Implementing strict cybersecurity measures is the top priority for data centers in 2022, after all, cyberattacks cost businesses a whopping $3.86 million on average, with most companies taking at least 7-8 months to contain the attack and start recovering their losses.
And despite most data centers being well-equipped to protect their systems now, the number of cyberattacks and data breaches continues to grow at an alarming rate. A glaring example is the Equifax breach, which cost the business $4 billion in productivity loss and fines.
So what puts these data centers at risk of a breach? And what challenges do they face beyond their regular cybersecurity measures? Let’s have a look!
1. Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware is the biggest concern for any data center, cloud service provider, or online solution at the moment.
As the name indicates, a ransomware attack involves hacking into sensitive data and blocking the owner’s access until a certain amount is transacted to the hackers. Not only does this cause delays in the regular operations of a business, but leaked sensitive information can land your business in legal trouble.
The best strategy to protect data centers from ransomware is implementing sophisticated cybersecurity protocols against common ransomware variants such as Bit Paymer, Doppel Paymer, Conti, Clop, etc. Real-time monitoring also helps.
2. Real-Time Monitoring
Data centers rely on multiple components to run smoothly. There are cooling systems, storage units, power distribution grids, connecting cables, applications, and much more running simultaneously. The loss of any one component can result in an unexpected failure.
That’s where real-time monitoring comes in. While failures are somewhat inevitable, monitoring your hardware systems through cameras in the server room can help avoid most of them. DCIM software is also essential as it lets you track and analyze your systems, get insight into the operation metrics in real time, and generate performance reports. These are crucial for taking immediate action in case something goes haywire.
3. Data Recovery
Data recovery is yet another challenge data centers face in 2022. Whether there’s a loss of data due to hardware malfunction or a security breach, recovering data can take months. And it doesn’t help that most malware attacks now encrypt your data, slowing down the recovery process.
So, while protecting data with strong cybersecurity is essential, the key lesson here is that data centers should have a contingency plan in case the stored information is compromised. Your cybersecurity solution should have a streamlined backup and recovery process set in place.
4. IoT Management
The Internet of Things or IoT has become a disruptive challenge for data centers. IoT produces astounding volumes of data regularly that it has to process, analyze, prioritize, and store, slowing down systems in the process. The ability to feed sensors remotely through IoT also makes data centers vulnerable.
So what’s the solution? Well, data centers should look toward edge computing to control the volume of data generated and stored. Any mechanical or computing device connected to the IoT must also be encrypted and patched for robust security.
5. Remote Access Tools
As remote work has become common, it has created cybersecurity challenges for data centers in 2022. Companies must deploy remote access tools like ZTNA, RDP, and VPNs to protect their data from cybercriminals.
Because data centers rely on the security of each third-party app or code hosted, companies must have their IT teams patch vulnerable systems and recruit IPS where patches aren’t available. Network segmentation is another measure you should consider, as it prevents lateral movement between machines.
