Data Center Security
Why should a data center be concerned with setting up its security measures?
Most secure data centers require a special environment to operate, such as a data center room or otherwise defined perimeters to provide access only to authorized personnel. They are a high-risk environment using large-scale electricity powers and robust equipment. Since data centers are often educational, research or commercial entities, their malfunctioning can threaten sensitive personal or expensive commercial data, jeopardize user privacy and harm vulnerable environments.
Think of the data needs of medical institutions, financial services or university records. Due to their ability to be "data banks" for most businesses, these data centers are in need of much greater physical and administrative control with special access privileges.
That is why most secure data centers not only introduce measures to comply with regulatory body requirements, but also develop data center security policies to specify legitimate business needs and describe the access control system in detail.
Failure to set appropriate measures can cause large restoration for the data center, require insurance claim compensations, produce lawsuit costs and fees; not to mention two sometimes irreparable values - business reputation and loss of authority.
Think of the data needs of medical institutions, financial services or university records. Due to their ability to be "data banks" for most businesses, these data centers are in need of much greater physical and administrative control with special access privileges.
That is why most secure data centers not only introduce measures to comply with regulatory body requirements, but also develop data center security policies to specify legitimate business needs and describe the access control system in detail.
Failure to set appropriate measures can cause large restoration for the data center, require insurance claim compensations, produce lawsuit costs and fees; not to mention two sometimes irreparable values - business reputation and loss of authority.
What is the ideal security arrangement for a data center?
Data centers must provide secure, resilient and monitored environment for setting special IT equipment capable to host large data. Data confidentiality can be easily controlled via electronic access systems that assure the physical security restrictions and enable role-based authorization.
An electronic lock with fobs distributed to responsible IT staff enables automated manipulation of the physical impediment, as well as record monitoring and audit control. Most secure data centers make sure that they have several security levels organized by staff authorization responsibilities or assigned by clients.
If you want to enable data center security that defines who gets where and when, and then keep track of the user behavior, an automated software solution connected to the data center security network, and managed via a central control point, guarantees that only authorized personnel will enter in the predefined security perimeters.
The IT equipment should be physically protected from environmental threats and power failures. Data center security can include specialized cards for the main door access and tokens or cards to enable individual staff access.
To protect data in the best possible way, create a data center security policy and define locking procedures, set up video surveillance, produce and assign cards, physically separate the backed up data from main resources and make sure there is enough protection against intruders.
An electronic lock with fobs distributed to responsible IT staff enables automated manipulation of the physical impediment, as well as record monitoring and audit control. Most secure data centers make sure that they have several security levels organized by staff authorization responsibilities or assigned by clients.
If you want to enable data center security that defines who gets where and when, and then keep track of the user behavior, an automated software solution connected to the data center security network, and managed via a central control point, guarantees that only authorized personnel will enter in the predefined security perimeters.
The IT equipment should be physically protected from environmental threats and power failures. Data center security can include specialized cards for the main door access and tokens or cards to enable individual staff access.
To protect data in the best possible way, create a data center security policy and define locking procedures, set up video surveillance, produce and assign cards, physically separate the backed up data from main resources and make sure there is enough protection against intruders.
What are the unique points a data center should take note?
Dangers for data are not only man-made. This is why each data center security policy should include provisions about appropriate physical protection against damage from natural accidents and disasters. Think of supporting your data center security not only with electronic access control, but with thick walls and solid doors.
- Pick the right location; it should be far from central corporate offices and landscape threats.
- Where appropriate, guard against fire, bombs and floods. Stay away from roads to avoid vehicle intrusion.
- Ensure that the data center equipment is properly ventilated to prolong usage and cut down maintenance costs.
- All these physical measures can be strengthened by a two-factor authentication. For example, some infrastructure standards by the Telecommunications Industry Association require access cards and biometric pass, which can be set and monitored with electronic access control.
- Most secure data centers conduct staff training to educate everyone on the team about the risks and use their help when implementing the measures.
- When everyone knows who is the responsible IT colleague, suspicious visitors have fewer chances to enter into restricted areas and breach the data center security rules.