Physical Security is Essential for Protecting Sensitive Data

Data is the gold of our time. Accordingly, it should also be protected. Traditional server rooms, which are still often found, no longer meet modern security standards. State-of-the-art data centers help out here.

Team

Data Center Stollen Lucerne

Content

Division into Security Zones

Physical access to servers, storage, or network components can bypass many layers of cybersecurity. The starting point of a comprehensive concept for the physical security of data centers is therefore the division into four to six security zones. The outermost zone serves to protect the perimeter, and the innermost zone protects the computer racks. Especially in colocation data centers, where different customers rent space, it is important that customers can only enter the rooms assigned to them and can only open their racks.

Modern Access and Surveillance Systems

Security begins with the building. Modern data centers have a resilient building envelope due to their special construction. This is particularly pronounced in underground facilities. To prevent unauthorized access, a data center should have separate entrance sluices for people and materials. The person sluice ensures that only one person can enter or exit at a time, while the material sluice controls material flows. Access control ideally takes place via biometric features such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans. Software is often used additionally to track when and where people are within the facility. High-resolution surveillance cameras and laser scanners are usually used for the interior and exterior. In combination with advanced analysis software, this enables real-time monitoring and detection of potential threats.

Measurement for Early Detection and Resilient Facilities

Modern facilities have tens of thousands of measurement points that systematically measure temperature, humidity, pressure, switching state, water leaks, and power consumption. If the measured factors do not fall within the defined ideal ranges, this can impact the operation of the data center. It is important to recognize and avoid this early on. Additionally, professional data centers have fire detection and extinguishing systems, early fire detection through smoke aspiration systems, intrusion detection systems, as well as building and security management systems. Some data centers also use oxygen reduction systems to slow down possible fire spread. For safe operation, all vital systems are usually designed redundantly. Particularly important is a redundant supply of electrical power and - in the event of a power failure - an uninterruptible power supply.

In summary, physical security as the foundation of cybersecurity should have the highest priority. Whether outsourcing or backup: Choosing the right data center is crucial here.