Today’s Enterprise
From yesterday’s in-house server room to colocation at data centers
Protecting servers and data has evolved rapidly over the past 15-plus years. Early on, concerns centered around the environmental conditions of where servers were housed within a building and the effects of humidity, temperature and air quality on their performance. This led to a better understanding of the need for a controlled environment to maximize equipment lifespan and capacity. It was also a driving force behind consolidating servers in a common space, i.e., the data center.
The focus quickly shifted to points of vulnerability and protecting assets with increasingly stringent access control measures to prevent unauthorized characters from entering and doing something malicious.
An Audit Trail
As sophisticated electronic access control (EAC) solutions emerged, so did the additional benefit of audit trails, which provide greater accountability for who presented credentials where and when. This is useful for capturing maintenance and compliance activity as well as forensic information if a physical security breach occurs.
Another major shift in recent years is where data centers are being built. We used to see them located near major power-generating facilities and in geologically and meteorologically safer areas away from seismic-prone and major storm regions. That is no longer the case. With businesses moving more computing offsite and the proliferation of cloud services, more data centers are going up everywhere across the United States.
As a result, there is more demand for windstorm-rated, blast-resistant-rated, and other specialty doors as well as the proper hardware to support them. In addition, oversized openings are common in data centers where large equipment needs to be moved in and out. Doors that offer sound attenuation are also in demand to meet certain sound transmission class (STC) ratings.
New EMI-RFI/STC shielding door and frame assemblies with adjustable seals are now available. These assemblies are ideal for data centers, SCIF (sensitive compartmented information facility) locations, or any other environment needing to protect and secure electronic information.
Why Data Center Security is Vital
The continuous evolution of innovative technology, stronger procedures and greater vigilance is vital. Today’s connected world relies on a nonstop flow of data to power our devices and networks. If this source of data is compromised, the daily operations of critical businesses and corporations can stop slowly, which can have a negative impact on people’s lives and a brand’s reputation. Disruptions can also result in fines and penalties for non-compliance with security regulations.
According to IBM’s 2023 Cost of a Data Center Breach report, the global average cost of a data breach in 2023 was $4.45 million USD, a 15% increase over three years. Subsequently, this growing reliance on flawless data center operations requires an investment in comprehensive physical security to prevent breaches.
This article originally appeared in the July / August 2024 issue of Security Today.
Today’s Enterprise
From yesterday’s in-house server room to colocation at data centers
Protecting servers and data has evolved rapidly over the past 15-plus years. Early on, concerns centered around the environmental conditions of where servers were housed within a building and the effects of humidity, temperature and air quality on their performance. This led to a better understanding of the need for a controlled environment to maximize equipment lifespan and capacity. It was also a driving force behind consolidating servers in a common space, i.e., the data center.
The focus quickly shifted to points of vulnerability and protecting assets with increasingly stringent access control measures to prevent unauthorized characters from entering and doing something malicious.
An Audit Trail
As sophisticated electronic access control (EAC) solutions emerged, so did the additional benefit of audit trails, which provide greater accountability for who presented credentials where and when. This is useful for capturing maintenance and compliance activity as well as forensic information if a physical security breach occurs.
Another major shift in recent years is where data centers are being built. We used to see them located near major power-generating facilities and in geologically and meteorologically safer areas away from seismic-prone and major storm regions. That is no longer the case. With businesses moving more computing offsite and the proliferation of cloud services, more data centers are going up everywhere across the United States.
As a result, there is more demand for windstorm-rated, blast-resistant-rated, and other specialty doors as well as the proper hardware to support them. In addition, oversized openings are common in data centers where large equipment needs to be moved in and out. Doors that offer sound attenuation are also in demand to meet certain sound transmission class (STC) ratings.
New EMI-RFI/STC shielding door and frame assemblies with adjustable seals are now available. These assemblies are ideal for data centers, SCIF (sensitive compartmented information facility) locations, or any other environment needing to protect and secure electronic information.
Why Data Center Security is Vital
The continuous evolution of innovative technology, stronger procedures and greater vigilance is vital. Today’s connected world relies on a nonstop flow of data to power our devices and networks. If this source of data is compromised, the daily operations of critical businesses and corporations can stop slowly, which can have a negative impact on people’s lives and a brand’s reputation. Disruptions can also result in fines and penalties for non-compliance with security regulations.
According to IBM’s 2023 Cost of a Data Center Breach report, the global average cost of a data breach in 2023 was $4.45 million USD, a 15% increase over three years. Subsequently, this growing reliance on flawless data center operations requires an investment in comprehensive physical security to prevent breaches.
This article originally appeared in the July / August 2024 issue of Security Today.
Summary: Today’s Enterprise
By Chris Hobbs | July 16, 2024
Image Caption: The evolution from in-house server rooms to colocation at modern data centers.
Main Points:
- Over the past 15 years, server and data protection have transitioned significantly. Initially, the focus was on maintaining optimal environmental conditions (humidity, temperature, air quality) within server rooms to enhance equipment lifespan and performance.
- The emergence of data centers consolidated servers into controlled environments, addressing these concerns more effectively.
- With the rise of sophisticated electronic access control (EAC) systems, audit trails became a crucial feature, enhancing accountability by tracking who accessed data facilities and when.
- Data center locations are no longer limited to areas near major power sources or geologically safe regions. The proliferation of cloud services has led to an increase in data centers nationwide.
- There is now a greater demand for specialty doors (windstorm-rated, blast-resistant), proper hardware, and sound attenuation to meet specific requirements.
- New EMI-RFI/STC shielding door and frame assemblies are available to secure electronic information, especially in sensitive areas like SCIFs.
- Data center security is vital due to the dependency on continuous data flow in today’s connected world. Compromised data can disrupt critical business operations, harm reputations, and result in regulatory penalties.
- IBM’s 2023 report highlighted the growing financial impact of data breaches, with the global average cost reaching $4.45 million USD.
Conclusion:
The ongoing evolution of technology and security measures is crucial to protect data centers, ensuring seamless operations and safeguarding against costly breaches. This article appeared in the July/August 2024 issue of Security Today.