Security Best Practices for Data Center Selection - Neocloud Asia

Security isn’t optional. Every week brings news of another data breach, another compromised facility. As businesses, we have a responsibility to protect our infrastructure and, by extension, our customers.

At Neocloud, security is foundational to how we evaluate and recommend data centers. This guide shares the practices we follow and recommend when selecting a facility.

Physical Security Done Right

Data center security starts with physical access. Here’s how to evaluate a facility:

Access Control Systems

Minimum requirements should include:

Multi-factor authentication at entry points
Biometric access for sensitive areas
Visitor escort requirements with logged trails
CCTV coverage with adequate retention periods

But don’t go overboard with complexity—it often creates operational friction that leads to workarounds.

Implement Visitor Management

A well-designed facility tracks everyone:

Pre-registration requirements for visitors
Badge printing with time-limited access
Audit logs for all facility entries
Emergency contact verification

At Neocloud, we verify that all listed facilities have documented visitor management policies.

Secure Cage and Rack Security

Individual workloads need their own protections:

Locked cages with unique access credentials
Per-rack locking mechanisms
Remote hands protocols with dual authorization
Video monitoring of sensitive areas

Protecting Your Data

Redundancy and Resilience

Data should be protected through:

Power redundancy: N+1 or 2N systems for continuous operation
Network redundancy: Multiple carriers with diverse fiber paths
Cooling redundancy: N+1 or better for temperature control
Fire suppression: Inergen or FM-200 gas systems

Neocloud’s facility profiles include detailed redundancy specifications.

Geographic Considerations

The best way to protect data is to have appropriate geographic distribution:

Consider regulatory requirements for data residency
Evaluate seismic and flood risk for the location
Check for political stability and natural disaster history
Plan for multi-region strategies for critical workloads

Connectivity Security

Never overlook network security:

Carrier-neutral facilities offer better resilience
Direct cloud connects reduce internet exposure
DDoS protection services available on-site
Private interconnect options with major providers

Facility Security Standards

Certifications to Look For

Look for these industry-standard certifications:

ISO 27001: Information security management
SOC 2 Type II: Security, availability, and confidentiality
PCI DSS: For payment processing environments
HIPAA: For healthcare data
TIA-942: Data center design and operations

Network Resilience Standards

Not every facility meets the same bar:

Assess carrier independence and diversity
Evaluate internet exchange presence
Check for direct cloud connects (AWS, Azure, GCP)
Review DDoS mitigation capabilities

Environmental Controls

Modern facilities include:

Temperature and humidity monitoring
Leak detection systems
Fire suppression with early warning
Seismic bracing where applicable

Security Verification at Neocloud

We take security seriously in how we evaluate facilities:

Credential verification: All certifications are validated before listing
Site assessment standards: We verify physical security claims
Community feedback: Users report security concerns and incidents
Regular updates: Information is refreshed to maintain accuracy

Every facility on Neocloud benefits from our security verification process.

Getting Started

Security can feel overwhelming, but start somewhere:

Define your minimum security requirements today
Filter data centers by certifications this week
Review connectivity security options this month

Small improvements compound over time.

Questions about security? Our team is happy to help—reach out at [email protected].