Page 33 - Security Today, February 2018

technology, the data we can provide and the fact that physical keys no longer have to be controlled or managed,” said Keith Zurawski, director of data center opera- tions at Forsythe. “We have close to 200 locks installed, both for our own use and those for our customers. We use the locks heavily in our own environment because we adhere to the same controls in audit capabilities our customers require. We’re definitely practicing what we preach.”
Partner Innovation
“This has been an interesting and reward- ing project,” said Chris Hobbs, business development leader of the data center ver- tical market at ASSA ABLOY. “Everyone involved has really helped bring this to- gether. It’s exciting to work on something new that will really make a difference in the business success of our customers. Forsythe is a forward-focused and dy- namic customer with the best interests of their clients always driving their business model. It’s truly a pleasure to work with and learn from their organization.”
Hobbs explained that ASSA ABLOY channel partner Anixter and systems inte- grator ESSCOE helped make the system a reality for Forsythe. Both Anixter and ESSCOE contributed their access con- trol experience and recommended ASSA ABLOY technology as the backbone of the system.
As a leading global supplier of com- munications and security products and electrical and electronic wire and cable, Anixter has a long and respected relation- ship with Forsythe. Anixter has provided the cabling and much of the infrastructure for the new data center. In this project, Anixter provided the KS200 cabinet locks both individually and as a pre-installed part of the cabinet rack kit. The KS200 is designed to fit a specific cutout, making installation fast and efficient.
“We’re connecting the HES KS200 locks to Lenel’s OnGuard Access appli- cation,” McKinney said. “So all the bio- metrics, badge readers and KS200s are tracked and given access rights through the Lenel system.”
Reliable Integration
The Forsythe Data Center is a Tier III, Uptime Institute facility, certified for its reliability and redundancy with potential communications and power issues. How- ever, physical security has little to do with
Inside-Out Assessments are the New Approach to Data Center Physical Security
By Chris Hobbs
When a security planner assesses a facility for the first time, the standard approach is often to begin at the perimeter of a location and do an outside- to-inside sweep. This was how we used to approach data centers as well, until we came to the realization that the most critical asset of the facility lies directly at the heart of the building — on the server racks.
Reversing the standard approach to security planning and approaching data centers with an inside-out assessment is now best practice. The result of that change requires the security industry — from manufacturers to integrators – to consider
the needs and solutions for these facilities in a new light.
Begin at the Heart of the Building
Securing a server cabinet is now a critical offering for a data center — be it a facility owned by a singular enterprise or a data center that rents space to clients. The lock not only physically secures the rack but also provides an audit trail to record who accessed what location and at what time.
And while the locks offer access through credentials such as keycards, they can be backed up by intelligent keys in the event of power failure. This continues to provide audit trails, meaning there is never a point where accountability isn’t being logged.
Moving Outward
Biometric solutions will likely continue to make gains in the data center space. Fingerprint read- ers, hand geometry and iris readers are now expectations at chokepoints to server room access. However, it is my belief that these biometric components will continue to expand deeper into security solutions at data centers. Mobile technologies, for example, can allow offsite techni- cians or security to be given a temporary credential ,which they confirm through a phone using a biometric scan, for emergency situations in areas where they otherwise would not have access.
Physical Improvement
Fencing, bollards, guard booths and entry barriers are standard and critical components to keep unauthorized individuals out of a facility. However, physical security components that repel more elaborate intrusions are also important to consider. There are now doors and openings that resist bullets, blasts and forced entries, and can provide RF or thermal shielding.
For newer facilities, these robust offerings will likely be included in the design. But for older facilities that don’t have them baked in, there is cause to look at retrofit opportunities.
Importance of Partnerships
In any facility, we recommend that owners and managers seek out integrators and manufactur- ers that approach security solutions as partnerships. And, for integrators and manufacturers, we must note the importance of entering any project with a consultative mindset.
Establishing these types of relationships means long-term engagements for both parties, where the end user knows they have ongoing support, and the provider will be able to learn and develop new solutions for the user and market space.
Chris Hobbs is the director of enterprise partner business development at ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions
this quality rating.
“When you combine our uptime certi-
fication with such a high level of physical security that has six badge access points between the front door and the cabinet, plus more than 100 video security cam- eras, a 24/7 onsite guard service, you can begin to see that we take reliability and security very seriously,” Harris said. “The cabinet lock system is allowing us to take
security even further. Our customers from the insurance, healthcare and financial markets appreciate the higher level of se- curity, auditability and accountability. The HES KS200 cabinet locks are allowing us to make a significant step forward in pro- viding peace of mind for our clients.”
Howard Carder is a freelance security industry writer.
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