The Formula for Data Security
Data centers across United States implement integrated security solution for protection of customer assets
- By Ellie Randall
- Dec 01, 2017
Involta, LLC is an award-winning national provider of IT intelligence,
end-to-end infrastructure, managed services and colocation
through their enterprise-class, multi-tenant data centers.
The company offers a lineup of scalable, reliable, best-in-class
services to meet the growing demands of businesses, including
24/7/365 network operations center solutions and managed technical
and cloud services, including their Involta PULSE PlatformSM and
Involta CompliantCloudSM services platform.
Founded in 2007, Involta has data centers spread across in Arizona,
Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The company
serves a multitude of clients in healthcare, technology, manufacturing,
government and various other industries where IT is missioncritical,
including numerous Fortune 500 companies.
Strict Requirements for Security
Involta facilities are built in secure, climate-controlled structures and
are located in geographic safe zones. Additionally, their centers have
no exterior signage and all staff are trained to follow stringent security
procedures for client confidentiality purposes. While these measures
play a key role in day-to-day security operations, another crucial
aspect to be considered is their physical and electronic security.
Because Involta houses an organization’s most critical equipment
and disseminates highly sensitive data, their facilities required
a layered approach to their security solution—including access control,
video surveillance, wireless locks and more—to ensure access is
granted only to the appropriate person.
“There are several requirements our access control system and
overall security solution must be able to meet,” said Thomas Lang,
Involta data center manager for the Ohio region. “We refuse to compromise
security or performance when it comes to our customers’
data and IT infrastructure.”
Open Platform Access Control
and Integrations Fit Bill
Open Options’ DNA Fusion platform was able to meet these requirements
and then some.
“We implemented Open Options’ DNA Fusion in our corporate
headquarters back in 2007,” Lang said. “And it has since become the
standard in access control technology for Involta.”
DNA Fusion is installed at 11 sites in Idaho, Arizona, Iowa, Ohio,
Pennsylvania and Minnesota, and currently has 14 authorized operators.
Authentic Mercury hardware panels and other equipment are
installed in the head end room of the centers, which is only accessible
by authorized Involta staff.
Lang cited the scalability of the software, user-friendly feature set,
and ease of use as some of the standout characteristics of DNA Fusion.
Another feature that was non-negotiable when selecting their access
control provider was the ability of the system to integrate with
other technologies. DNA Fusion connects with a host of other systems
including video management, intelligent locks, critical communications
and more, and has two decades of access control innovation
and development to the Authentic Mercury open hardware platform
to provide a true open architecture access control solution.
Mercury Security has more than 20 OEM partners, the most extensive
feature set available, and the world’s largest install base with
more than 3 million controllers. Multiple manufacturers support this
hardware platform, which allows the end user a valuable choice in
software. Because of Open Options’ commitment to open architecture
and their numerous third-party technology integrations, Mercury
Security named Open Options one of the company’s first Platinum
Elite partners in 2014.
Alongside Open Options, Involta works with a number of their
technology partners for a customized integrated solution. Some of
these include ASSA ABLOY’s HES KS100 server cabinet lock with
Aperio technology to secure their cabinets and HID multiCLASS
card readers to support a variety of proximity cards. The company
has also installed Samsung and Axis cameras for video surveillance
in both the interior and exterior of the properties, and uses Milestone
XProtect software for their video management needs.
Furthermore, Involta deploys two-factor authentication at high
security entrances with Iris ID iCAM7 series biometric readers, and
powers various components of their solution, including electromagnetic
locks and PTZ cameras, with Altronix products.
Intuitive Feature Set Provides
Well-rounded Solution
In addition to its impressive portfolio of integration partners, DNA
Fusion also houses a number of user-friendly features within the
software, including drag and drop capabilities, the option for custom
toolbars, and instantaneous reporting.
“DNA Fusion is intuitive and has a wide array of features that
prove to be very valuable in our operation,” Lang said. “Time schedules
and access levels are two features in particular we use in our daily
operations to streamline access for our nearly 200 employees. We appreciate
DNA Fusion’s ability to recognize assigned authority and
schedules to make sure proper access is being observed.”
A recent improvement to Involta’s security solution at the Akron
data center is the addition of Open Options’ mantrap controller.
Lang worked with their integrator company to make sure the
implementation and execution went smoothly. The mantrap feature
is unique to a designated area containing two or more doors that the
customer wants to strictly control access to. During the operation of
a mantrap, when a single door is open, no other doors will open until
the initial open door closes.
In order to manage their security remotely, Involta uses DNA
Fusion’s web application, Fusion Web. This allows operators to take
advantage of the critical features of DNA Fusion—such as managing,
addressing alarms and events, and controlling doors—from any
supported web browser. Because Involta logs and retains access and
events for auditing purposes, their employees find DNA Fusion’s
ability to run custom reports extremely helpful.
“The software and supporting products, coupled with Open Options’
customer service and support, have proven time and time again
they are the best choice for our access control needs,” said Lang. “We
look forward to implementing DNA Fusion in our new facilities as
we continue to grow.”
Involta has opened two new data center locations
in 2017 alone—one in Cleveland, Ohio
and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—and continues to
look at underserved markets for future expansion
opportunities.
This article originally appeared in the December 2017 issue of Security Today.