Did you know that 90 percent of all data currently in storage was created in the past two years? Cloud technology has exploded and large corporations generate such huge amounts of data that storage of multiple companies’ data often takes up huge amounts of physical space. A Smart Data Collective report says that the Microsoft data center – its main center – in Chicago, Illinois, takes up more than 700,000 square feet in size and the electricity need to power it could light-up 46 towns. Because of the sheer size of data centers, developers are working in conjunction with companies to find a way to make the operation of such massive stores of data more efficient and cost-effective.

Biometric security options
One of the big costs associated with protecting a data center is the cutting-edge security needed to keep a company’s assets, physical and proprietary, safe from theft, fraud or other criminal malfeasance. Biometric technology developers are creating software packages that cover all aspects of plant, server and data center security. Digitus Biometrics has developed software that can protect a company from the front door to its inner sanctum, the server racks and data center. Fingerprint scanning is a technology that captures unique aspects of an employee’s fingerprints and enrolls them into a database. No one other than the enrolled employee is then allowed access to the facility. Because fingerprints are not able to be duplicated, there is no way for a “passback” or other passcard trickery to be employed and unauthorized access is prevented. Fingerprint scanning is also used in keeping unauthorized persons out of the server cabinet areas and keeping that area safe from intruders or other criminals is critical to a company’s bottom line. By streamlining and updating vital security measures, security and company management can create a more effective and efficient security operation that eliminates the need for passcards, keys and other items that oft-times go missing or get lost.

Biometrics become more cost-efficient
Fingerprint scanning is being used, increasingly, by companies looking to provide the highest level of security for their personnel and in protecting their data. While other, less costly methods of security are currently operating in the business world, biometric technology is now just as affordable, if not more affordable, than some of the other, competing technologies.

An article in Data Center Knowledge shows that biometric protection is very affordable in the current market. Mark Hirst of Cannon Technologies says “the costs of fingerprint biometric technology and its allied systems – and supporting infrastructure – have now fallen to the point where it has become an extremely viable option for even the most careful of corporate accountants to consider.”

Hirst adds that the efficiency of the technology is getting much better, too.

“The time taken to verify a fingerprint at the scanner is now down to a second and because the templates – which can update to/from a centralized server on a regular basis – are maintained locally, the verification process can take place whether or not a network connection is present.”

Compliance issues
With any new technology, there are growing pains and compliance issues and the EU is planning on some strict measures to be introduced in 2015. Now, with new, tougher non-U.S. regulations looming, the trend to tighten security at server cabinets is only going to increase.  U.S lawmakers are currently mulling legislation to create federal compliance rules – several states have regulations on the books but the fed does not – and the EU even has a measure requiring all visitors to provide a fingerprint to enter the continent, according to Privacy International.

While the U.S. debates privacy issues, the EU says biometrics are being introduced “as an additional layer of security for travel documents and for accurate identity checks” limited to face and fingerprints.

Biometric technology is expanding and companies and nation-states who grow with it to provide vital data center security are positioning themselves for a brighter future than those who ignore the forecasts and current industry trends.

Learn more about achieving compliant data center security here