Access Control Systems in Data Centers: Choosing The Right System For Optimal Security

Access control is one of the most basic and essential security measures used in data centers. It is underpinned by effective user authentication measures. Choosing the right combination of access control and authentication measures is key to effective data center security. Here is a quick guide to what you need to know.

The basics of access control systems

Access control systems are designed to regulate access to resources, including physical spaces. In some cases, access is “all or nothing”. In most cases, however, access can be graded.

For example, in the physical world, being allowed through the entrance of a facility does not guarantee that a person will be able to access all the areas within it. In the digital world, being able to read data does not guarantee that a person will be able to edit it or have administrative privileges over it.

Types of access control

There are five main types of access control commonly used in data centers (and elsewhere). Here is an overview of them.

Role-based access control (RBAC): Assigns access rights based on user roles within an organization. It simplifies management by grouping permissions under roles, ensuring consistent access controls aligned with job functions.

Rule-based access control (RuBAC): Access permissions are granted or denied to users based on specific rules set by the system administrators. These rules are often based on conditions such as time of day, user location, or the type of resource being accessed.

Discretionary access control (DAC): Allows the resource owner to decide who can access specific resources. It offers flexibility but can be less secure due to the potential for unauthorized changes.

Attribute-based access control (ABAC): Uses attributes (e.g., user characteristics, resource type) to make access decisions. This dynamic approach provides fine-grained control, adapting to complex environments.

Mandatory access control (MAC): Enforces access policies based on predefined security labels, where users cannot alter permissions. This system is highly secure and typically used in military or government settings.

Types of authentication measures

Authentication systems are designed to verify the identity of individuals attempting to access a system or resource, ensuring that only authorized users can gain entry. These systems are a critical component of access control, as they provide the first line of defense against unauthorized access. By confirming user identities, authentication systems help maintain the integrity, confidentiality, and security of sensitive information and resources.

Physical authentication measures

In the physical world, the main forms of authentication are keycards and biometrics.

Keycard access control systems: These systems use physical cards embedded with magnetic strips, RFID chips, or other technologies to grant access. When a user swipes or taps their card against a reader, the system verifies the card’s credentials against a database. Keycard systems are straightforward to use and manage, but they can be vulnerable to loss, theft, or duplication of cards.

Biometric access control systems: These systems use unique biological characteristics—such as fingerprints, facial features, or iris patterns—for authentication. Biometric systems offer a high level of security as these traits are difficult to replicate or steal. However, they require more sophisticated technology and can raise privacy concerns among users.

Digital authentication measures

Keycards and biometrics can be used to manage access to digital resources. There are, however, also two other options that are not (currently) practical in the physical world. These are passwords and tokens.

Password-based access control: This traditional method involves users entering a password to gain access. While easy to implement, passwords can be weak and prone to being guessed or stolen, making them less secure compared to other methods.

Token-based access control systems: These systems use physical tokens, often generating one-time passcodes that users enter alongside other credentials. Tokens provide an additional security layer, especially when combined with passwords.

The importance of multifactor authentication

Up until fairly recently, businesses would aim to choose the most suitable method of authentication for their needs. For example, they would choose between keycards and biometrics. Now, however, multifactor authentication is becoming standard even in the physical world.

Multifactor authentication is simply the process of requiring a user to authenticate themselves in at least two ways before they can gain access to a resource. In the digital world, this is typically something a user has (e.g. a token) and something they know (e.g. a password).

This approach can also be used in the physical world (e.g. a keycard and a PIN). Alternatively, users can authenticate themselves using two credentials they have (e.g. a keycard and biometrics). It is unusual for users to be authenticated on two credentials that they know (e.g. a password and a PIN) as this is too vulnerable to compromise.