Data center services are critical infrastructures that host vast
amounts of sensitive data and provide business connectivity. Network devices
tend to remain open but become the gateway to an attack. This is a risk
analysis discussion about the insecurity of network devices, why it matters,
and how to address it as an organization. Data centers face threats of many
different natures, both to the integrity of security and operation.
Data centers face various threats that
can compromise their security and operational integrity.
These threats can be categorized into
three main areas:
1. Physical Threats
Unauthorized
access is a primary factor in an attacker's attempt to gain physical
entry, leading to theft, vandalism, or sabotage. This risk can mostly happen
due to insider threats from authorized personnel who may expose their
access for malicious purposes. Natural disasters like floods and earthquakes
can impact data center operations and threaten business continuity.
Cybersecurity Threats
Cyberattacks such as malware, phishing, and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks are prevalent. Denial-of-service attacks are widespread because they aim to overwhelm servers and disrupt essential services.
3. Operational Threats: Power outages are among the most complex issues for data center security. Unplanned disruptions can result in downtime, especially if backup systems like uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and generators fail to activate on time.
Current Cyber
Crime Landscape
The growth in data digitization has
increased the rate of cyberattacks, especially on data centers and their
network devices. Cyberattacks worldwide went up by 76% in the first quarter
of 2024. It is alarming to note that in the same quarter, India registered
a 261% increase in cyberattacks.
This means there must have been a
massive advancement in cybersecurity measures safeguarding sensitive data and
infrastructure. Healthcare is the most targeted sector, as reported by DSCI,
with 22% of attacks. Other more vulnerable industries are hospitality, with 20%;
banking and financial services, with 17%; education, with 16%; and micro,
small, and medium enterprises, with 8%.
Geographical hotspots can be
identified since specific regions of certain areas have faced particular
cyber-attacks. Telangana and Tamil Nadu accounted for 15% and 12%,
respectively. Bengaluru had around 12% of the detected threats. Surat and
Jaipur, emerging commercial hubs, also had heavy attacks.
Data Center
Security Risks in Network Devices
Network devices, including switches
and routers, are vital in managing data traffic within a data center. Despite
their importance, they often receive less scrutiny regarding cybersecurity than
servers.
Key risks
associated with these devices include:
- Software Vulnerabilities: Network devices can have
vulnerabilities in their firmware, operating systems, or software-defined
networking solutions that attackers can exploit.
- Remote Management Risks: Tools used for remote management may
also contain vulnerabilities that could be targeted.
- Physical security threats: unauthorized physical access to network
devices can lead to significant security breaches.
- Weak Credentials: Many devices have publicly known
default login credentials that attackers can easily exploit.
Why Securing
Network Hardware Matters?
Network infrastructure security is critical because it often goes
unnoticed compared to server security. While organizations may have robust
measures in place for server hardening and monitoring, network infrastructure
risks are frequently overlooked. Security monitoring tools may not effectively
support network switches, leading to gaps in visibility and response
capabilities. Moreover, patch management processes typically focus on server
operating systems and applications, neglecting the software and firmware of
network devices. This oversight can leave organizations vulnerable to attacks
that exploit unpatched network hardware.
Defending Data Center Network Infrastructure Against Attacks
Organizations should extend their
cybersecurity tools and procedures to cover network infrastructure to mitigate
the risks of insecure network devices.
Here are some
effective strategies:
- Implement SIEM: Utilize security information and event management platforms capable of analyzing logs from
servers and network switches to detect anomalies.
- Regularly Update Firmware: Ensure all network devices are updated
with the latest patches to address vulnerabilities.
- Strengthen Access Controls: Use strong, unique credentials for all
network devices and enforce policies for regular password changes.
- Conduct Security Audits: Regularly audit network device
configurations and access logs to identify potential security issues.
As cyber threats evolve, securing
network infrastructure will become increasingly essential. While servers remain
primary targets for attackers, network hardware can also serve as a viable
entry point into an organization's IT environment.
ESDS Data Center
Security Solutions Against Cyber Threats
ESDS
Software Solutions offers better
cyber data center security solutions to help organizations protect their data
from the increasing complexities of cyber threats. Their approach is
comprehensive and covers:
Ø Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): These intrusion detection systems are always active and perform real-time
analysis of system and network activities to identify suspicious or illegal
activities. They use signature-based detection, anomaly detection, and
investigative analysis to identify threats like malware and DDoS.
Ø Advanced Firewalls: It has implemented efficient firewalls that
regulate incoming and outgoing traffic based on security policies that have
been set.
Ø Encryption Protocols: The data encryption is done in motion and at
rest to protect the information from getting into the wrong hands when in
transit or at rest.
Ø Access Controls: Strict identity and access management
measures prevent unwanted persons from entering the data center.
Conclusion
Thus, ESDS integrates threat intelligence feeds, including IP addresses and file hashes of suspicious objects, to improve SOAR threat detection and response time and filter out malicious actors before they enter the networks
ESDS Thus, implementing other
components of these organizations is an important part of developing and
safeguarding data that is strong in the center of defense integrity, security
mechanism privacy architecture, and the availability of numerous valuable cyber-risk information.
Contact
ESDS today to secure your data against
cyber threats.
Visit us: https://www.esds.co.in/our-datacenter
For more information, contact Team ESDS
through:
🖂 Email: getintouch@esds.co.in; ✆ Toll-Free: 1800-209-3006; Website: https://www.esds.co.in/