The Six Best Ways To Safeguard Data Centers With Robust Security Solutions

Robust data center security solutions prevent unauthorized virtual or physical access while remaining resilient to emerging threats. There are several steps data center professionals can take to improve their facility’s cybersecurity. These solutions include virtual, physical, internal, and external tactics any data center can use to reduce risks and identify vulnerabilities. 

1. Implement Automated Threat Monitoring

The first step data center professionals can take to implement more robust security solutions is to increase visibility. Bad actors bet on victims overlooking or missing suspicious network activity. Data centers can defend against unauthorized access using automated threat detection and network monitoring. 

One challenge of securing a data center is adequately keeping an eye on so much data and infrastructure. Automated monitoring simplifies this. Data center professionals can use AI and machine learning to filter out unusual network activity. An AI-powered threat detection system may recognize unusual behavior faster and more accurately than a human would. 

For example, an AI might detect new access requests from a trusted in-house account that are out of line with that account’s typical activity. A human could overlook this since the access requests are coming from an internal account. However, the AI will flag that activity immediately because it could indicate compromised login credentials. Additionally, AI can monitor networks for this kind of activity 24/7. 

2. Prioritize Identity and Access Control

It’s crucial to remember data centers face threats internally and externally. Resilient identity and access control measures minimize the potential of insider attacks or stolen credential schemes. Data center professionals can strengthen access control using zero-trust principles and the rule of least privilege. 

Data centers should limit users' account access to data on a need-to-know basis. The network should never implicitly trust any account or login request, even within that limited access. The zero-trust approach to cybersecurity uses continuous authentication to confirm that every access request is legitimate. There are various technologies for accomplishing this, ranging from one-time passcodes to biometric authentication methods. 

This tactic makes it much more difficult for insiders or bad actors to abuse account credentials. Zero-trust and least-privilege confine account to narrow slivers of the data center’s information and resources. As a result, the blast radius of attacks is minimized. Extensive access control measures can also discourage insider attacks by removing the implicit trust that hackers tend to abuse. 

3. Remember Physical Security Measures

Data centers exist simultaneously in the virtual and physical worlds. That means physical security measures are a crucial complement to cybersecurity. Hackers can create or leverage real-world vulnerabilities to conduct virtual attacks on data centers. 

Several critical data center security solutions can defend against this threat. For example, there are ways to protect servers without impeding cooling. Expanded metal cages are ideal for physical server security since they balance durability with effective airflow and affordability. Wire cages are breathable but easier to cut, and perforated metal sacrifices air circulation for rigidity. Expanded metal is an excellent middle ground with the benefits of both alternatives. 

Physical server cages help with organization but also provide a vital security barrier. They prevent unauthorized access and attempts to break or destroy data center infrastructure. Remember to install physical locking mechanisms on the server cages, as well. 

The floor plan and organization of data centers also impact physical security. Minimize access to servers, breaker boxes, electrical infrastructure, and power supplies whenever possible. Data center pros can accomplish this by locking doors and minimizing entry points. However, ensure the building stays within fire code regulations and verify safe emergency exit routes. 

It’s also a good idea to implement video surveillance. This feature will help security personnel monitor physical access control and provide peace of mind for data center tenants. Additionally, consider investing in a backup generator if one isn’t installed. Even short power outages can create dangerous security vulnerabilities. 

4. Utilize Network Segmentation

Network segmentation is one of the best data center security solutions because it reduces the risks of poor tenant security. Data centers can enforce specific security standards for their own teams but not necessarily for their tenants. External users may need stronger passwords or better access control. Their relaxed security practices can put the entire data center at risk. Data center personnel may not even know about the issue until it is too late. 

Luckily, network segmentation offers a solution. All access is limited by breaking the data center’s network into isolated chunks, regardless of private or shared server status. No user can move between network segments. 

This strategy can also be applied to shared servers. Virtual private servers use hypervisor layers to virtually segment shared hardware. Tenants still save money compared to private servers, but without compromising access control. With network segmentation, tenant-specific vulnerabilities don’t threaten the entire data center. 

5. Regularly Run Security Audits and Testing

Data centers need to continuously evaluate and update their security measures to stay ahead of emerging threats. Regular audits and testing provide opportunities to improve security protocols and identify any physical or virtual maintenance needs. 

A thorough security audit should encompass both physical and virtual defenses. Create a checklist of core systems and protocols to test, such as physical access control, DDoS defenses, and threat monitoring performance. Consider running penetration testing and mock cyberattacks to test out resilience and readiness. Research emerging threats as well, such as new strains of malware. This will highlight new protections the security team may need to implement. 

It is also important to take a look at threat detection data during an audit. This data is invaluable for identifying vulnerabilities and blind spots. However, be wary of a high false positive rate. “Alert fatigue” from excessive false positives can hurt cybersecurity by causing employee burnout and letting real threats go undetected. Security employees may end up skipping or ignoring alerts if too many end up being false alarms. 

6. Provide Tenant Security Tools

It may not always be possible to completely eliminate tenant-side vulnerabilities, but data center security solutions can include resources for tenants. This could come in the form of complete security programs or simply guidance and best practices. Tenants may want to implement better security but lack the tools or knowledge to do so. Data centers can use their expertise to help. 

For example, offer app, web, and API security tools. One of the most common entryways for unauthorized users and malicious software is third-party apps. Tenants may not realize they are creating security vulnerabilities by using unsecure apps and APIs. Data centers can reduce this risk by compiling lists of trusted third-party apps and providing tools for securing untested programs. 

It’s also a good idea to create a guide of best practices for all of the data center tenants. It will give tenants advice and resources that may reduce the likelihood of poor security practices. 

Implementing Robust Data Center Security Solutions

Any data center can use these top six strategies to strengthen its security, both physically and virtually. Securing physical infrastructure alongside digital resources will ensure protection against the full range of threats facing data centers today. Remember to include tenant-side cybersecurity when implementing data center security solutions, too.