructure decisions are critical to the stability and growth of your business. Our team is here to make sure that your transition away from Equinix Metal is as smooth and seamless as possible.

  • Bare Metal Infrastructure:
    Our servers are fully customizable to enable businesses with the exact configurations needed for optimal performance. Whether you require high-compute power, specialized storage, or unique networking capabilities, we provide unparalleled flexibility and control.  We offer a suite of AMD and Intel-based servers to meet your exact needs.
  • Managed Private Cloud:
    Our private cloud solutions offer the reliability and scalability of enterprise-grade single-tenant infrastructure, with added layers of security and compliance. Built for workloads requiring guaranteed performance and strict data governance, our solutions adapt as your business grows.
  • Complimentary Services:
    Enhance bare metal servers or managed private cloud nodes with HorizonIQ’s suite of block storage, object storage, backup and recovery, firewalls, load balancers, and dedicated disaster recovery environments.
  • 24/7 Support:
    Our dedicated team of experts ensures uninterrupted operations. From migration assistance to ongoing optimization, we offer round-the-clock support to minimize downtime and keep your infrastructure running smoothly.
  • Tailored Solutions:
    No two businesses are the same, which is why we provide bespoke infrastructure solutions. Our team collaborates with you to assess current and future needs to support your infrastructure’s long-term goals.

“Our core mission at HorizonIQ has always been to provide businesses with reliable, high-performance infrastructure that empowers them to innovate and scale,” says John Scanlon, CEO of HorizonIQ. “We understand the disruption that Equinix Metal’s closure may cause for many businesses, and we are ready to step in and offer a seamless alternative. Our dedicated team is here to make sure that you don’t miss a beat. At HorizonIQ, we’re committed to providing the support, flexibility, and performance companies need during this transition.”

The Road Ahead for Equinix Metal Customers

As Equinix begins winding down its Metal service, businesses are faced with the challenge of finding a new provider to meet their infrastructure needs. With HorizonIQ, companies don’t have to navigate this shift alone. 

If you’re currently using Equinix Metal and are looking for a smooth transition to a more tailored, reliable infrastructure solution, HorizonIQ is here to help

We offer the expertise, the technology, and the commitment to make sure your business operates at peak performance—no matter what changes the future may bring.

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Sameer Aghera

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