We have briefly mentioned the importance of creating a policy when it comes to who has access to your server room in our series of blogs we’ve written regarding our Secure Server Room and Secure Server Room Access Control checklist. Catch up on What Happens When Your Server Room Is Unsecured, Sonitrol’s Certified Solution To Regulate Climate In Server Rooms, and 4 Best Practices For A Secure Server Room.
The server room is one of the most important physical spaces to protect in any organization, so access to the room should be strictly controlled and monitored. How do you control and monitor access though? With a comprehensive access policy and Sonitrol’s Managed Access System.
How To Create A Controlled Access Policy For Server Rooms
1. Decide Who Needs Access
Not everyone in the company needs or should have access to the Server Room. Only people who have legitimate responsibilities in the server room should be permitted access. This list should be limited to as few as possible and reviewed every quarter to ensure it remains updated.
The shorter the list, the tighter the security. For those who don’t go in the room regularly, they can be escorted by someone who has access. It might sound strict, but the leaders of your company will be thankful that the data of the company is so closely protected.
2. Communicate The Need For An Access Policy
It’s important to communicate several things to everyone in the company regarding the policy. First, to let them know the policy exists and secondly, to let them know why. The reason why? The server room is one of the most important places in the building to keep secure, as mentioned above. It’s also important for everyone to understand the goal of this policy, which is to protect the company’s most critical asset: its data.
It might help if the message to everyone came from the HR department so everyone knows to take it seriously. This probably won’t come as a surprise to most employees, but consistent communication can mitigate anyone trying to get around the policy.
3. Integrate The Policy Into The Daily Routine
It doesn’t matter how well your policy is written. It’s in the way it’s interpreted and implemented that make a difference. For managed access, it’s fairly simple. Once your system is set up and cards are ready to be distributed, they can be handed out to those on the list. If anyone misuses their access cards, take them off the list.
Our Managed Access Control system allows for movement tracking through the facility and also allows you to restrict access by location and/or time of day. We can track your employees, visitors and contractors and their use of your facility. Not only that, but access control can manage HVAC, elevators and lighting systems for truly comprehensive coverage.
Start the new year off on the right foot by downloading the secure server room checklist and contacting us to see about setting up access control for your server room.