Mitigating Security Risks in Corporate Data Centres with Access Control Systems
Data is potentially more valuable than cash, and data-related theft is increasing. In this article, we’ll explore how an effective access control strategy can mitigate that risk in corporate date centres.
The current financial climate in South Africa has led to an increase in crime. Expensive computer equipment can be a tempting target for the opportunist. It can usually be disposed of with minimal delay, as soaring inflation is forcing consumers to look for bargains, and resellers have become less concerned about their source of supplies.
However, a PC or server’s potential sales value can be trivial compared to a dataset of confidential information. In many cases, the latter has all the potential of a goldmine. Imagine the consequences if one of your competitors was given your client list or details of research on a proposed new, as yet, unpatented product.
Even personal information like ID numbers, names, and addresses can be invaluable to those who rely on identity theft to make their outrageous incomes. Locking your doors and windows at night can offer only minimal protection. For true peace of mind, you will need to resort to more effective deterrents. At CCI, we specialise in data centre security strategies. Let’s explore the options we have developed to safeguard corporate data in South Africa.
Access Control Technology Offers Maximum Data Protection
An experienced intruder is unlikely to have a problem getting past the conventional locks on your front door. Beyond that point, you will need to rely on something far more effective. There are numerous systems to choose from. Closed-Circuit TV provides 24/7 surveillance. Password-protected and card-based access systems are still widely used, although they are far less secure than their users believe.
Unfortunately, passwords are easily forgotten and often written down, risking the possibility that an unauthorised individual might find them. Access cards are more convenient but frequently forgotten, lost, or stolen. Furthermore, like credit cards, they are not too hard to clone for an opportunist with the right equipment.
By contrast, security systems that employ biometric data to determine who may and may not be granted access to a sensitive facility, such as your main or independent distribution frame, have repeatedly proved to be far more effective. This cutting-edge access control technology utilises an individual’s unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints, facial appearance, or iris patterns, to establish a person’s identity and access rights. The result of each scan is compared with the system’s stored images to establish identity.
The Benefits of Biometric Access Control
Biometric scanning is currently the most advanced and reliable means to regulate access to sensitive areas for corporate data centres and similar operations. Installing this type of system provides them with several essential benefits, such as:
- Greater Convenience: With these hassle-free installations, employees will no longer be required to memorise passwords or carry magnetic or RFID cards. Forgotten passwords and mislaid or stolen cards will all cease to be a problem.
- Greater Efficiency: The unique nature of biometric data combined with the superior accuracy of the scanning system employed eliminates annoying delays due to machine errors.
- Greater Compliance: A corporate data centre must comply with various regulations and standards that require strict access control and audit trails. Biometric systems are designed to provide accurate and detailed records of who accessed the data centre, on what date and time, and how long they stayed.
Government agencies use systems similar to these to help solve crimes. They are also used to secure national borders, prevent voting fraud, and in many other areas where maximum security or access control is crucial.
Expert Help with Access Control
If you have any concerns about the current secure access measures at your corporate data centre, please don’t hesitate to contact the industry experts at CCI. Get in touch today.
