Equinix’s Security is Big Part of Marketing Package

Equinix is the leading global provider of network-neutral data centres and Internet exchange services for enterprises, content companies, systems integrators and network services providers. Equinix Internet Business Exchange™ (IBX®) centers serve as core hubs for critical IP networks and Internet operations worldwide. With direct access to more than 200 networks, including all of the top global Tier 1 networks, Equinix's network-neutral IBX centres and services overcome the limitations of existing data centre, network and Internet operations through direct interconnection to the largest aggregation of networks for unmatched service diversity, flexibility and reliability.

At Equinix, customers can directly access the providers that serve over 90 percent of the world’s Internet networks and users. No single network provider can reliably support the mission-critical requirements of important content and enterprise customers. Companies like IBM, Google, Sony Online, General Electric, Electronic Arts, Primedia/About.com, Hotwire, Yahoo!, and Microsoft have all selected Equinix as their outsourced IT infrastructure partner.

With an impressive customer list like that, it’s no wonder Equinix takes its business and security very seriously. Server downtime is not an option, and Equinix reduces that risk with a Symmetry Professional Security Management System complete with Symmetry Video Management and Symmetry ENVS^® (Edge Network Video Server) by G4Tec.

From the moment a customer enters the building, security is paramount. Equinix provides a totally secure package to its customers- right down to the building’s environment.

Security begins outside. No signage identifies the company. Why attract hackers or problems by identifying that you house some of the most high traffic servers in the world? Company credentials do not contain the company name or logo either.

A mantrap at the front door allows one door to open at a time to eliminate people from entering without authorisation. Access is verified before a person can enter. Customers witness first hand Equinix’s intense security measures, and they aren’t even inside the building yet.

Once inside, a customer presents a ticket to a security guard who authorises a biometric hand scan. Hand scans allow customers onto the main floor where the servers are kept.

A power feed from the public utility runs directly into the Equinix power system. The power runs through uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) housed in special rooms in order to eliminate spikes or glitches, and then directly to their customer’s servers. Generators provide an emergency power supply to the UPS system.

Equinix has the capacity to support themselves if they go offline. Several diesel generators provide power in the event of an emergency.

Each server is housed in a wire mesh cage. All cables are neatly bound and stored in trays, keeping the floor orderly. The hand scan confirms the customer is at the correct server. The hand scan opens the wire mesh cage, and cameras record all activity.

The 85,000 square foot room is dark, with blue floor lights tracking the way to a customer’s server. This prevents competitors from seeing other servers, and provides customer’s privacy.

One integrated security system allows the security guard to monitor the entire building at once.

Equinix chose the Symmetry Security Management System because it had integration capabilities and ease of being able to monitor the activities of a customer. Cameras view the customer’s past and present activity; access control tracks where they have been.

Each of Equinix’s three Los Angeles, California, USA sites utilises the Symmetry Professional access control system. One Los Angeles site and the San Jose site installed the Video Management with ENVS. Their newest site in Virginia, currently under construction, will also be protected by the G4Tec Symmetry Professional system and the Symmetry Video Management with Symmetry ENVS.

Employee’s hands are scanned if they are maintaining the servers, and card access is used throughout the facilities. Mechanical rooms require a card and pin code for additional security.

Each site has its own security and is not connected via a LAN or WAN. Equinix refuses to give the outside world the opportunity to hack into their security system. Equinix believes security should be in their building and nowhere else, therefore a separate network manages security.

Auditing

Maintaining an impeccable audit tracking system provides customers peace of mind. Customers may request an audit report of who visited their cage at any time. If a cage is opened for any reason, the security staff must be knowledgeable to track why it was opened. Good video recording provides a visual record of who visited, and that becomes part of the audit report. Servers are constantly in operation, and a tenant may not visit his server for a few months – therefore Equinix maintains reports of who went into the cages. Video audit information is held for 30 days before it is deleted.

Only Equinix employees and clients have access to servers. If a server fails, the client looks to Equinix for answers. Having a good audit trail and video saves Equinix money. It’s Equinix’s word versus the clients – so if something happens, the audit trail becomes priceless.

Video

The security staff takes advantage of the virtual matrix in the Symmetry Video Management software. Security guards can view cameras by priority or preference, choosing which camera to show the largest on screen. If they need to view up to 36 cameras at the same size, they can choose that option as well. Security guards can view live, recorded or archived images simultaneously for optimal performance and flexibility. Equinix security administrators can record at their command to not miss an event.

G4Tec’s Symmetry Video saves Equinix space. Space was needed to accommodate the four or five racks for multiple DVRs. The same room that housed multiple DVRs now houses one server with a hard drive, and only one rack for video.

The Symmetry ENVS fits in small spaces in the field, eliminating the need for a separate cage for equipment. This allows Equinix to put more server cages on their floor, thus increasing business. The Symmetry ENVS eliminates pulling coax to one location so it saves money and labour of pulling it back to one central location. They have multiple spaces in the colocation area which saves them money. Rather than pulling 200 feet of cable, they pull 20 feet, providing a cost saving way of doing security.

The system is simple and less expensive than systems located in other premises.

“The new Symmetry system is all rolled into one system, and there is no tape recorder,” said Equinix, Director of Operation for Los Angeles, Duane Mackenzie. “The downtown LA location had six racks full of equipment compared to less than a half a rack with the Symmetry ENVS system. It eliminated many costs because it’s all rolled into one system. Our coax runs are short too, which makes troubleshooting easier.”

The security staff can control its cameras from the Symmetry Video Management software, eliminating the need for a separate camera keyboard to move cameras around.

Currently, Equinix utilises analogue cameras, but plans to upgrade to IP cameras in the near future. Symmetry Video provides a migration path allowing Equinix to migrate at their own pace – so whether they install one camera at a time or retrofit all cameras at once – Symmetry Video supports the migration.

Symmetry Video’s unique store and forward capability allows the security staff to store camera recordings on the edge of the network and forward to their server at their convenience. This frees up bandwidth during the day when clients are visiting, and bandwidth is utilised for access control, internet and other purposes.

Duane especially appreciates the Symmetry Video Management software’s advanced video analytics. Equinix is able to identify specific behaviours and program them into the software. The Symmetry Video Management software sounds an alarm whenever that behaviour occurs, notifying security staff of a potential threat. The advanced motion detection feature allows them to watch for items being moved or removed from each cage, the loading docks and storage areas. The security staff proactively responds saving precious moments, money and time spent later going through video.

The staff is happy with the Symmetry system because it’s a lot easier to use. The Symmetry system is more user friendly and straight forward if you need to add anything.

Mackenzie says, “We are pleased to have saved 1/3 the cost with the Symmetry Security Management System with Symmetry Video/ENVS and are happy with its ease of use.”