prevent and fully mitigate these cyberattacks. Network engineers and network operators are increasing their awareness of these attacks and are also taking precautionary and proactive measures to get ahead of these issues. Most network operators will restrict physical access to networked devices by means of disabling unused network ports in common areas of a facility.

Conducting regular network infrastructure checks is critical to help mitigate any potential attacks. Monitoring network infrastructure with alerts and alarms also aids in early detection of potential issues.

Having a robust and clear plan with the network team in place can help data center operators stay ahead of the curve with cybersecurity. In addition, having dedicated security and access policies and procedures in place within the organization helps ensure employees and customers alike are aware of security expectations and requirements.

Data center operators and their IT team must work hand in hand to ensure that their employees follow all security protocols, including the use of a company VPN, 2FA login codes on devices, and also remain alert to phishing emails and malicious links or documents.

In addition to a workplace cybersecurity policy, IT teams must do their due diligence by having training sessions on cybersecurity to help employees understand what type of cybercriminals are out there and the attacks they should be on the lookout for.

Best practices for data center security

Given that data center security is a top priority for leadership teams as well as management teams in any given data center facility, common best practices should be applied throughout the organization. These include: 

Clean desk policy

Usually, employees have a busy day-to-day schedule while on the job and it can be easy to forget something when in a meeting or on a personal call, so the reaction might be to grab a sticky note or piece of paper and jot something down.

This is not a good idea because it could potentially expose sensitive information to anyone that may be walking nearby or anyone that may not have the required access for that key piece of information. This includes passwords, account numbers, access codes, customer information and more.

Establish cybersecurity training

Ensuring that an organization’s employees are fully trained on cybersecurity is essential. Employees who work in other departments that are not technical may not be aware of the cyberattacks criminals employ to gain access to organizational infrastructure.

By mandating cybersecurity training at an organizational level, employees will be educated on cyberattacks to look out for such as ransomware and will be better suited to relay this information to IT teams to investigate.

Reinforce corporate IT policies and procedures

Corporate IT policies and procedures are standard at any organization. By having the IT or network department work alongside their HR team, they should reinforce the IT and cybersecurity policies in place so that there are no hiccups when it comes to what is allowed in the organization.

For example, these may include prohibitions regarding use of personal cell phones or computers on company Wi-Fi networks or against conducting business on hardware that is not authorized by the organization.

Have leadership champion the security cause

The leadership team should champion the cause of security for the entire organization. Most internal teams seek the knowledge and understanding of senior leaders and are more than likely to listen to what they have to say.

Having the leadership team drive the message of security and cybersecurity from the top down will go a long way toward protecting the organization. If senior leaders are fully equipped and trained in cybersecurity, their message will resonate even further with employees.

Conduct consistent network audits

Consistent network audits with intrusion alerts cannot be overstated enough. This is one of the first go-to pieces of critical information to always monitor. By taking precautionary measures, organizations can identify if there are any gaps in their network that need attention.

Understanding the dynamics of physical security and cybersecurity is critical for any data center organization looking to implement additional layers of protection. The more mature your security posture is, the more potential prospects you have when seeking a data center provider.

By remaining aware of current and past types of cyberattacks, an organization will be well prepared to handle any situation.