A server room is the beating heart of any business, running hundreds of computers and containing irreplaceable data. To protect this area from potential threats, it must always be safeguarded.
Thankfully, there are several ways to protect your server room. From fire protection to protecting network hardware, read on for tips on securing your server room.
Air Conditioning
Data is the lifeblood of many businesses, so protecting your server room is paramount. Without adequate cooling, servers could overheat and damage valuable equipment or even start a fire.
Computers generate considerable heat, especially in server rooms where they are usually housed together. This puts your servers under immense strain and increases the likelihood of system crashes, random reboots and overall hardware malfunctioning.
Air conditioning is essential to any server room and will help keep your servers cool enough to prevent these problems. Install a quality AC unit explicitly tailored for your server room’s requirements for optimal efficiency.
In addition to temperature control, you should maintain an appropriate humidity level in your server room. Doing so helps protect IT equipment from corrosion issues that could cause system crashes and random reboots.
Uninterruptible Power Supply
In today’s data-driven world, a brief power outage can cause lost production and corrupted files. Installing an uninterruptible power supply in your server room helps mitigate these risks by keeping everything running smoothly.
UPSs work by storing energy in batteries or flywheels that act as a backup power source during an input power interruption. They can be either on standby or online and come in various sizes and features to suit your requirements.
When a power outage occurs, the UPS will detect it and automatically switch to battery backup power for a brief period until average power is restored or the system can safely shut down. Note that this won’t allow you to continue operations; instead, it protects hardware and data from damage due to sudden power losses or improper shutdowns.
Many UPSs rely on batteries as their backup energy source, but other non-battery systems may be more efficient. Famous examples include lithium-ion cells which are safe to handle and recyclable.
Fire Extinguishers
Server rooms are vital to running businesses; they house hundreds of computers, handle telecommunications operations and store irreplaceable data. Fires can be the worst possible disaster for these facilities but can be prevented with proper fire protection equipment.
Protecting your server room from fire begins with installing fire extinguishers. These devices contain pressurised carbon dioxide gas that can quickly put out flames without damaging electronic items in the room.
Another type of fire suppression system is a clean agent system, which utilises chemicals in gaseous form to displace oxygen around a fire and prevent it from combusting materials. For optimal effectiveness, clean agent systems should be combined with comprehensive smoke detection devices.
Maintaining electrical components and wires in the server room is essential to avoid fires. Overloaded or short-circuited electrical equipment and malfunctioning wiring are common problems that should be identified, assessed, and corrected immediately.
Video Surveillance
Video surveillance is one of the most reliable methods to protect your server room. These systems can prevent damage, record what happens inside, and monitor any unauthorised access to your servers.
Integrating a system that sends footage directly to a secure cloud-based server makes for easier access and storage and quicker response time when processing security footage.
Motion-activated CCTV cameras are an invaluable addition to any security system, as they will alert you or your security team if there has been unauthorised entry. These are especially helpful during off-peak hours when access to your premises may not be as quick.
Biometric technology, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, can also guarantee only authorised personnel have access to the server room. This is especially pertinent if you use access cards and fobs, which could easily be cloned, or if sensitive information is stored inside the room.
Noah is a cybersecurity specialist with expertise in data encryption, server protection strategies, and cloud security best practices.
