Don’t Drop the Ball on Security
Defense wins championships. That’s why New England beat Seattle on Sunday.
Defense also keeps data centers from getting sacked.
This isn’t about Football
Nope. It’s about cyber. And data centers.
We all know cyberattacks are proliferating. So MeriTalk asked Feds how their concerns over cyber affect their data center strategies, and turned it into an illuminating new report, “Heart of the Network: Data Center Defense.”
More than half of Feds say key security measures are missing from their data center modernization plans – things like automation, mobile device management, and endpoint security management.
That’s like playing a game without your linebackers.
Hail Mary?
Think about all the modernization efforts Feds are engaged in – consolidation, virtualization, and moving to the cloud. Two-thirds of those surveyed say the modernization process increases cyber threat concerns.
Yikes. Is it enough to put the brakes on modernization? Nope. But Feds may have their fingers crossed when they begin modernization efforts. Like throwing a Hail Mary, you hope for the best.
Protecting the Quarterback
When it comes to cyber security, agencies remain focused on the perimeter and report being most confident about their perimeter security. But too many Feds ignore the heart of their networks – data centers. A whopping 70 percent of Feds question the strength of their security solutions within the data center fabric.
But data centers are like your quarterback – you have to protect your star player.
A Better Game Plan
Playing good defense isn’t easy. The threats come from all sides. Advanced Targeted Attacks (ATAs)/Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)/zero-day attacks, malware, viruses, denial of service attacks, and unauthorized device access all represent major threats to data centers. The bad guys are always blitzing.
Looking ahead, 46 percent of Feds believe they need to invest in more security measures.
The full report has a lot more than my Cliff’s notes version. Read “Heart of the Network: Data Center Defense,” and let us know how your agency has tackled data center security. Okay, it sort of was about football (and I’m not talking about soccer, Steve). Did your team win the Super Bowl? Are you going through football withdrawal? Me, too.
Feel like sharing something Noteworthy? Post a comment below or email me at bglanz@300brand.com.
Bill Glanz is the content director for MeriTalk and its Exchange communities. In the past 14 years, he has worked as a business reporter, press secretary, and media relations director in Washington, D.C.