32. Physical Security

Intermediate distribution frames, or IDFs

What are critical components in an organization's network infrastructure? They're often situated in various locations throughout a facility to facilitate network connectivity for different departments or areas. They hold essential network equipment, including switches and patch panels that connect end user devices to the network's broader architecture.

expanded environmental envelope

The current standards for data center cooling come from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers. The experts now recommend this which allows maintaining data centers at a temperature in the range between 64.4 and 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning or HVAC systems

What allows us to control temperature and humidity, keeping them within acceptable ranges?

hot aisle/cold aisle

What approach is used for data center cooling?

Class A

Fire extinguishers use to fight fires come rated for four different classes of fire.

What class of fire extinguishers are for typical fires, caused by common combustible materials such as wood, paper, cloth, and trash. 

Class B

Fire extinguishers use to fight fires come rated for four different classes of fire.

What class of fire extinguishers work on fires that get their fuel from flammable liquids, such as gasoline or oil. 

Class C

Fire extinguishers use to fight fires come rated for four different classes of fire.

What class of fire extinguishers work against electrical fires, such as many of those that might be found in a data center environment. 

Class D

Fire extinguishers use to fight fires come rated for four different classes of fire.

What class of fire extinguishers fight the heavy metal fires that might be found in industrial applications. 

Class K

Fire extinguishers use to fight fires come rated for four different classes of fire.

What class of fire extinguishers are designed specifically for kitchen fires, fueled by fats and oils. 

dry pipe systems

What fire suppression approach system keeps water out of the equation until an actual emergency strikes, lowering the risk to the facility. These systems use a valve that prevents water from entering the pipes until a fire alarm triggers the suppression system. This approach minimizes the risk of burst pipes by keeping out until the system detects a fire or is manually activated. 

Faraday cages

Data center managers should monitor for electromagnetic interference and consider designing their facilities to minimize this type of radiation. What is one way to control EMI, but it is complex and expensive.

redundant power supply systems

Data centers often rely upon these types of systems that use multiple sources of power simultaneously so that if one source fails, the other can pick up the slack, and keep the facility running. 

uninterruptible power supplies or UPSs

Data centers also use backup power supply strategies to accommodate any external failures. This normally includes the use of WHAT that contain batteries capable of running the equipment in a single rack of servers or an entire facility for just a few minutes. Its goal is to tolerate brief outages, and in the event of a longer outage, to provide enough time for larger backup generators to kick in, and begin generating enough power to run the facility using a diesel engine or other source of electricity. 

Blackouts

When planning power management, security professionals should be aware of five major types of power issues that might occur. Three of these are related to what are known as under voltage conditions where the data center does not have sufficient voltage to run the facility.

What are periods of complete service disruption where no external power is available?

Sags

When planning power management, security professionals should be aware of five major types of power issues that might occur. Three of these are related to what are known as under voltage conditions where the data center does not have sufficient voltage to run the facility.

What are brief periods of voltage drops that commonly occur, and are usually easily handled by most electronic equipment?

Brownouts

When planning power management, security professionals should be aware of five major types of power issues that might occur. Three of these are related to what are known as under voltage conditions where the data center does not have sufficient voltage to run the facility.

What are extended periods where power is available, but there is insufficient voltage supply, and these brownouts can disrupt equipment causing failures?

Spikes

When planning power management, security professionals should be aware of five major types of power issues that might occur. Two are power-related conditions that cover brief periods where too much voltage is supplied to electronic equipment. 

What are very brief periods of high voltage? The power supplies built into equipment can usually absorb these without damage.

Surges

When planning power management, security professionals should be aware of five major types of power issues that might occur. Two are power-related conditions that cover brief periods where too much voltage is supplied to electronic equipment. 

What are longer periods of high voltage that can cause damage to equipment if they're not properly handled?

Power conditioning

What is the practice of using dedicated power management equipment to provide clean power to the facility free of sags, spikes and surges?