When it comes to securing data centers, there is no room for compromise. With the average cost of building a data center hovering around $1000 per square foot, the initial construction costs are just the tip of the iceberg, especially when you factor in the value of the stored data and the costly liabilities associated with data breaches. Improving ROI at data centers means protecting the investment with proper, layered security. Beyond the initial outlay, considerations must extend to the ongoing operational, maintenance, and upgrade costs, constituting the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
As you progress inward from the entrance of a data center to the heart of its operation where server racks reside, security measures become increasingly sophisticated and formidable to help thwart unauthorized access. Implementing multi-layered security entrances is paramount to effectively mitigate the risks and potential financial pitfalls associated with data theft or loss of services. The cost to deploy layered security entrances represents a fraction of the overall cost of a data center, providing a robust physical security solution to better protect people, property, and valuable assets.
Data Centers: What’s at Stake
The management of a data center must accomplish three basic things:
- Protect the sensitive and valuable data
- Ensure compliance with industry and government regulations
- Overcome rising energy, labor, and property costs
Achieving all three objectives with the same budget line item constitutes a significant victory. This is where secured entry solutions come into play, aiding data centers in attracting customers by furnishing staff and facilities with the necessary tools to manage security effectively and mitigate costs. When safeguarding a data center facility, critical decisions must be made regarding both cyber and physical security. A layered approach to the physical security component is paramount.
Cost Considerations
How can a secured entrance strategy contribute to cost savings and help future-proof a data center? Well-designed security entrances offer cost-reduction benefits by integrating various access control systems and physical barriers into a cohesive, policy-driven framework. This operational efficiency enables staff to accomplish more with fewer resources, without compromising security.
Intelligent security entrances at data centers provide real-time intelligence, aiding in risk reduction and proactive threat mitigation. Embedded sensor systems yield unbiased data, empowering security personnel to predict and quantify infiltration risks effectively. Furthermore, future-proofed designs maintain environmental conditions within data centers, preventing energy waste while supporting efficient building management.
From remote access management to automated check-ins, smart secured entrances optimize resource allocation and enhance customer service. Ultimately, deploying purpose-built solutions not only reduces security costs and ensures regulatory compliance but also safeguards personnel safety and data integrity. A well-planned security entrance strategy is thus a prudent CAPEX investment, offering rapid returns and becoming indispensable for modern data centers.
Futureproofing a security entrance involves the same principles as IT and Network infrastructure like segmentation, redundancy, and automated issue resolution. This effectively makes secured entry designs future-proof, ensuring a low total cost of ownership (TCO) over the lifespan of the device.
Secured Entry for Compliance
Beyond security, layered security entry solutions play a pivotal role in enabling compliance with a myriad of regulations and standards, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), FISMA, ISO 27001, HITRUST, PCI DSS, and SOC 1, 2, and 3. By initiating automated compliance processes at entry/exit points, these solutions reduce security training and operating expenses, enhance operational sustainability, protecting sensitive data and their stakeholders. Archival records and alarm retrieval functionalities simplify seamless compliance audits to ensure that regulatory requirements are consistently met.
Secured Entry for Energy Efficiency
In addition to bolstering security, modern secured entry solutions also contribute to energy efficiency, which is an increasingly critical concern for data centers facing rising energy and water resourcing costs. Traditional swing and sliding door entrances compromise energy efficiency by creating openings in the building envelope, allowing controlled internal atmospheres to escape and external air to infiltrate. However, security revolving doors and interlocking portals maintain airtight seals, minimizing energy loss and enhancing contamination control. With significantly reduced air exchange rates compared to conventional doors, these solutions offer a sustainable approach to entrance design that aligns with energy conservation goals and cost savings.
Secured Entry for Alarm Management
Effective alarm management is essential for ensuring a data center's security infrastructure is protected. Secured entry solutions such as full-height turnstiles, security revolving doors, and interlocking portals are designed to virtually eliminate door-forced open (DFO) and door-held-open (DHO) alarms, thereby minimizing costly false alarms. By automating user notifications and enforcing policies and procedures without reliance on manual intervention, these solutions optimize operational efficiency and enable personnel to focus on revenue-generating activities rather than remedial tasks.
Securing a data center isn't just about erecting barriers—it's about investing in protection, efficiency, and peace of mind. With advanced secured entry solutions serving as the cornerstone of a robust defense strategy, data center operators can mitigate risks, ensure compliance, and optimize operational performance, all while safeguarding the integrity of their most valuable asset: information.
