How Do You Choose a Data Center? (Checklist)

When you’re considering your colocation options, you have to keep several best practices in mind.

Companies rely on robust data center infrastructure, reliable hardware, and well-trained staff to support their core activities and ensure business continuity.

Introduction to Data Centers

Data centers are the backbone of today’s digital economy, providing businesses with a secure and reliable environment to store, process, and manage vast amounts of data. As organizations increasingly depend on digital solutions, the importance of a well-designed data center cannot be overstated. Physical security, access control, and robust network infrastructure are crucial for protecting sensitive information and ensuring business continuity. Effective data center security measures, such as advanced access control systems and comprehensive data backup strategies, help prevent downtime and safeguard critical data assets. By prioritizing these elements, businesses can ensure their operations remain secure, reliable, and resilient against potential threats.

Evaluating Physical Security

When choosing a data center, evaluating physical security is essential to protect your organization’s valuable assets. This process involves a thorough assessment of the facility’s environment, including the building structure, equipment layout, and the presence of trained personnel. A comprehensive physical security checklist should cover access control systems, surveillance cameras, and continuous monitoring to detect and deter unauthorized access. Additional security measures, such as raised floors for cable management, reinforced doors, and alarm systems, provide extra layers of protection against threats like fire, flooding, or equipment failure. By systematically addressing these physical security risks, data centers can ensure the safety and integrity of their infrastructure, equipment, and data.

Access Control and Authorization

Access control and authorization are fundamental to maintaining a secure data center environment. Only authorized personnel should be able to enter sensitive areas or interact with critical equipment. Modern data centers implement advanced access control systems, including identity and access management (IAM), single sign-on (SSO), and two-factor authentication (2FA), to verify and manage who can access specific zones. Physical safeguards such as secure doors, mantraps, and biometric authentication further reduce the risk of unauthorized entry. By enforcing strict access control policies and leveraging technology, data centers can effectively prevent data loss, theft, and other security incidents, ensuring that only trusted individuals have access to vital systems and information.

Network Infrastructure and Connectivity

A reliable and high-performing network infrastructure is at the heart of every successful data center. To ensure seamless data transmission and minimize downtime, data centers must implement robust security measures, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption protocols. Redundancy is key—multiple network connections and backup systems should be in place to maintain operations even in the event of a failure. By investing in a secure and resilient network infrastructure, data centers can guarantee the continuous flow of data, protect against cyber threats, and deliver the performance businesses expect. This approach not only enhances security but also supports the scalability and adaptability required in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.

Data Protection and Backup

Protecting sensitive data and ensuring its availability are top priorities for any data center. A comprehensive data backup strategy involves regular backups, disaster recovery planning, and secure data archiving, so that information can be quickly restored in the event of a disaster or security breach. Data centers should also employ strong data protection measures, such as encryption, strict access controls, and secure storage solutions, to guard against unauthorized access and data breaches. By prioritizing data backup and protection, data centers help organizations avoid data loss, maintain business continuity, and build trust with their customers.

Security Measures and Compliance

Implementing robust security measures and maintaining compliance with industry regulations are critical for any data center. This includes deploying advanced access control, surveillance, and monitoring systems to detect and respond to potential threats. Compliance with standards such as HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR ensures that data centers meet legal and industry requirements for data protection. Regular security audits and risk assessments help identify vulnerabilities and keep security protocols up to date. A thorough data center security checklist should also address power redundancy, efficient cooling systems, fire suppression, and smoke detection to ensure the facility’s overall safety and reliability. By staying proactive with security measures and compliance, data centers can minimize risk, prevent downtime, and provide a secure environment for their clients’ critical data.

DartPoints’ Data Center Checklist:

• Industry Experience
• Location and Facility
• Power Redundancy (account for power, cooling, and fire suppression systems as essential means for operational reliability and physical security planning)
• Network Redundancy
• Environment Redundancy
• Security Redundancy (set up integrated security systems with alarms for rapid response to breaches, and ensure the ability to protect sensitive data, meet regulatory requirements, and stay resilient)
• Support (well-trained staff are important for maintaining site safety and customer data confidentiality)
• Extra Amenities
• Reliable hardware (such as servers, routers, and storage devices) is important for operational efficiency and security
• Organizational policies and structure are important for efficient and secure operations
• Customers have expected standards for operational efficiency and cost savings when choosing a data center
• Organized processes are needed to ensure continuous availability and early detection of issues
• Proper implementation of security systems and protocols is crucial for compliance and resilience
• Following best practice for staff safety, site security, and data confidentiality is essential
• Securing the physical data center room, including access protocols and environmental safety, is important
• Site security measures at the physical location of the data center are critical
• Setting up physical and procedural safeguards ensures security and compliance
• It is only a matter of time before unnoticed gaps in resilience lead to losses, so proactive risk management is urgent
• IAM solutions improve the ease of managing secure access to data center resources
• IAM solutions enhance security and access management for employees
• Securing laptops and mobile devices is important for remote access to data center resources
• Data centers must stay operational and resilient despite ongoing threats and potential outage
• Outages can have a major impact, so resilient backup and recovery strategies are important
• Addressing vulnerabilities before incidents occur is urgent, as time is a critical factor