Data Center Security: Cybersecurity Must-Haves
With the ongoing threat of hackers, malware, and data breaches still looming over businesses in every industry and operating in all sectors, investment in cybersecurity is at an all-time high and continues to grow.
Research by Gartner points to worldwide spending on cybersecurity to increase by 8.7% to over $124 billion in 2019.1 Still, cybercriminals have continued to carry out successful attacks, hacking into servers, stealing valuable user data, and infecting networks with ransomware.
According to a report by Citigroup, data breaches cost the global economy $1.5 trillion in 2018.2 Losses not only caused by valuable information being stolen and extorted ransoms but also operational disruptions and lost consumer trust.
Security is incredibly important for data centers. Company servers and networks need to be protected, which means good data centers are physically and digitally secure.
What Is Data Center Security?
Data center security is the combination of physical protocols and virtual technologies used to protect a data center from external threats and attacks carried out by hackers and cybercriminals. The best data centers follow a holistic security policy that can be adapted to the rapidly changing cybercrimes landscape.
Data center physical security encompasses a data center building’s design, layout, and location. Single-purpose buildings located away from major roads are more secure. Physical access into a data center should also be limited with minimal entry points into the building and monitored with surveillance cameras.
Access should only be granted after visitors pass verification and two-factor authentication which can include biometric scanning, personal identity verification (PIV) cards, personal passcodes, and so on. On-location security guards can look out for suspicious activity in real time, improving the protection of the facility.
Data Center Security Best Practices: Cybersecurity Must-Haves
A data center’s cybersecurity refers to the software and virtual security protocols utilized to prevent cybercriminals from entering its network by bypassing the firewall, cracking passwords, or going through other loopholes.
Data center managers must consider the obvious threats – hacking, malware, spyware, and increasingly popular ransomware attacks. Here are the top cybersecurity must-haves all data centers should maintain to stay secure.
- Framework – Data centers should follow one cybersecurity framework and use it as the base for their cybersecurity development. While numerous organizations offer frameworks, particularly for industry-specific regulatory regimes, the most popular general-purpose framework is the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Cybersecurity Framework.
- Limited Access – Preventing unauthorized users from accessing the network and other critical systems is important. Data centers limit access to only authorized visitors by implementing multiple verification tools like multi-factor authentication, least-privilege key management systems, behavioral analytics, and even zero trust models.
- Employee Protections – Many malware and ransomware attacks utilize infected employee desktops as their entry point into larger networks. Data centers can protect against this by implementing tools like email filters, endpoint protection systems, and even employee security training programs.
- Consistent Monitoring – Data center managers should always be scanning their networks and security protocols for any vulnerabilities or suspicious traffic. These network monitoring systems allow for the early detection of threats and loopholes before they can get exploited. A cybersecurity breach process should also be designed, and drills run to test if the cybersecurity controls in place are effective.
At LightWave Networks, in addition to the colocation services we offer at our Boston colocation and Dallas data centers, we also offer remote backup services, disaster recovery planning, IP transit services, dedicated servers in Boston and Dallas, managed networking, and more. To learn more about our top-notch IT services, contact us or call 844.722.COLO today!
Sources
- Gartner – Gartner Forecasts Worldwide Information Security Spending to Exceed $124 Billion in 2019
- Reinhardt Krause, Investor’s Business Daily – Data Breaches Make Zero Trust The New Buzzword In Cybersecurity