Safely Scale Your Data Center With These Five Cybersecurity Measures

Datacenter cybersecurity is critical because of the vast industries using these facilities. Healthcare, finance, education, and other sectors rely on this storage solution to protect records and sensitive information.

Companies may adjust their storage needs based on demand, so understanding cybersecurity protocol is crucial. Here’s how to scale a data center while protecting it from outsiders. 

Cybersecurity Strategies for Scaling a Data Center

Introducing new hardware increases a business’s attack surface and vulnerability. Here are five tips for scaling a data center while protecting systems.

1.     Network Segmentation

Network segmentation should be among the first strategies. This approach divides the network into fragments and reduces the impact of breaches during the transition.

Cybersecurity professionals will likely not see the same issue if one section is compromised in other areas. Network segmentation also improves performance levels for the new data center by reducing traffic and enhancing efficiency.

2.     Encrypted Data

Information could end up in the wrong hands. Organizations with solid encryption practices can better protect information and minimize losses if it does. This strategy may also be necessary for regulatory compliance.

Robust encryption protocols should be a priority for data center cybersecurity professionals. AES and RSA are premier platforms, although ECC and Twofish are popular services. These strategies require decryption keys to access the information, thus making it useless when compromised.

3.     Intrusion Detection Systems

Another way to thwart outside threats is by using intrusion detection systems (IDS). With IDS, employees can be more proactive by constantly searching network traffic for suspicious activity.

Scaling a data center could introduce liabilities like configuration errors, emphasizing the importance of IDS protocol. The software emulates a car alarm system by identifying unauthorized users and tells administrators when they must act.

4.     Zero-Trust Framework

A business should trust its employees when scaling a data center. However, it doesn’t want to risk a significant fallout. A zero-trust framework is practical because it only grants users access from verified devices.

Employees must also reconfirm their identity to continue using the system, heightening security in case of an attack. A 2024 survey found that 63% of organizations use a zero-trust framework, emphasizing its importance.

5.     Cloud Services

Cloud services have become more prominent in gaming, healthcare, and other vital sectors. Due to their scalability, they also aid data center cybersecurity for shrinking and growing operations.

Cloud services let businesses adjust capacity to demand, thus helping cybersecurity professionals with fluctuating workloads. Moving data off-site is a nontraditional but cost-effective strategy because it lessens the need for hardware and other infrastructure.

Why Data Center Cybersecurity Is Nonnegotiable When Scaling

Some professionals continue their standard cybersecurity practice when scaling a data center. However, these five reasons demonstrate they must exercise caution and do more.

1.     Regulatory Compliance

First, employees must consider regulatory compliance. Companies must follow the law to ensure they don’t compromise user information, which can happen during data center scaling. It’s also essential to understand individual state laws on privacy.

Organizations with international ties must consider the laws of each country or region. For instance, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies to those within the European Union (EU). Violating this law could incur significant fines even for companies outside the EU.

2.     Delicate Transitions

Scaling a data center can be complicated, considering the infrastructure organizations must handle. Companies allocate significant time and resources to this project, so cybersecurity is essential during the transition.

New hardware means new attack surfaces, thus more vulnerabilities for outsiders to exploit. Scaling should enforce stringent policies to reduce the risk of attacks and protect valuable information when adjusting.

3.     Sophisticated Practices

Outside threats have become more sophisticated over time. Drivers must worry about attacks on electric vehicles (EVs) and their charging stations, which shows how far technology has come. Attacks on data centers when scaling should be enough to alarm a company.  

Advanced practices demonstrate why protecting a data center requires cybersecurity professionals to maintain best industry practices. IT departments should teach employees the basics and learn new ways to thwart these threats. Sector developments could include new firewalls or better coding practices.

4.     Preventing Losses

Datacenter scaling could produce losses if proper cybersecurity protocol isn’t in place. An incident could result in compromised information, significant fines, and poorer client relationships. Preventing losses is critical to keeping the organization intact and stable.

A phased approach is one way to protect the data center during scaling. With this strategy, cybersecurity professionals minimize risk and create more flexibility for adjustment periods. Pilot projects could be effective for working out the bugs in new technologies.

5.     Minimizing Downtime

A phased approach also benefits organizations by minimizing downtime. Employees can test their technologies on smaller scales before implementing them.

A 2022 study found 76% of companies experienced downtime due to data loss — a significant increase from previous years. Downtime matters because companies want to prevent business and supply chain disruptions. This period of inactivity could also corrupt data, thus compromising clients in industries needing the most updated information. 

Emphasizing Safety When Scaling a Data Center

Organizational changes can be complex, whether the employees or the physical infrastructure. When a business downsizes or scales up, it must consider how the adjustment affects its data centers and clients. While complicated, a smooth transition is necessary for uptime and company goals.

Scaling a data center should involve robust cybersecurity practices like encryption and IDS. Otherwise, a company risks significant losses and a compromised reputation.