How to Improve Data Center Security?

Network systems are responsible for data processing and computing operations. Thus, they can frequently become a target of ill-wishes. A data center is a specialized premise where server cabinets with network equipment are placed. Usually, access to such rooms is limited since network hardware is very expensive and vulnerable to external impacts. Enhanced ways of security are applied to such premises.

Data center security is a set of measures taken to prevent intentional hardware damage and limit the circle of people that can access rooms. It can be one measure or complex sets.

Reasons for Securing Servers and IT Equipment

Do you know why is it so important to secure data servers and other hardware? What can happen to network devices? Here are the most popular reasons:

• accidental damage during maintenance or setup. The staff does not want to damage equipment. However, when it is badly organized, some unintentional damage can occur. For instance, if cables are tangled, it can lead to raptures. Unintentional pushes result in hardware sliding. Thus, it is important to keep all the components and accessories well-arranged and in order.
• intentional damage caused by intruders. Unauthorized visitors frequently become a common reason for a hardware malfunction. When it comes to competition on the market and a target audience, businesses may damage equipment intentionally to eliminate competitors and win the competition on the market.
• personal harm. People can cause problems or malfunction unintentionally. They can even act in favor, but their contribution will turn into harm. For example, configuring wrong settings for equipment due to poor acknowledgment of its operation.
• climate control. Not only humans can damage equipment. The climate can become a reason for significant breaks and lead to system downtime. Environmental changes can cause equipment malfunction. Surges of temperature or humidity result in overheating or rusting. This is why environmental control sensors are installed obligatorily.
• data theft. Valuable information, business data, and client bases can become targets for leakage. Trying to break the workflow and get private information, intruders can harm network systems.

Thus, a set of data center security solutions is designed to prevent these hazards. Depending on the size of an enterprise, the scale of server systems, and the confidentiality of information, one or several measures can be taken to pump the security system.

Measures to Secure Data Centers

First of all, specialized server furniture is used to house and store hardware. A wide assortment of durable and quality data center racks is found on the SysRacks website. Secondly, administrators and technicians tend to use the following solutions to improve the security of data centers and stored hardware.

1. A key card lock. In this case, each employee gets a key card that serves as a pass ticket to open a door. This approach is more advanced than a coded lock. Yet, it is possible to steal cards or give them to non-authorized people, which means that physically lockable cards are not very secure.
2. Biometric locks. This technique implies issuing passes according to some personal physical peculiarities. For example, retinas or fingerprints are the most popular types of biometric passes. This option is superior to physical keys since it is impossible to lose them or give them to third people. Biometrical locks are individual and become more affordable nowadays. It is a preferable way in modern system administration.
3. Lock and key system. It is the lowermost way to secure server rooms. This approach is not recommended since it is easy to lose or steal keys, as well as cut copies. Usually, this option is used in combination with others.
4. Logging server room access. This option implies making a log of all the visitors to data centers. Upon opening the door, the system automatically logs who exactly accesses the room. Loges are stored on servers and can be managed remotely.
5. Auto-closing doors. It is an advanced way to get intruders into a trap. Doors are automatically closed when someone enters the rooms. If visitors have passed, they will leave the premises without difficulties. However, if it is unauthorized access for bad intentions, then intruders are caught in the trap.
6. Locked rack cages. Even if intruders manage to overcome all the entry barriers, the use of lockable shock-resistant cages can buy time and prevent servers and other equipment from damage. Open-frame racks cannot protect hardware from access, so they are placed in additional cages to prevent physical touching. In this case, intruders will have more time to access devices even if they enter the room. If you set an alarm system correctly, this time will be enough to take measures and detain unauthorized visitors.

Note that in most cases, several solutions are applied to enhance the security system. For instance, reliable locks are installed on doors (biometrical passes are preferable), video surveillance is set on premises, entries are logged, and lockable cages (or shock-resistant cabinets) are used to protect equipment. In this case, a comprehensible security system is created.

Nowadays, the tendency to use non-physical passes is observed. It means that keys and key locks are less used; they are replaced by biometrical means due to their convenience. It is more difficult (even impossible) to use the biometrical passes of other people, which makes each visit highly personalized.

To sum up the article, note that data center security is a paramount issue when planning a data center since IT equipment is vulnerable to different influences and frequently becomes the target of intruders. Professional technicians should design a reliable security system, foresee many hazards, and apply modern technologies at the stage of planning. The modern industry offers a wide list of possible solutions for improving server room security and quick identification of unauthorized access.