Data center security: standards, measures and risks
Data center security is a key issue for companies that need to safeguard the security of their sensitive data. With the risk of cyberattacks and the growing complexity of IT systems, implementing effective security measures has become an absolute priority. Data center security needs to be structured from the very start. Let's take a look at the different security standards to be respected within data centers, the risks involved and best practices to ensure the protection of corporate data.
○ What is data center security?
Data centers are not just huge data warehouses, they are also the ones who guarantee the information security while adapting to the most sensitive technological innovations.
Data center security encompasses all the measures and protocols implemented to protect the critical infrastructures of the data center itself and the hosted customers, as well as the stored data. It is based on several pillars:
● Physical security : The data center's integrity begins with its ability to prevent unauthorized access, with the implementation of security fencing, armored doors, airlocks, security guards, and 24/7 video surveillance systems. Given that the average cost of a data breach will cost $4.88 million by 2024 (according to an IBM report), the importance of securing and the criticality of data center automation via AI are strongly linked. Zone definition is also a critical aspect of securing access to environments. Protecting the data center against physical threats such as intrusions, fire or natural disasters also remain other worthwhile measures to adopt..
● Network security: Beyond physical threats, data centers need to defend themselves against cyber-attacks, hacking and unauthorized access to systems. A number of network infrastructures are set up both for the data center and by customers hosted in these data centers.
● Data security: A rigorous management of vulnerabilities is implemented in UltraEdge data centers to ensure the integrity, confidentiality and availability of stored information, through techniques such as encryption or regular backups.
Managing security in a data center requires a holistic approach, covering both the protection of physical infrastructure and digital data.
○ The main data center security standards
The need to protect sensitive information through a secure legal framework is key in today's digital ecosystem. To guarantee security in data centers, there are a number of international standards and certifications that must be respected. International standards and regulations serve as a framework for ensuring that all security measures are in place and correctly applied, thereby enhancing the confidence of customers and various stakeholders.
■ ISO/IEC 27001
One of the world's most widely recognized standards, ISO/IEC 27001 defines the requirements for information security management systems. The implementation of compliance audits verified by external auditors enables data centers like UltraEdge to comply with the requirements of ISO 27001. It helps organizations to manage the data security of their business and ensure protection against internal and external threats.
■ PCI DSS
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a must for companies processing credit card transactions and storing data in data centers. It imposes strict protocols to protect customers' financial information.
■ SOC 2
Developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), SOC 2 is a standard willingly implemented by technology and cloud computing companies to ensure data privacy compliance. This American standard focuses on the management of user data, and ensures that a data center has proper controls in place to guarantee security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and the protection of private information.
These certifications are essential for complying with legal requirements and building customer confidence. They show companies that their data is processed with the utmost security.
○ Risks related to data centers
With the acceleration of digital uses, it is becoming essential to process data as close as possible to its point of use, to reduce latency and connectivity costs. By improving latency, performance is boosted, enhancing end-user experience and facilitating the implementation of new streaming services such as telemedicine or trading services. Despite the security measures in place, data centers remain exposed to various types of risk, such as cyber-attacks. These threats can have repercussions on business continuity and the protection of sensitive data.
■ Physical risks
Data centers can be exposed to fire, flood, power failure or unauthorized physical intrusion. These incidents can cause permanent damage to infrastructures and result in critical data loss.
Monitoring who accesses the data center and tracking human movements in the most sensitive areas is the basis of physical security in any data center. This means rigorous access control and multi-factor authentication. This can be achieved using several technologies, some of them complementary:
• Badge or card access;
• Biometric access: fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, eye recognition, thermal recognition... ;
• Full-height turnstiles;
• Virtual network access control, etc.
Differentiated access management can be implemented, with the creation of zones more or less restricted to certain authorized personnel, depending on the equipment's criticality.
■ Cybersecurity risks
Cyberattacks are constantly on the rise, and data centers are not immune. For example, according to the "panorama de la cybermenace 2024" report published by the French Cybersecurity Agency ANSSI , a 15% increase in security events was observed compared to 2023, even though this may have coincided with the planetary event of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Implementing a cyber protection plan is one of the basic obligations when it comes to data center security. Among the most common attacks are DDoS (denial of service) attacks, malware, phishing and network hacking.
■ Internal risks
Managing a data center, whatever its automation level, requires human intervention, hence the risk of internal errors. Human errors, such as incorrect configurations, non-compliant maintenance or ineffective access management, also represent significant threats.
According to an Uptime Institute survey published in 2024, an outage potentially caused by human error could result in losses in excess of $100,000 for more than half of those surveyed (i.e. 54% of respondents).
Every data center needs to assess these risks and implement tailored prevention and crisis management measures to mitigate the potential impact.
○ What security measures should be implemented in a data center?
Security measures in a data center are often classified into different levels, each reflecting the facility's ability to maintain its operations securely and reliably. These levels take into account system redundancy, fault resilience and the ability to carry out maintenance without service interruption. The classification ranges from basic to ultra-secure installations capable of handling the most extreme situations.
UltraEdge data centers are equipped with a wide range of security measures. These cover three aspects: physical, network and data.
■ Physical security rules
Data centers must be protected against physical threats. This includes installing video surveillance systems, biometric or badge-based access control, and on-site security teams. In addition, fire protection systems (such as gas suppression systems) and disaster recovery plans must be provided.
■ Network security rules
The use of firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and network segmentation help limit the risk of unauthorized access. Regular software and operating system updates are also key to avoiding security breaches.
■ Data security rules
Data stored in a data center must be encrypted, both at idle and in transit, to prevent them being read in the event of hacking. Regular backups and disaster recovery plans (DRP) are also necessary to ensure that data can be recovered in the case of an incident.
By applying these measures, the risks of data breaches can be greatly reduced.
Data center security is therefore a strategic issue for any company holding sensitive data, and particularly so for UltraEdge. By complying with security standards, anticipating risks and implementing adequate security rules, UltraEdge is able to protect the infrastructures and sensitive data in its data centers, as well as its customers' infrastructures and data.