From major retail cyberattacks to Hollywood studio hackers, cybersecurity is now, more than ever, on the mind of every CIO in the world — and rightfully so. According to our recent article in Data Center Journal, the most common cause of a data breach is malicious or criminal attacks, which could end up costing not only nights of sleep for CIOs, but also millions of dollars; in some cases upwards of $5.4 million.

While these attacks can be devastating, there are some best practices to help avoid cyber-disaster:

1. Don’t give hackers a back door: In order to prevent data breaches, consider isolating your network to avoid allowing easy access to your information. Since access can be logged through network isolation, unwanted activity can be monitored and flagged. To isolate your network and limit threats without compromising necessary access or performance, consider utilizing isolated out-of-band management networks. These networks provide full, real-time access without giving hackers back door entry.

2. Enforce the three A’s: Authentication, authorization and auditing are all critical to securing your network. Ensure your cybersecurity by using fine-grain user authentication through a centralized and controlled process, while still allowing easy access for administrators.

3. Ensure trust and best practices with outside vendors: Servicing data center equipment typically requires allowing atypical access to sensitive information about your data center with people outside your organization. Even new technologies are now requiring software updates while sharing IP addresses and network ports to accommodate those updates. While you may feel confident in your organization’s security practices, it’s also important you trust the security measures practiced by those outside parties or contractors, as well.

Security is a complex, never-ending process, but the right partners can help cut through that complexity and ensure your network—and your business—do not become the next victim.

What other best practices do you use to ensure your network is secure?

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Emerging Technologies in Controls and Automation

Data-center cooling systems must be finely tuned for high efficiency and availability to be achieved. Most systems, however, lack the advanced controls needed to optimize thermal performance. Join us as Jason Gloeckner, Marketing Manager for Thermal Software Solutions for Emerson Network Power, explains how thermal controls are changing in response to data center trends and user preferences. Jason will discuss how new thermal-control strategies can help data center managers:

• Select the right controls technologies
• Cut installation costs
• Avoid and defend against adverse events and reduce system wear and tear
• Reduce cooling system energy consumption
• Gain insight into thermal-system performance and trends to optimize data center performance

About the Presenter

Ralph Conklin, Product Manager, Aftermarket Solutions for Thermal Management Support, Emerson Network Power:
Ralph Conklin is Product Manager, Aftermarket Solutions for Thermal Management Support, at Emerson Network Power. In his current role, Ralph manages the aftermarket parts, retrofit kits, and energy efficiency upgrade products for Emerson's industry-leading thermal management equipment. In this webinar, he will describe new ways to deploy thermal management technologies for fast ROI while improving data center efficiency, protection and insight.

Ralph has more than a decade of experience in the data center market, including positions with Emerson in Thermal Management Engineering, New Product Development and Technical Support. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University and a Masters of Business Administration from Franklin University. 

Make sure to catch Emerson Network Power's Critical Advantage Webcast Series on Tuesday, June 9, at 1 p.m. ET

The New Era of Thermal Controls: See Where They Can Take Your Data Center

Thermal systems account for 38% of data center energy usage. A new generation of thermal system controls can help you reduce it.

Find out how by attending our Emerson Critical Advantage Webcast on May 18 – where we introduce the industry’s latest innovation in thermal system controls: the all-new Liebert^® iCOM™ controls.

During our webcast, you’ll see how this new technology can:

• Improve thermal system energy efficiency by up to 50%
• Maximize thermal performance by harmonizing multiple cooling systems
• Better protect your data center by improving air flow and air temperature control
• Identify and resolve adverse conditions before it’s too late
• Extend the life of cooling equipment by reducing wear and tear
• Simply and easily gain insight for action into real-time thermal system operation and metrics
• Manage every thermal system device with a single system

Register today.