How Do Data Centers Keep Information Safe?
When you partner with a web host, you are trusting them with your sensitive information, and believing that they will keep it away from prying eyes. But just how secure is it?
Popular television shows often include hacking methods in their storylines. A typecast “nerdy” actor must quickly access sensitive information to save the day. He or she opens a laptop, types furiously, and magically gains access to the protected information. This is usually followed by a silly and technically inaccurate explanation that includes the words “bypassed the firewall” or “gained access to the data center”. At this moment, all the techies in the room simultaneously roll their eyes as they flick over to the next channel.
Television might portray data security inaccurately, but it might still lead you to wonder “How safe is my data?” and “How exactly do data centers keep my information secure?” In this article, we will look at data center security measures, and whether or not an actor with a laptop can really access stored information in a matter of seconds.
Data Centers
Data centers are huge buildings that are very tightly controlled. Everything from heating to air flow and light to sound level is carefully monitored around the clock. Data centers house thousands of servers stored in racks. Server racks resemble large cabinets, but with lots of small blinking lights and cords.
Each VPS.NET server has its own power source and is monitored around the clock to be sure that it is running optimally. Racks are routinely checked to be sure that connections are strong and that hardware is operating exactly as it should. Data centers are also equipped with total redundancy, meaning that if the facility experiences a power loss, a large generator will continue the power flow without a glitch in the system.
Physical Security
Every data center has its own set of security protocols depending on how it ranks. For example, all of VPS.NET’s data centers are Tier 3 or Tier 4, which both have their own security requirements. Tier 5 is the top data center security level and is usually reserved for medical information to comply with HIPAA regulations.
Tier 4 data centers have 24x7x365 digital surveillance and are protected by strict multi-level access control in each server-housing environment. This means that a simple badge swipe is not enough to allow someone access to the data center. We employ a multi-factor authentication that usually involves a biometric scanning of face, eyes, or hands.
Each of our data centers is equipped with entrance protection called mantraps. Mantraps ensure that only one person can enter the data center at a time. Authentication is required once to enter the man trap and once again to exit. Data centers are protected with high-tech security measurements to be sure that data is as physically safe as possible.
Not only is it almost impossible to gain access inside one of our data centers, but each server rack is double locked. To access a server, you must have a rack key as well as a row key. These security measures, combined with an around-the-clock on-site security detail, combine to make data centers a fortress of data security.
Firewall
VPS.NET clients have the option to add a software or hardware firewall to their systems. Many of our clients add both. In addition to firewall protection, our networks also feature threat detections systems to help mitigate and deter DDoS attacks. In any one of our 24 data centers, you can rest assured knowing that your data is well protected.
If you are interested in additional security for your systems, be sure to bookmark the VPS.NET blog to learn more about protecting your systems from malware, SQL Injections, DDoS attacks, and more.
Forces of nature
Each data center is equipped with top-of-the-line fire suppression and VESDA smoke detection systems. Our data centers are located in the safest corners of the world; we have chosen sites specifically based on the chances of a natural disaster such as an earthquake or hurricane. Most often you will find that your data is stored in a remote location far removed from civilization, but just close enough to access internet exchange ports to keep connections as fast as possible.
Suffice to say, any data stored in a VPS.NET data center is incredibly secure. As long as your login password isn’t “admin”, “1234”, or “password”, you can count on your data being safe and sound in the hands of VPS.NET.