Building a Data Center for Physical Security – Part 2

Last week we started our series on building a data center that focuses on physical security. With so much focus on the security of data against outside threats on the network it can be easy to forget that threats against the building need to be guarded against as well. Here are a few more ways to make sure to design your data center to focus on securing your customers’ data by securing the actual building.

Limit Access

Not only are too many access points a security threat, with the need for staffing and surveillance, they also drive costs up. Limit your access points to those that are absolutely necessary – both for the property and the building. If you limit property access to one point of entry and building access to one, maybe two, points of entry, you’ll be able to keep them more secure – and keep costs down as well.

Plan for Bomb Detection

The very nature of a data center makes it a target for attack – and the more sensitive the information, the more likely the attack. If attackers can’t get in through the network, they may resort to trying to take the entire building down so make sure that you’re taking all necessary precautions. Use mirrors or portable bomb sniffing devices to make sure that nothing explosive is making its way into your data center.

Make Doors Exit Only

Fire codes are going to require you to have more exits than you want to have entries. As such, make sure that your fire doors are exit only and that they have open/close sensors and alarms so that you don’t have to monitor them as carefully with live security. Any time a fire door is opened, alarms should sound and security responses triggered from your security team.

Put Everyone On Camera

Cameras are fairly ubiquitous when it comes to physical security but make sure to plan on the investment for 100% coverage. Blind spots can be easy to overlook and someone well skilled in subversion can easily find them. Take the time and make the investment to cover the entirety of your data center with a mixture of fixed and pan-tilt-zoom cameras, low-light cameras and motion detection devices. Finally, set up a standard for storage time and make sure that your footage is recorded and stored off site.