KVM over IP and Enterprise Security: Safeguarding Access to Your Critical IT Infrastructure

KVM over IP:

Because security threats come in so many forms - and because it's never wise to rely on a single point-of-protection when guarding against these threats - effective information security requires a multi-layered approach. Physical, logical and operational security are therefore all essential ingredients for a successful enterprise security strategy.

KVM over IP switching solutions provide secure remote data center management, but they also should integrate with the existing security infrastructure. KVM over IP switching systems with virtual media capability uniquely enable security managers to control physical access to critical data center resources - as well as power systems, environmental controls, security devices, branch office servers and other distributed IT assets. KVM over IP switching eliminates unnecessary trips into the data center and ensures that only authorized personnel can perform critical management operations on servers or network devices.

The KVM platform that any enterprise chooses to implement must itself be extremely secure. It must offer appropriate protection from exploits launched from outside the enterprise. It must have effective controls to prevent unauthorized access by internal users. And it must safeguard critical systems from the dangers that can result from human error.

The Avocent KVM platform featuring virtual media is especially well suited for Sarbanes-Oxley financial and accounting disclosure policies. The DS Series KVM over IP switching systems provide field-proven security features and benefits to ensure that KVM functions themselves are not maliciously or inadvertently used to compromise critical enterprise assets. These benefits include standards-based authentication, multiple encryption modes for remote sessions, exit macros, remote boot with virtual media, and the comprehensive event-reporting capabilities that security managers need to properly audit the end-to-end IT environment. In addition to remote boot capability, virtual media gives administrators the ability to remotely perform file transfers, application and OS patches, and diagnostic testing from a CD - enhancing physical security of data centers.

When considering the benefits a KVM over IP system offers, a company needs to consider the KVM security architecture to ensure integrity of its critical IT resources. Avocent is the only KVM platform with hub and spoke architecture that provides redundant authentication servers, load sharing, and disaster recovery options. This architecture delivers powerful technology for achieving security, while simultaneously generating significant ROI as a result of performance and productivity gains. This unique combination of optimized security and streamlined IT access and control makes Avocent KVM over IP switching a must-have for todays security-conscious IT-centric organization.

The critical role of multi-layered KVM Over IP switching in enterprise security

IT organizations face a growing number of cyber-security threats. These threats continue to evolve in their maliciousness and sophistication. They also represent a greater business risk than ever before, since productivity, revenue and customer relationships depend more than ever on the health and availability of critical IT services.

Fortunately, multi layered KVM over IP switching enterprise defenses are also evolving. New technologies and best practices are helping IT better protect critical services. By implementing the right combination of technologies and practices, IT organizations can effectively minimize risk without putting undue strain on their finite financial and human resources.

One particularly important component of any enterprise defense strategy is the implementation of a layered security model for KVM over IP. Under a layered model, security tools and techniques are applied across multiple tiers of the enterprise architecture. While the specific structure of these models may vary, they generally segment the enterprise architecture into some combination of perimeter, network, host, data and/or application tiers.

There are several reasons that a  KVM over IP layered security model is compelling. First, it prevents critical business assets from being put at risk because of the failure of any single security measure. Second, it creates additional work for potential intruders - thereby increasing the likelihood that they will move on in search of easier targets. T