Datacenter Infrastructure

Security

Security is provided 24 X 7 and includes closed-circuit monitors, secure-card key access, biometric scanners, man traps and alarmed doors. Guards maintain access to the loading dock and security personnel also monitor each center. Building and environmental alarms are monitored locally in each of the centers by a 24 X 7 maintenance staff:

Power

In case of a commercial power failure, multiple standby generators are available to provide power to the center within one minute of a commercial power outage. The one-minute gap is covered by the UPS battery system to ensure no impact on your equipment is experienced. During an extended commercial power outage, the diesel generators provide power using the fuel stored on site. Fuel suppliers are on standby to provide additional service

Fire Suppression

Fire suppression in the centers is achieved through pre-action dry pipe systems and state-of-the-art VESDA (air sampling) smoke detection and alarm systems. VESDA systems are 100 times more sensitive than conventional fire detection systems. Detectors are grouped into different zones. When one or more detectors detect smoke, the fire alarm panel opens the deluge valve to fill the sprinkler piping with water. In case of an actual fire, the seal on the sprinkler heads will melt and discharge water on the affected area. Water will not be discharged in unaffected areas.

 

Industry Leading Reliability

Target availability for the Consort IP backbone is an industry leading 99.99%. This is achieved by making optimal use of the best techniques for security approaches, problem detection and prevention, redundancy, and restoration. The backbone network is designed with no single point of failure in the core architecture..

High Security Features

All nodes within the Consort network are located in secure facilities, which are guarded and manned 24x7 and only accessible to authorized personnel. All nodes are protected by uninterruptible power sources, including both battery backup and emergency diesel generators.

In addition, a robust disaster recovery scheme is tested regularly to ensure that all components work in the event of a power failure. In addition to physical security of the nodes, Consort has taken many steps to secure the network elements within the our IP backbone in order to ensure reliable service. For example, all of the general, non-routing functions in the core routers are disabled. This both enhances the performance of the network and reduces the potential of a hacker using general router capabilities to illicitly access the system. In addition to these security measures, Consort's backbone security is enhanced through the use of IP Source Address Filtering. Consort has installed source address filters on our backbone routers at two places:

1. At all dedicated customer connections to the Consort network
2. At all entrances from the public Internet

At all dedicated retail customer connections, the source address of all inbound packets is examined to make sure it matches the IP address which we expect to find on those packets; if the source address doesn't match, the packets are discarded. This is a key method by which ISPs can enhance the security of their networks since hackers typically try to hijack someone else's IP address in order to hide their identity while they are doing their mischief. Inbound from the public Internet, this same filtering technique is applied to inbound packets; in this case packets are discarded which contain IP addresses from a special "reserved" portion of Consort's Class A address.

Cooling

Chiller plants and multiple CRAC units provide air conditioning. The CRAC units are strategically located to deliver lower temperature conditioned air to maintain a room temperature of 72°F.