Intelligent Data Centres Issue 51 | Page 62

THE RAMIFICATIONS OF A CYBERSECURITY BREACH OF DATA CENTRE PROVIDERS CAN RIPPLE THROUGH MAJOR CLOUD SERVICE PROVIDERS AND CUSTOMERS THAT LEVERAGE THEIR ENVIRONMENTS .
Ian Lim , Field Chief Security Officer , Asia Pacific , Palo Alto Networks , explores the possible repercussions of cybersecurity incidents on data centre players in the APAC region , given the increasing importance of data centres for storing and analysing large volumes of data . He discusses the security posture of data centre operators in Asia and the possible ways in which they can protect themselves from cyberattacks .

wWhat are the possible repercussions of cybersecurity incidents on data centre players in the region ?

The APAC region could generate 6,000 terabytes of data per second by 2025 as per a recent report . Developing digital infrastructure like data centres will remain critical to storing , processing and analysing large volumes of data for customer insights that will enhance business value .
Data centre players are also leveraging recent innovations like IoT and automation to increase their efficiencies . They are also catering to savvy customers that want access from anywhere , at any time and from any device . While these innovations offer competitive advantages , they also create a larger attack surface , which can translate into increased complexity in cybersecurity .
Data centres store a treasure trove of personal , confidential and financial information about their customers , stakeholders and employers . Criminals can exploit such information , costing businesses millions of dollars to investigate and remediate . It ’ s important to remember that data centres are valuable targets for cybercriminals and nation-state-backed hackers . In many cases , the attacks aim to steal or even destroy data .
The ramifications of a cybersecurity breach of data centre providers can ripple through major cloud service providers and customers that leverage their environments . It could interfere with Critical Information Infrastructure that ultimately impacts the very fabric of our digital society .
How would you describe the security posture of data centre operators in Asia ?
Cloud platforms and the data centres that host them are built with reliability , security and redundancy by design . However , despite our best efforts , cybersecurity incidents are still unavoidable and this is the same scenario we continue to witness in Asia .
Security standards vary based on the type of data centre your business is built upon . If your business subscribes to a third-party cloud service provider

THE RAMIFICATIONS OF A CYBERSECURITY BREACH OF DATA CENTRE PROVIDERS CAN RIPPLE THROUGH MAJOR CLOUD SERVICE PROVIDERS AND CUSTOMERS THAT LEVERAGE THEIR ENVIRONMENTS .

APAC data centre operators face increasing number of cybersecurity threats

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