The Role of Data Centers in Ensuring Information Security and Compliance
Data centers are the trusted custodians of companies’ most valuable digital assets. They must, therefore, be protected from physical and cyber attacks alike.
These measures include implementing security solutions tailored to the needs of data centers. Data center examples are segmenting building systems and Wi-Fi networks from production networks to prevent lateral movement, encrypting at rest or in transit, and establishing effective server monitoring.
Physical Security
Data centers are a magnet for cyber criminals and nation-state hackers because they contain private information and intellectual property. Whether it’s from inside or outside the facility, these hackers look for any way they can to gain access and wreak havoc on data, servers, and business operations. As such, they require high physical and virtual security to protect their assets and ensure business continuity for the organizations that rely on them.
Data center physical security measures include fencing, car-proof barriers, and berms that create a sense of isolation and protection around the building. The site is also chosen carefully, ideally in an area less likely to be affected by natural disasters. In addition, various physical safeguards are implemented, including seismic bracing, flood barriers, and fire-resistant materials.
Logical security measures are also important, ensuring that only those with authorized credentials can enter the data center. These measures can include requiring two-factor or multi-factor authentication to gain entry and having security personnel monitor access. These measures are augmented by a thorough vetting process for contractors, employees, and visitors to the data center, including background checks and reference verification.
Another logical security measure is regularly testing and updating the disaster recovery plan and emergency response procedures. This can be done through tabletop exercises or penetration testing, which can simulate attacks to find any areas of vulnerability. It’s also critical to have appropriate insurance coverage that can provide a financial safety net in a disaster.
Redundancy
As business continues to rely on technology to support operations and drive revenue, a resilient network is more important than ever. Data centers that fail to address redundancy risk losing critical information, resulting in lost productivity and customer churn. Whether due to unexpected demand or equipment failure, a reliable managed IT services provider can help ensure your organization is protected against the potential costs of downtime.
The most common redundancy measure is to have backups in place, which allow one system or component to take over when another fails. A typical example is having multiple servers to handle traffic spikes or a DDoS attack. Another option is to implement a redundant data center structure in a different location that uses the same systems and data as the primary data center, providing high availability and uninterrupted service.
A more advanced form of redundancy is called 2N architecture, which has a fully mirrored infrastructure on standby that can pick up where the primary data center stops working due to a disaster. This is the highest level of redundancy available and provides complete fault tolerance.
If you are looking for a colocation solution with this level of redundancy, look for a Tier III data center or higher. This is the industry standard and provides more uptime protection than lower tiers.
Access Control
Data centers must take physical security precautions to prevent hackers from stealing or damaging the equipment. They typically have tight access controls, including biometrics scanners at the main entrance and additional measures to verify a person’s identity within the facility. They also closely monitor remote technicians who maintain the data center, with some sites even requiring two-factor authentication and limiting the time they can access sensitive areas.
Data center security also includes implementing cyber security best practices to protect against malware and other cyber threats. Having strong authentication measures for all users and implementing encryption for data in transit can reduce the risk of attacks. Additionally, many facilities use tools like honeypots and behavioral analysis to spot anomalies that could indicate a breach.
The physical protection of a data center requires strict standards and frequent monitoring, with security staff available around the clock. The virtual security of a data center is also important. Data centers often store sensitive information such as medical records, financial information, and university research. Keeping this data secure can prevent costly restorations and lawsuits.
To keep up with the latest security standards, operational technology (OT) and informational technology (IT) teams must work together. This ensures that a unified approach is taken to preventing and fighting against all threats.
Security Monitoring
Data centers use many strategies to protect against physical, virtual, and other threats to information. They typically have few exterior windows and may use biometric scanners, facial recognition, or fingerprint readers to verify staff members before allowing them to enter the facility. In addition, access from outside technicians who maintain equipment is governed by two-factor authentication and is tracked using video surveillance.
A data center’s location is chosen to mitigate potential environmental disasters like earthquakes, flooding, and extreme heat. In addition, the facility design is often designed to be energy-efficient while ensuring high performance. For example, the facility might use a raised floor to minimize airflow and temperature fluctuations, which could otherwise damage servers.
Despite these physical and technical safeguards, modern data centers are also vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Attackers might try to take over a server to steal proprietary information or tamper with records. As a result, data centers must continually monitor the security of their infrastructure and update systems to address new vulnerabilities.
In addition, they must ensure that all employees with access to servers are logging in correctly and not taking shortcuts with day-to-day tasks such as creating passwords or modifying permissions. Finally, they must periodically organize penetration tests and other training to see how staff and security systems respond to realistic simulations of hacking attempts.
