Products + Services Data Centers Network Industries Learn About
If you decide to migrate your assets and data to a colocation facility, one of the first questions you'll ask is how this facility meets your industry's regulatory compliance standards. Secure colocation is a must, as you need to know that your facility can protect your assets. Knowing what to look for in colocation security can give you a sense of whether a particular center is right for your organization.
The worldwide colocation data center market is estimated to be $51.25 billion, so data centers must protect their client's digital assets and the underlying infrastructure that powers their services.
Colocation centers store massive amounts of hardware and sensitive information. To secure the facility, they must have comprehensive policies, technologies and on-site practices. Physical and digital security are both important aspects of colocation.
Colocation physical security is enforced by restricting and managing access to the facility through stringent access rules and physical infrastructure such as surveillance systems, biometric authentication and 24/7 security personnel. However, potential threats are digital and physical, so a two-pronged approach is essential.
Colocation data centers must have robust cyber security protocols, including network protection, firewalls and encryption. A lack of security in either aspect can result in unauthorized access and network vulnerabilities.
Data centers must ensure regulatory compliance and observe robust security best practices. Data centers housing customer data must maintain control and visibility over their assets and commit to meeting colocation security compliance standards. Reputable colocation centers form part of your compliance and make their reports available to you.
If your data center is compliant, you can relay that information to your stakeholders, enhancing your reputation and giving them peace of mind. Work with a data center with the relevant certifications to meet your specific industry requirements so you can rest assured that they can handle your ever-changing needs.
Data centers should be secure by design and employ a minimum of five rings of physical security to cover their infrastructure. Some components of the five rings of physical security include the following:
Controlling access to the data center facility is the first line of physical defense. Your data center should employ the following measures:
Physical security often includes visitor login, intrusion alarms and motion detectors. Data centers rely on dependable security personnel to monitor access and behavior in the following ways:
In a disaster such as a fire, data centers should be able to limit the damages using fire suppression systems, early smoke detection and a backup power supply. Early smoke detection enables data center personnel to identify and respond before the fire can spread. Fire suppression systems using gas or sprinklers are the most common to contain fire outbreaks without damaging the equipment.
In a disaster or inclement weather, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and backup generators should keep your business online, reducing expensive downtime.
Many threats to your data don't require physical access to the building. Alongside robust physical security, data centers should have equally powerful digital security to protect your assets. There are many approaches to digital security, the most common of which include the following:
Many data centers offer network security solutions, including firewalls and intrusion detection, which alert the security team of suspicious or unauthorized activity and block unwanted data traffic.
Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) is a typical cyber attack characterized by a malicious attempt to block your server's regular traffic by overwhelming it with unwanted internet traffic. Secure data centers mitigate DDoS, detecting and responding to the threat by absorbing and rerouting the malicious traffic.
Your data is stored in your servers and transmitted across the internet. Data center security should ensure your data is encrypted, whether it's stored or transmitted, using the following:
Every security system has vulnerabilities that require careful management. Your data center should conduct regular security audits to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of its risk control measures. You should have access to the results to understand how they plan to mitigate any risks.
Colocation centers also include vulnerability and patch management programs to identify, score and remediate security vulnerabilities efficiently. Many work with third-party threat intelligence services to ensure they take a proactive approach to prioritizing patching and vulnerability management.
If you're looking for a reliable colocation center to secure your data, inquire about the following certifications:
Colocation centers must also comply with data protection regulations. While regulations vary depending on the industry, some standard regulations include the following:
Partnering with a colocation provider means you must be able to trust them to protect your assets. Thoroughly research to ensure the center can meet your business needs. These steps can help you verify their security protocols effectively:
Security is always a primary concern, and your colocation center should put your mind at ease with robust physical and digital security solutions. At US Signal, we take a Fort Knox approach to protecting your assets. Our IT infrastructure meets various compliance demands, and we're happy to provide our independent audit documentation.
Please feel free to connect with us and start your colocation with robust and reliable security today!
To learn more about data management, check out these articles below from our blog or visit our resource center for whitepapers, e-books and more!
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