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In the weeks following the attacks, most data centers redoubled their efforts to secure their facilities, tightening policies
on physical access and employee screening.
"I think everyone, in the aftermath of 9-11, has looked at the security issue on multiple levels," said Art Zeile, CEO of
Inflow Inc., which operates a chain of 14 data centers.
"Anything like (Sept. 11) has you get the dust off your plan," agreed Tom Payne, senior manager of network planning for AFN
Communications.
The attacks also raised the broader question of whether mission-critical facilities should be engineered to withstand the
traditional list of natural disasters, or "super-terrorist" attacks such as the use of passenger jets as flying bombs.
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Ultra-secure data fortresses have captured the public's imagination in recent months, touting extraordinary physical
infrastructure in locations such as mines and former missile silos.
But some data center executives say the quickest path to a stronger telecom infrastructure is for providers to do a better
job defending against known risks, rather than investing heavily to protect against super-terrorist scenarios.
"The chances of another attack affecting your building are very small," said Jon Harris, president of Excalibur Internet.
"But you have to plan for an earthquake."
"Our biggest threat is not physical security," said Zeile. "There was this time when folks were putting Kevlar in the walls
of data centers. The biggest threat to a data center is electronic."
courtesy The Associated Press
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