Colocation Data Center

How to Secure The Colocation Data Center

FindItMore | Since it’s about the information security, a well-monitored and secured environment is crucial for the colocation data center. Let’s have a look at some world’s most secure data centers and factors to consider for the data center’s physical security.

Before heading on for how to physically secure the colocation data center, let’s have a look at some great examples of the world’s most secure data centers;

The Bunker – United States
Constructed in 1982, The Bunker was a 40,000 sq ft nuclear bomb shelter. Louis Kung built this in Montgomery, Texas to protect his family and employees from war or breakdown of society. Earlier, it used to have the concealed gun ports & rooftop-mounted machine gun nests. But nowadays, this place is one of the world’s most secure data centers with an adjacent building used as a disaster recovery site.

Swiss Fort Knox – Switzerland
You must have heard about the leading Swiss IT security solution provider – The Secure Infostore AG. It actually operates two cold war bunkers called Swiss Fort Knox. To enhance the cooling system, the data centers pull glacial water from the deep subterranean lake. Moreover, it has the seamless security that includes facial-recognition surveillance & bulletproof surfaces to resist any potential threat.

Iron Mountain – United States
Located in Western Pennsylvania, the Iron Mountain’s flagship data center – one of the world’s most secure colocation sites – is also known as “nuke-proof” data bunker. Located 65-meters underground and covering the area of 200-acre, this data center is protected by heavily armed guards, CCTV, metal detectors, biometric access controls & mantraps. The Iron Mountain have in-total 6-data centers across the United States. It’s so popular and reputable that the Federal agencies & 94% of Fortune 1000 companies have partnered with Iron Mountain for the data storage requirements.

The list is quite long, but to give a brief overview of secured data centers, these examples are enough. Now let’s discuss how to secure the colocation data center physically. First of all, the clients should trust their data center as well as expect that the trust will be fulfilled. Here’re a few important things to consider;

A Professionally Trained Squad
There has to be a security team available 24*7*365. In fact, the security squad must be able to assess the situations and make decisions immediately. Be mindful that there’s no substitute for a trained professional.

Safe and Secured Place to Work
Even if it’s about the cloud hosting and colocation, the team will still not go into the cloud. The trained professionals need a safe & secure environment to work in – on the ground obviously. The area needs to have strong glass shields that can be quickly shut to ensure the maximum protection from intruders.

Have more eyes & ears to enhance the Security
Having the CCTV in your data center is imperative. Every place within the premises should be monitored including all external entrances, stairwells and corridors. Make sure that the monitors are kept in the protected security office. In case of an alert and emergency, the CCTV control systems need movement detectors & electronic trip-wires as well.

Don’t Forget about the Access-List
You know what the most important tool is for the highly trained security guards. It’s not the CCTV or swipe-cards, but that access list mentioning the details of those who have authority to come and go, who might or might not be allowed to make deliveries or even authorize the equipment removals. So just ensure that the list is always updated by the colocation supplier as well as the data center manager.

Keep in mind! The entire security is pointless if an unknown person – carrying a spanner and saying he’s come to fix a leakage – is allowed to enter without any question. To avoid any potential vulnerability to secure colocation data center especially the physical one, re-think the car park controls, delivery process, and support authorization etc.

Summary
Are you willing to learn about how to secure the colocation data center? Just check out the article now.

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