In the world of data security, it's easy to forget about physical assets. So much information is transferred via the Internet and mobile devices that IT departments are clamoring to find a better solution to online data protection, like firewalls and complex encryption. The problem is, there are hackers and cyber criminals out there who relish in plucking company secrets right out from under them. In many cases, these threats move faster than IT departments, making it difficult to properly protect any digital assets.

Additionally, the past year demonstrated the frailty of the cloud as an all-encompassing data stronghold. The platform certainly has its uses, but it is too much to expect the cloud to adequately defend against cyber thieves.

As a result, companies should consider moving their valuable data to secure data centers protected by biometric technology. A biometrics platform relies on a fingerprint reader or other physical ID tool to grant security clearance. In this way, staff has no need for keys or passwords that might be stolen or lost. Biometric security is the best way to guard against intruders from the front door to the server cabinet.

IT officials name data security as their biggest concern
In a recent survey from BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, most IT professionals said their organizations have pointed to data security, cloud computing and mobility as their top three concerns, respectively, for the next year, Computer World U.K. reported. However, 92 percent of those surveyed also noted that they lack the infrastructure or means to tackle these issues. What's more, over the next three to five years, information security remained the chief priority, while big data overtook the number two spot, pushing cloud computing to third.

These results showed that data security is a short-term and long-term issue for many organizations, while some may believe the cloud will fall in importance. That means companies that rely on the cloud for data storage could be better off transferring their data to more secure physical hard drives to be protected from prying hands by biometric technology.

A comprehensive approach is the best approach
As the threat of data infiltration lingers, companies will soon find that there is no one-stop solution for information security. The best method is the one that examines the issue from multiple angles and offers an end-to-end solution. IT departments should be monitored every step of the way to ensure they are taking the right approach, according to TechTarget.

One key is the alignment of digital and physical security. The data center is one organization that operates on both fronts, so both must be adequately secured. As it stands, many centers lack the correct, comprehensive strategy.

"It's begging for integration," Enzo Greco, VP and GM of software, Data Center Solutions at Emerson Network Power, told Tech Target. "The data center is still a very hardware-oriented facility with little monitoring and management."

The next generation of data centers will place as much emphasis on physical security as they do on digital, and biometrics will be a key component.