While pursuing their sustainability objectives, entities are increasingly evaluating the environmental footprint through their data centers.
Research by KPMG revealed that most of the leading 100 organizations measure and disclose their sustainability endeavors. Predictions from Gartner indicate that by 2027, three out of four entities will have integrated a data center sustainability initiative, often involving the establishment of an environmentally friendly data center.
“The shift towards sustainability responsibilities is transitioning from CIOs to infrastructure and operations (I&O) heads to enhance IT’s environmental efficiency, particularly concerning data centers,” mentioned Autumn Stanish, Senior Principal Analyst at Gartner. “This has resulted in increased expenditure and investment in environmental solutions, although environmental impact should not be the sole focus. Sustainability can also generate substantial positive outcomes on non-environmental aspects such as reputation, innovation, resilience, and talent acquisition.”
Enterprises Increasingly Establishing Eco-friendly Data Centers
The International Energy Agency (IEA) notes that data centers contribute to 1 to 1.5 percent of global electricity usage. Minimizing energy usage is frequently a primary consideration during the design and construction of green data centers. With the heightened computational requirements of AI compared to traditional methods, data centers are consuming increasing amounts of energy, a trend expected to surge alongside the expanding AI applications.
The concept of a sustainable data center does not pertain to a solitary technology but rather encompasses a strategic methodology geared towards optimizing resources, commencing from the initial stages of planning. Every choice relating to processes, environment, and technology is guided by sustainability as the paramount consideration. For instance, green data centers typically occupy less physical space and generally employ construction materials with low emissions.
Nevertheless, the adoption of green data centers introduces fresh cybersecurity vulnerabilities and heightens known risks. It is vital for organizations to place cybersecurity at the forefront of each decision concerning green data centers.
Here are five cybersecurity considerations to contemplate when shaping and executing a green data center.
1. Enhanced Cooling Mechanisms
Many green data centers reduce their dependency on traditional air conditioning by utilizing advanced cooling methods, liquid cooling, or precision cooling. These techniques often leverage IoT devices for monitoring temperature and energy usage. However, IoT devices can offer openings for cyber intruders to breach the network and connected systems. Furthermore, IoT devices expand the potential exposure surface.
By taking proactive measures with each IoT device, organizations can leverage advanced cooling methods without significantly elevating their risks. Administrators should change preinstalled passwords to complex ones as part of the setup process for each IoT device. Moreover, many organizations employ a VPN local virtual private network for IoT devices to constrain access to other systems in the event of a cybersecurity incident.
2. Prolonging Equipment Lifespan
Regularly procuring new equipment for a data center heightens its environmental impact and expenses. Numerous entities are opting for upgrades, refurbishments, and efficient maintenance to extend equipment lifespan. Nonetheless, dated equipment may exhibit more cybersecurity vulnerabilities and be less likely to incorporate the latest (and most secure) technologies and practices. By consistently assessing the pros and cons of persisting with a piece of equipment for sustainability gains vis-a-vis cybersecurity risks, organizations can make judicious decisions. Additionally, promptly installing all updates aids in risk mitigation.
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3. Virtualization Techniques
Virtualization serves as a prevalent tool for resource optimization in data centers. By overlaying an abstract layer atop computer hardware, organizations can reduce physical equipment usage, leading to decreased energy consumption. A single physical server commonly supports multiple virtual servers. The efficiency of virtual servers in energy preservation typically results in significant energy savings.
Nonetheless, virtual servers signify more infiltration points for breaches and attacks compared to physical servers. Cyber adversaries often target the hypervisor that manages virtual machines. Exploiting the hypervisor allows threat actors to gain control of a substantial portion of the data center and potentially cause extensive harm, especially through a ransomware assault.
Organizations can diminish virtualization risks by assigning appropriate user privileges for the virtual machines and hypervisor based on each individual’s work responsibilities. Implementing segmentation within virtualized environments restricts cyber malefactors to a fraction of the network and systems, limiting the extent of potential damage. Furthermore, organizations should conduct regular audits to minimize the presence of users with escalated privileges in a domain controller, reducing the risk of lurking attackers.
4. Adoption of Renewable Energy
Transitioning from conventional energy sources like fossil fuels to renewable alternatives such as solar, wind, or hydropower enables data centers to reduce dependence on non-renewable energy and curb greenhouse gas emissions. Utilizing these energy sources, which are often geographically distant from data centers, expands the potential attack surface, consequently heightening the risk. Moreover, each system associated with the new energy source contributes to the overall surface area. Renewable energy systems typically interact with the power grid and the internet, introducing new vulnerability points. Given that these energy systems frequently house copious sensitive data, organizations must proactively address the risk of a data breach and compliance breaches.
5. Embracing Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM)
Green data centers commonly leverage DCIM solutions to oversee and regulate all aspects of the data center infrastructure, encompassing power distribution and cooling systems, from a centralized location. This real-time power consumption monitoring enables organizations to swiftly identify and rectify issues to curtail the ecological impact without waiting for repercussions to materialize.
Due to its integration with other systems, DCIM serves as a potential entry point for attackers seeking access to additional data. The substantial integration renders it feasible for threat actors to infiltrate the DCIM from interconnected systems. Organizations must emphasize robust access controls to ensure that only authorized users gain entry, thereby mitigating the likelihood of data leakage and breaches.
Balancing Sustainability and Security
Through a harmonized strategy prioritizing both sustainability and cybersecurity, organizations can attenuate the environmental footprint of their data centers while mitigating the risks of breaches or attacks.