The physical safety of the computing systems

In this file, we will define what is physical safety (contrary to safety software like the antiviruses or the fire walls for example). We also will approach the means of prevention and protection as well as various specificities of a computer room.

The councils which we will provide you are for the majority usable for all data-processing installations. However, some of these councils can apply only to great data-processing centers.

Among the damage which your installations could undergo, one can find:

- damage of water.
- damage of fire.
- failure of the system of air-conditioning.
- problems of electricity.
- damage caused by a third.
- electrostatic problems…

Definition of physical safety.

The term “safety physical” indicates the fact of protecting its data-processing installation in order to be able to benefit from it more the possible for a long time, and this, in an optimal way.

Various types of computer rooms.

This paragraph is mainly centered on the various computer rooms which one finds in company.
The installation of computer rooms is done according to several criteria such as: operating process of the products, their noise and their nature, etc

Here two examples of computer room:

- to type “center Went back”: room in which one places all the elements (waiters, calculators, techniques of safeguard and restoration of data, etc) necessary to the operation of data processing. In the majority of SME, one also places there the elements necessary so that the company can communicate with outside, i.e. the telephone and Internet.

On the other hand, on the level of the large companies, these elements are placed in different rooms which are especially dedicated to only one application, thus in the large companies it is not rare to find, of the rooms network, the rooms telephony and even of the rooms connector industries.

- of type “connector industry of stage”: these rooms placed in the stages are used to connect all data-processing equipment of a stage to the general data-processing matrix. With this intention, they contain patch panels as well as switches of stages.

Means of prevention and protection against the incidents.

First of all, it is necessary to separate the means from prevention and the means of protection. Indeed, the purpose of the prevention is to avoid the incidents whereas protection has as an aim of protection when the incident already occurred. However at more you will set up means of prevention, at least you will need to use means of protection.

Despite everything, we ardently advise you to set up these two types of means so protecting to the maximum your installations.
In the continuation of this file, we will draw up a nonexhaustive list of the incidents which you can meet, their effects on your installation like their means of prevention and protection.

Damage of water: can be due to a rupture of the drains, an infiltration of water in the walls or in the roof, system sets fire to which starts, or by the obstruction of waste water…
- Consequences: short-circuit which can involve the destruction of your installation, electrocutions, deterioration of the material used, degradation of the cables…

- Means of preventions: choose well the site of your computer room by avoiding the basement and the last stage (risks of floods), not of water circulation in the room (to install air-conditioning elsewhere), not to make pass from pipes containing of water above the computer room…

- Means of protection: systems of leak detection, to use hermetic matters for the electric cables, put your material in height…

Damage related to fire: can be of criminal origin or accidental.
- Consequences: destruction total or partial of the computer room as well as cables, degradation of the computer material, pollution related to smoke…

- Means of preventions: not to store flammable products, to supervise and inspect electrical installations in a regular way, installation of smoke detector, avoid the multiplication of multi-grip, installation of hopper and fire-resistant walls…

- Means of protection: installation of extinguishing systems of fire while preserving the health of your computer material and that of your personnel, to respect prohibition to smoke, use of cupboards fireproofed for your computer material, to choose the emergency exits well…

Damage related to air-conditioning: can be due to the ray of the sun, a dysfunction of the water arrival or system of refrigeration…
- Consequences: early degradation of your data-processing elements and the spare batteries, regular restarting of your installations…

- Means of preventions: installation of a system which protects the system from air-conditioning of the rays of the sun, installation of a control system of temperature….

- Means of protection: installation of a system authorizing the opening of the room where necessary, to create a system of survival in which the nonvital elements for your installation will be cut…

Damage related to electricity: can be due to an overpressure, a fall of tension, power cuts…
- Consequences: Set fire to, electrocution, destruction of data and files, broken down materials…

- Means of prevention: use of lightning conductors, avoid the multi-grip blocks, to recommend a double food for the vital elements of your system, to use an adequate electrical installation with your needs…

- Means of protection: envisage a generator in the event of general breakdown, in the rooms or you cannot use back-up system and well use systems UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)…

Damage related to electrostatics: can be due to conditions particular weather, a radio signal, with the use of electric objects near your installations…
- Consequences: bad walk of your installation, loss of the data stored on your discs…

- Means of preventions: not to install your information installation close to other electric objects, connect to the ground all your material, insulate your room well…

- Means of protection: wearing of bracelets of earthing when you intervene on computer material…

Damage related to a physical intervention: can be due to an attempt at hacking, flight of material…
- Consequences: loss of data, risk to see revealed confidential classified information, default risk of all your computing system, wasting of time to try to regulate all these problems…

- Means of preventions: installation of a control system for the accesses to the buildings, to identify all the people who are in contact with the computer room, to limit the number of door and windows, installation of a security service 24/24…

- Means of protection: place theft protection devices on all your computer material, installation of a video monitoring system, take care that the offices of your employees remain clean so as to avoid the flights…

Damage related to the communications: can be due to a hacking, a bad signal, a breakdown of the supplier or telephone, breakdown of your material…
- Consequences: certain software does not function any more, you cannot communicate any more with outside, breakdown of certain monitoring systems…

- Means of preventions: ensure a good protection the rooms especially dedicated to the communication, use catches lightning protectors as well as a lightning conductor…

- Means of protection: thus multiply the number of suppliers of communications when one of sudden a failure and well you can fold back yourselves on another, installation of connections of help…

Damage related to impossibility of reaching the computer room: can be due to a natural event, an attack, demonstrations, riots, following a legal decision…
- Consequences: your computer room ceases functioning, degradation of all your equipment…

- Means of prevention: try to place your installations at places which are not likely to undergo natural disasters…

- Means of protection: installation of a system allowing to take the control of your remote system, select a place to repatriate your installations in the event of problem.