Data center operators turning focus to security
Security is one of the top concerns of data center operators today. According to a recent study by Infonetics Research, “Cloud and Data Center Security Strategies and Vendor Leadership: Global Service Provider Survey,” more operators are trying to get their security infrastructure to match their network infrastructure, and many are turning to physical security first.
According to the survey, nearly 100 percent of respondents are deploying hardware based security solutions, such as biometric security and access control appliances. Compared to only 75 percent deploying virtual and VM-security software, this draws an eye toward the physical protection of servers, rather than the focus on cybersecurity that is getting so much media attention. Furthermore, 100 percent of respondents said they would continue to be exploring physical security needs through 2015, while increasing software-based security options more slowly.
“When it comes to protecting data centers, nothing drives service providers to invest in security solutions more than the performance requirements driven by infrastructure upgrades and the increasing size and scale of attacks,” said Jeff Wilson, principal analyst for security at Infonetics Research.
Investing in high-quality biometric access control solutions allows data center operators to establish a literal barrier between a thief and the server, cutting the risk of data being compromised significantly. By exploring biometric options, companies also demonstrate to clients that they have their best interests in mind, which can help specialized services, such as colocation providers, attract clients more readily.
The implementation of physical security solutions isn’t new in the data center industry, but the increased focus shows that not enough has been done to cover all the bases yet. Firms need to deploy the tools that optimize security today, preparing for the risks of tomorrow.
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Biometrics standards under consideration
In conjunction with the FBI, Immigration New Zealand and the Ministry of Justice in the U.K., amongst others, the Biometrics Institute is focusing on the promotion of responsible use of biometrics technology.
“When we see a large face detection screen appear at Canary Wharf in London and Google glasses finding greater take up, it reaffirms the need for an independent organization like the Institute to raise awareness about how to use such technologies responsibly,” Isabelle Moeller, CEO of the Institute noted, according to Planet Biometrics.
The institute will be considering best practices, standard uses of biometric security and engaging key players within the biometrics community to face some of the main challenges within the industry.
For businesses, perhaps the most responsible use of biometrics is in the data center. Optimizing the use of biometrics for server rack security or building-wide access control and eliminate significant risks while promoting the right mindset for biometrics on a professional level. From fingerprint scanners to facial recognition, biometrics can be the key to unlocking significant security and productivity improvements for an enterprise.
Biometrics is a step ahead of legacy security methods due to the personalized nature of protection. Rather than supplying engineers, IT teams and other employees with a key that can be lost, stolen or copied, the individual his or herself is the key. This cuts security threats significantly while eliminating a wasteful step in the process to accessing servers. The Biometric Institute’s ideas to expand the recognition of biometrics is an excellent one, as it will promote this type of advanced security practice and show firms just how beneficial it can truly be.
Rather than relying on outdated technologies to protect their data, businesses need to embrace cutting edge solutions that expand their capabilities while ensuring the protection of one of their most vital resources.
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Should rack security be your top concern?
While cybersecurity and overall data center security are oft-discussed topics, the physical protection of the individual server rack is often left by the wayside. However, taking protection to the rack may be one of the best ways to keep data safe and secure, especially as the popularity of colocation and hosted data increases.
According to Continuity Central, real-time server rack security may be the only way to truly ensure the level of data center protection that businesses need today, both for their own peace of mind and to comply with government regulations.
Due to increased diligence regarding cyberthreats, physical attacks on data centers are becoming more popular. The news source notes that while a firm may have incredible protection from a hacker, someone posing as an engineer could slip into its rack room and install a KVM switch, effectively taking control of its server and gathering data whenever he or she wanted. A locked cage might do the trick, but if said intruder was able to gain access to the server room, who is to say he or she can’t get the key to the cage. Additionally, if that key is lost or stolen, legitimate employees would lose access, hurting productivity and overall efficiency. This is why more firms need to consider biometric security for their data center needs.
Biometric technology provides enhanced security and eliminates the risks mentioned above as it relies on fingerprints or other “keys” that are nearly impossible for an engineer to lose. Furthermore, by implementing security that pairs to the individual, rather than an inanimate object, the risk of theft is almost completely diminished.
There are cost benefits to going with biometric security at the rack level as well. Rather than trying to implement building wide biometric measures, or even advanced security options, companies can selectively secure their server racks as needed. This is particularly beneficial in a colocation situation for several reasons, as the news source reported. One major factor is the option to actually reduce the number of servers used. With a cage option, a colocation provider might demand that a business rent a specific number of racks, as that is what fills a cage. With biometrics, however, a firm can use only the racks it needs, reducing costs by thousands a year.
Optimally, data center security need not be a concern. However, this isn’t a perfect world. Luckily for enterprises, near-perfect solutions exist to keep data safe and secure where it’s supposed to be.
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Compliance major data center security concern
When it comes to the continued improvement and upgrading of data center security, compliance is the growing concern for many enterprises. Constant investment into new and innovative solutions for protecting data will begin to present compliance concerns over time, just as failing to do so results in similar problems. Additionally, evolving trends like BYOD and virtualization are inspiring new mandates surrounding center compliance in order to ensure that data is kept secure and private at all times.
Even as these trends grow, businesses have to approach them carefully, or data security could become more than a worry. The trick, as many firms are starting to discover, is to separate the security from the data.
In order to maintain compliance and continue improving data center security, many companies are turning toward biometric technology, rather than software, to drive the foundation of their access control. A physical access control system provides a more scalable solution as it sets a constant, solid foundation to build security compliance from, rather than having to worry about consistency in upgrades and other issues.
The global government biometric security market is expected to reach a value of nearly $7 billion by 2024 for this very reason. MarketResearchReports recently released the findings of their own study into the market, noting that investments into biometrics are expected to almost double over the next 10 years. This is, in part, to ensure a solid foundation for security compliance in all areas, from data centers to passport issuance.
Optimizing security policies and regulatory compliance with high-quality biometrics like a fingerprint scanner ensures that access to server racks is efficiently controlled. Additionally, improving the support systems that integrate with this technology will provide further fail safes, from dual custody authorization to anti-passback solutions. Effectively, the complete system provides control, monitoring support, reporting, scalability and optimization over time, ensuring that security measures are always kept up-to-date and compliant with mandates and company needs.
Ultimately, security is one area that businesses should never skimp on. Investing in the best biometric solutions will drive the efficiency of these systems and ensure that a company’s risks land on their practices, rather than the technology they are putting their compliance on the line with. Ensure that authentication is fool proof, rather than turning to less stable methods for data center security.
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User behavior the biggest security risk for most businesses
For most businesses, the biggest data security concern doesn’t come from network vulnerability or the cloud, but from user behavior and poor physical security practices. This makes improving data center security with access control and improved training for employees on best practices key to optimizing the overall protection of a company’s most important resource.
According to ZDNet, a recent poll performed by Mobile Work Exchange found that user behavior is the biggest security problem that enterprises face on a regular basis. Everything from leaving mobile devices containing company data out in the open for theft to failure to use a password or code on a device can lead to data being acquired by a malicious party. If 25 percent of employees refuse to password their devices, it is up to a business to protect it by other means.
Setting a physical boundary for maintaining building access control and overall server security will allow companies to create a key chokepoint in their data protection. Rather than risk any employee accessing information and downloading it to an unauthorized device, firms will be able to optimize access, and the maintenance of that access, to their servers. This sets the foundation for higher security and improved practices across the board.
Promoting safe user practices will only get a business so far. Biometric security establishes an uncompromising standard for access control, while allowing a business to closely monitor who has access to its data, and adapt its security practices as needed.
Instituting biometric technology has many other benefits as well. High-quality solutions will allow firms to automatically detect how many people are in a room, allowing them to determine if an employee has granted an unauthorized party access, or turn on cameras and other security devices to establish further record of access. Furthermore, multi-credential access can be established to boost protection, while dual-custody authorization can eliminate single party entry in order to establish stronger control.
With so many variations and security options available, biometric technology offers the pinnacle of building access security and control and enterprises need to protect their key resources. A security guard and sign-in sheet isn’t enough in a day and age when data can make or break a company’s fortunes. Covering data security from creation to end user is a high priority, and must be met with the best possible protection.
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Small business data security just as relevant as larger enterprises'
While big business data center security is an oft-discussed topic, small business’ need for high-quality data protection is regularly ignored. Companies need make sure they are focusing on security measures regardless of size as privacy and security compliance demands grow.
According to eWeek, 22 percent of small businesses are not compliant with data security standards for payment and point-of-sales. Additionally, 14 percent of firms were unaware of whether or not they are in compliance, a study by Lightspeed Research found, with 55 percent being unaware of local security requirements and 40 percent without adequate policies in place to enforce compliance. The main issue, however, is that firms are unaware of the best ways to protect their data.
“This survey was eye-opening for us. Despite looming threats and stiff compliance penalties, more than a fifth of SMB retailers are still not PCI compliant, while many are falling short of security best practices like password safety,” said Patrick Bedwell, vice president of product marketing for Fortinet, according to the news source. “The survey also confirmed that – as with larger retailers – SMBs have a strong interest in big-data analytics, as well as standalone products that incorporate both network and physical security capabilities within a single appliance.”
The optimal way for SMBs to enhance their data security practices is to implement physical security measures. Biometric-based access control such as fingerprint scanners for server rooms and racks will ensure that data is completely protected on a physical level, eliminating risk of theft or interference by malicious parties. This applies a stronger foundation for data security needs and protects companies against the growing risk of physical theft.
Physical security provides a critical building block for overall data security as it establishes a literal boundary that keeps information within the confines of a business’ control and protects it from misuse and theft. This creates a peace of mind that enhances a firm’s ability to cope with other threats and boosts overall productivity.
Over time, security concerns will only continue to grow, making compliance and optimization now a critical priority. Businesses that focus on improving their security protection now will be able to rest easy tomorrow, and focus on other key areas such as boosting productivity, enhancing workflow and optimizing the leveraging of that data they have protected.
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Biometrics standards evolving
As the consumer use of biometric security increases, businesses need to ensure they’re investing in the right sensors and meeting evolving standards for their servers and data centers. Biometric technology provides key physical security that cannot be matched with other methods, significantly reducing risk of data theft or interference. However, if companies don’t invest in the right solutions they could hurt productivity and run into other issues down the road.
According to Planet Biometrics, biometric access control is becoming standard for consumer security needs with mobile devices, computers and other electronics. This trend is driving significant advances in the quality of these technologies, and businesses need to stay ahead of the game, updating their data center security to meet new standards. The creation of standard protocols for biometrics will drive the quality of these security methods, regardless of the medium.
“Nearly every smartphone, digital device or computer system that has a financial component to it will have a biometric component built into it in the very near future. The concerns about fraud, hacking and personal privacy have created a tidal wave of momentum on this front,” Hector Hoyos, and industry expert, told the news source. “Now, securing all of the biometric data that’s being generated is of the utmost importance. As with every major technological breakthrough, a series of accepted standards and protocols must be widely adopted from the manufacturer and database management end before consumers can fully be comfortable.”
Standards aren’t the only consideration when it comes to biometric security, however. According to Nick Perkins, another industry expert, businesses looking to protect their data have to ensure they are investing in the sensor technology to meet their needs as well. This means high-quality tools that won’t fail to protect data, or hinder legitimate access either. Perkins noted that many of the currently accepted standards are based on out-dated and legacy technology, such as optical imaging. As such, companies need to invest in updated, modern security solutions – such as multi-spectral sensors.
By focusing on updating sensors to the latest advances and maintaining current standards for security quality, companies can focus on maintaining the sanctity and integrity of their server environments, without fear of hurting their own productivity or efficiency. Ultimately, this means the quality of work can continue unaltered even as the quality of data security increases exponentially.
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Digitus and the need for biometric security [VIDEO]
Card access control systems have been the standard in physical security or years, providing an easy-to-manage way to restrict access to qualified personnel.
They provide a great deal of added security and help protect your company’s data and IT resources, since hoping there isn’t a breach isn’t an actual security strategy.
However, they aren’t foolproof. Lost wallets create the potential for a breach, plus creating a need to replace the card in question. The potential also exists for cards to be stolen or copied.
And even absent theft, research from the Gabriel Consulting Group found most breaches were caused by insiders – and those breaches were often costlier than those caused by outside attacks.
Regardless of the source, security breaches can have severe consequences – such as fines, legal fees, and the costs of credit monitoring.
Between damage to the brand, lost business and other costs, the average cost of a security breach is more than $7 million.
Digitus Biometrics is different. Our proven biometric access system can provide 100%physical security at every access point.
Our fingerprint readers create a multi-point schematic of each user’s fingerprint for them to gain access – so no actual fingerprint is stored in the system. The systems also include finger fraud protection, so manufactured fingers or other false substitutes won’t grant access. And in the event of duress, emergency breach detection gives authorized personnel the ability to automatically alert security.
Our systems are designed as plug and play solutions, which reduces complexity and implementation costs.
Quite simply, Digitus Biometrics delivers the most secure complete access control protection – from the main entrance to the server cabinet doors.
Zero vulnerability and zero security breaches isn’t just a goal. With Digitus, it’s a reality.
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Caught Red Handed, Why Biometrics Offers 100% Security [INFOGRAPHIC]
For many people in the technology sector, data center security and the value of information has been at the forefront of media attention for most of 2013. Revelations about how easy it is to not only get access to that data but also how much it is worth have ensured that traditional methods of user identification or authentication such as ID cards and passwords are no longer considered to be adequate protection from malicious intent. And it is for that very reason that biometric security is quickly being accepted as the most effective solution.
In recent studies, biometric access control has been found to be remarkably adept in terms of providing 100 percent physical security at potential points of vulnerability in data centers, with physical attributes or traits replacing easily lost or misplaced forms of company ID. And while biometrics has been used in law enforcement and border control for some considerable time, it is fast becoming the go-to option for organizations that value the privacy of their critical data – both in an internal sense and, increasingly, that of customers or clients.
As with most standard security compliance protocols, there are a number of options available. There are four types of biometric recognition – fingerprints, facial, iris and DNA – and while all have individual advantages, the main consideration is that of potential replication in the future. If we consider that biometrics works as a feature extractor as opposed to an identity recognizer (passwords, PINs etc) then it follows that it has to verify the user through the physical traits noted above.
Extract measurable feature
A fingerprint scanner within a data center, for example, will match that user through the unique traits of that person’s hand, allowing it to extract measurable features and verify identity. At the same time, it confirms that the finger being presented is, to all intents and purposes, alive, providing a level of user authentication that can be easily bypassed by any person who may have access to a keycard or company-issued ID.
With that in mind, biometric access control has a significant advantage over traditional forms of identification, especially when considering that the majority of data breaches are often found to be the result of either human error or an over-reliance on cybersecurity software.
Users no longer need to remember passwords – they are the password. This means that those who would seek to gain unauthorized access to a physical facility are – quite literally sometimes – stopped in their tracks, as stealing individual human traits has, to date, been impossible to achieve. And finally, the person who needs to be identified by an access control system actually has to be there to gain entry.
Biometrics has been on the cusp of mainstream adoption for so many years that it seems strange to think that it has not been considered as the most effective way of keeping data safe and intruders out. With data center security expected to remain in the spotlight for the foreseeable future, taking the time to consider the trait of an individual could be the most prudent investment that any company can make.
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How Data Center Security Made Headlines in 2013
As the clock ticks down to the end of the year, it is probably fair to say that 2013 has been one of the most eventful in terms of how data centers and the security of information are perceived in the minds of the general public.
These now essential elements of a modern tech-savvy society have certainly found themselves in the headlines on numerous occasions in the last 12 months, thanks mainly to the work of a certain Mr. Snowden and his former employers at the NSA. And while not all the recent media attention has focused on the positive side of data storage and access control, it is always worthwhile considering what it was that captured the national interest over a calendar year.
Speculate to accumulate
In terms of creating intrigue out of absolutely nothing, it would be hard to beat the Google barge. Two mysterious floating structures appeared on opposite sides of the country, with the Web soon awash with speculation as to what they could be.
Most people looked at them and thought “mobile data center,” a scenario that would have been extremely interesting bearing in mind the fact that the company spent a record $1.6 billion on these facilities in the second quarter of 2013. According to Data Center Knowledge, however, the truth is far less exciting – both barges are apparently intended to be interactive learning centers, although Google has failed to confirm what will actually be taught on these oceanic classrooms.
For the other high-profile players in the tech and data storage/collection industry, building more data centers was at the top of the list. Microsoft spent $1 billion on a campus in southern Virginia, while Facebook invested almost $300 million on a huge project in Iowa. Both of these companies also showed their dedication to environmental responsibility at the same time, with renewable energy seen as the primary source for power for 2014 and beyond.
There were also a number of smaller projects that caught the public imagination in 2013. Sears, for example, announced that it would convert some of its shuttered locations into data centers, with the company eager to capitalize on the trend for colocation hosting and external IT infrastructure. There was also a demonstrated need for modular facilities, with a Swedish company creating a data center near Stockholm that was, according to the news source, comparable to a hideout for a Bond villain.
Mainstream access control
Data security may have been top of the list for the private sector in 2013, but the federal government made sure that the public sector was also making progress towards larger facilities. The NSA built an $860 million data center in Fort Meade, Maryland, although the ongoing revelations about its surveillance activities ensured that 2013 would be remembered not for its commitment to storing data, but more as to how it obtained it in the first place.
In fact, the actions of the NSA actually provided a wakeup call in terms of access control, mainly because most people seemed blissfully unaware that personal information could be obtained so easily. The documents leaked to The Guardian newspaper may have altered the U.S. government’s relationship with not only its citizens but also a series of tech behemoths, but they actually demonstrated the value of information itself, and how important it is to know who is accessing data and in what capacity.
And finally, it would be churlish not to finish this brief review of 2013, without mentioning Apple. Thanks to the company that Jobs built, biometrics has become a talking point among security-conscious mobile device users, with the anticipation being that its inclusion of a fingerprint scanner in a best-selling smartphone will actually encourage biometric security adoption in other industry sectors
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