As the value of data center assets grows, so does their allure as lucrative targets for cybercriminals. Hacking groups and nation-state actors often target servers and networking equipment in an attempt to obtain sensitive financial information, intellectual property, or spying opportunities.
With so much at stake, data center networking security is no longer a "nice to have" supplementary function but rather a business-essential priority that warrants a substantial portion of IT budgets. If one vulnerability remains unchecked, it could give attackers a chance to breach perimeter defenses and move laterally within the network in search of high-value systems and data.
In this blog post, we will explore 10 key data center networking security measures that IT teams can implement to fortify their servers against cyber threats.
1. Segment the Network
One of the most effective data center networking security strategies is to segment the network so that critical systems are isolated from less important devices. For example, servers storing financial records or customer data should be on their own secure VLAN, away from employee laptops or guest devices. If a workstation gets infected with malware, it won't be able to spread as easily across the entire data center. Network segmentation also makes access control and monitoring much simpler when groups of devices are logically separated.
2. Implement Strong Access Controls
Tight access controls specify who can access what systems and under what conditions. Role-based access control (RBAC) is a common method that assigns personnel to predefined roles with set permissions. For enterprise servers, this may involve restricting administrative privileges to just a few authorized IT staff. Multi-factor authentication should also be enabled to validate users' identities with a second factor, like a one-time password, in addition to their username and password.
3. Encrypt Sensitive Communications
Data traveling across the network or to external endpoints should be encrypted to prevent snooping. This includes deploying technologies like TLS/SSL, IPsec VPNs, and encrypted protocols for administrative access like SSH. Data at rest on servers should also be encrypted using whole disk encryption or file- or folder-level encryption. Encryption prevents bad actors from accessing sensitive files and data payloads, even if they gain access to traffic or compromised servers.
4. Monitor Network Traffic
Abnormal traffic patterns that could point to malicious activity can be found through continuous monitoring with network intrusion detection and prevention systems. Logs from next-generation firewalls, switches, routers, and other infrastructure service provide visibility into the types of devices connecting to the network, communication patterns, and any policy violations. Traffic anomalies that arise need to be quickly investigated.
5. Patch and Update Systems Promptly
The majority of cyberattacks take advantage of known vulnerabilities with unpatched systems. By promptly applying data center networking security patches and updates from operating system and application vendors, organizations can eliminate many entry points exploited by attackers. Automating patch management processes ensures all devices are consistently updated within a set timeframe. Unpatched endpoints pose too much risk and should be isolated until fully patched.
6. Use Intrusion Prevention Systems
While network monitoring detects threats, intrusion prevention systems (IPS) can actively block malicious traffic matching known signatures. They inspect traffic in real-time and match anomalous patterns against extensive databases of threats. An IPS deployed strategically at internet gateways and within the data center network provides an essential layer of defense, catching threats that evade perimeter firewalls. Signatures should be kept up-to-date to address the latest exploits.
7. Harden Server Configurations
Enterprise servers themselves need security hardening by disabling or removing unnecessary services, strengthening passwords, applying the principle of least privilege, and configuring appropriate firewall rules. For example, remote desktop or SSH access should only be permitted from authorized internal IP addresses, and two-factor authentication should be enforced. Unused ports should be closed. Regular vulnerability scanning checks for configuration weaknesses exploited by attackers.
8. Use a Bastion Host
A bastion host serves as an important data center networking security mechanism within data center network segmentation. As an additional layer of defense, it sits at the boundary between the untrusted external network and the internal servers within the more tightly controlled data center subnet. Only the bastion host has a public IP address and is accessible from the internet.
- When remote hands-on management of systems is needed, administrators first establish a secure connection, like SSH, to the bastion host. From there, systems on the internal network can be accessed through a second restricted “jump” connection. The bastion host acts as an intermediary or proxy, preventing any direct inbound connections from reaching other servers.
- If implemented correctly with minimal open ports, limited services, and strong access controls, the bastion host presents a smaller attack surface than exposing internal devices directly. Even if an attacker could exploit a vulnerability on the bastion host, their access would dead-end there rather than penetrating deeper into the private network.
System logs from the bastion host also provide an additional layer of visibility for monitoring unauthorized access attempts.
9. Implement Anomaly Detection
Gone are the days when rule-based intrusion detection alone sufficed. Modern threats often don't trigger signature matches. Anomaly detection profiles normal system behaviors and alerts on deviations, like unusual account access times, atypical file modifications or deletions, and network protocols not commonly used. It detects both known and unknown threats based on behavior rather than specific signatures and is a valuable supplement to rule-based IDS/IPS.
10. Establish Incident Response Plans
Even with robust enterprise server security controls, breaches may occasionally occur. By having detailed incident response plans in place, organizations can contain damage, eradicate threats, recover systems to a safe state, and learn from the incident to strengthen defenses. Response teams should be properly trained through mock scenarios. Lessons learned are shared across the organization to prevent similar incidents.
Final Words
A defense-in-depth approach with multiple layers of security controls is necessary to adequately protect today's complex data center environments and the critical servers within them. Regular reviews ensure all 10 of these key measures and supporting technologies remain up-to-date and properly configured to block both external threats and insider risks. Continuous monitoring also provides visibility to detect any new attack vectors. Taking a proactive security stance fortifies enterprises against cyberattacks and safeguards sensitive data.
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