Monday, January 9, 2012

Ways Colocation Hosting Can Retain Your Sensitive Data

By Carson Holcomb


Colo hosting providers do carry out various tasks to secure data they are entrusted with by their customers. The buildings housing sensitive equipment are normally protected from entry by unauthorized persons. Provision of necessary utilities like power is made in such a way that if a failure occurs, there is a backup system to take over. All this precautions are taken to ensure availability of service is guaranteed.

Data colocation servers need to be secured properly so that people with ill motives do not get access to them. Data centers use various techniques to keep out people who should not get to them. Physical security is enhanced by locking the premises and requiring use of access control badges to get in. In addition, closed circuit television systems are installed to verify the identity of all people, before they get in.

Motion detectors are also employed to detect unauthorized entry. Since servers are set up in steel cages, the cages are also locked up with padlocks so that only the person with the keys can access them. Customers who visit the premises for server administration purposes are escorted into the information center. This ensures that they only access servers that belong to them and not any other.

Most customers attach a lot of importance to availability of data stored in their servers. Providers therefore go to great lengths to maintain availability even in times of failures. What this entails is the use of more that one communication channels. They act as backups to each other, such that if one of them fails, another one is available for use immediately.

Power supply is a key element that requires protection from failures which disrupt other services. A diesel power generator is the most common supply system used as a backup. When power from the grid fails, the generator starts to supply after a few seconds. During this delay, a second supplier is required to prevent the equipment from shutting down. Batteries are employed for this purpose, which eliminates the problem of switch over delays.

Equipment that use electric power dissipate a lot of heat when they are in operation. To regulate the temperature in which they need to work in, air conditioning systems are used. These correct the temperature in the room for all equipment to work as required. A failure can disrupt service delivery if left unchecked. To prevent this, service providers install many systems to provide a fail safe environment.

Additional equipment protection is provided by using fire detectors. They help to provide an alert in case of a fire breaking out. Communication equipment are not fire friendly. A suppression system when set up helps to put off a fire before it causes destruction. A water free system is more suitable in this case to avoid aggravating the damage with water. Electronic systems get damaged easily when they come into contact with water.

Careful handling of servers and other equipment is required to ensure that access is restricted to authorized people only. Colocation hosting leaves this responsibility to the service provider which reduces the workload for the customer. This leaves the provider to formulate procedures that help to keep everything working properly and securely.




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