When it comes to security compliance, the most essential aspect is staying at least one step ahead of the threats. At Infosecurity Europe 2014, a panel of security experts discussed the need to improve security infrastructure in any critical systems and the data centers that house them.

“We need to articulate our defense and our response strategy to the board – you have to be honest,” Barrie Millet, head of business resilience at energy company E.ON, said at the event, according to Infosecurity Magazine. “We are not going to stop being attacked. There is technology and best practice, but it’s about the response capability as well.”

The trick is adopting the best practices and enforcing them – without negatively affecting performance and productivity.

“[Engineers] don’t worry about things we worry about, like default passwords,” said Trey Ford, global security strategist at Rapid7. “And there is a consumer parallel to this in the Internet of Things: they are not designed by developers, designing security in.”

The risks and threats against operational integrity  are also compounded by ease of access for those authorized, and user confidence in the system. For many, data center security will come down to protecting servers and other systems before the user even approaches them.

In order to optimize security and minimize risk, facilities need to consider biometric security as a solution for optimizing workflow while maximizing the protection of critical systems. Sean Newman, an industry expert at Cisco, noted that quick access is one of the top considerations. With less secure systems, passwords might be changed and when a new engineer comes on shift that didn’t get the update, it can significant affect performance and workflow because they simply won’t be able to do their job.

Ultimately, it comes down to function. With biometric technology in place, data center operations can go smoothly with the swipe of a finger granting access to server rooms, racks and other key facilities. Rather than struggling with key cards and pass codes, professionals will be able to move around freely with less interruption – or risk of having to go home because they forgot their security card. By deploying systems that are more convenient to use without sacrificing security, data centers will be able to optimize performance and protection at the same time, building a stronger foundation against future threats.