Photos: How Google protects its datacentres

5 of 9
  • 40154307-1-google-datacentre-build-server.jpg

    Behind the scenes peek inside search giant's datacentre

    Google has opened the doors to one of its datacentres to show how it protects customer data.

    A video released by Google on YouTube shows how it guards its datacentres using a range of security measures - from biometric IDs for staff to the complete destruction of defunct hard drives.

    Google's datacentres handle information relating to everything from a search on Google.com to an e-commerce transaction through Google Checkout.

    The security process starts with the design of Google's servers - with the machines custom-built to Google's specifications and running a specialised, stripped-down version of the Linux OS.

    Google claims that the customised hardware and software limits the vulnerabilities of the machines.

    Photo by: Google/YouTube.com

    Caption by: Nick Heath

  • 40154307-2-google-iris-scan-datacentre.jpg

    Google staff have to go through a series of identity checks to gain access to the datacentre building and different parts of the facility.

    Staff at the datacentres carry identity badges that are made using lenticular printing, which makes them difficult to forge.

    In some of Google's datacentres, staff identity is checked by scanning their irises, as seen here.

    Photo by: Google/YouTube.com

    Caption by: Nick Heath

  • 40154307-3-google-server-datacentre.jpg

    Google takes a variety of steps to protect customer data stored on its datacentre hard drives, a rack of which are seen here.

    Customer data is stored in multiple locations, the files that store the data are given random file names and are not written in clear text, so they are not easily readable by people.

    If there is a fire or any other disruption at the datacentre, customers are able to access their data from another datacentre location.

    Photo by: Google/YouTube.com

    Caption by: Nick Heath

  • 40154307-4-google-datacentre-secure-hard-drives.jpg

    Google tracks the location and status of each hard drive in its datacentres.

    If there is a problem with a hard drive, it's reformatted and retested. If the drive does not pass these tests it's then removed, and the data on the drive is overwritten and verified to make sure it contains no customer data.

    Photo by: Google/YouTube.com

    Caption by: Nick Heath

  • 40154307-5-google-datacentre-hard-drive-crusher.jpg

    Drives that are no longer in use at the datacentre are destroyed in a multistep process to ensure that the data they contained is not recoverable.

    The first step is putting drives into the crusher, where a steel piston is pushed through the drive deforming the drive's platters and making them unreadable.

    Photo by: Google/YouTube.com

    Caption by: Nick Heath

  • 40154307-6-google-datacentre-drive-shredder3.jpg

    The next stage of the destruction process is putting the drives through a shredder that reduces the drives into fragments.

    Photo by: Google/YouTube.com

    Caption by: Nick Heath

  • 40154307-7-google-datacentre-magnetic-tapes.jpg

    Information stored on hard drives inside the datacentres is also backed up on magnetic tapes, such as the banks of tapes seen here.

    Photo by: Google/YouTube.com

    Caption by: Nick Heath

  • 40154307-8-google-datacentre-monitoring-station2.jpg

    Video surveillance allows Google staff to monitor datacentres, with the help of video analytics software that can detect anomalies in the video and tip off security staff.

    Some datacentres also have thermal imaging cameras to identify the heat signature of potential intruders.

    Photo by: Google/YouTube.com

    Caption by: Nick Heath

  • 40154307-9-google-datacentre-power-generator.jpg

    Each datacentre has emergency back-up generators, which are capable of powering the datacentres in the event of a power failure.

    Datacentres are connected to the internet via high-speed fibre optic cable, with multiple redundant connections to provide access to the datacentre in the event of the failure of a single connection.

    Photo by: Google/YouTube.com

    Caption by: Nick Heath

5 of 9

Drives that are no longer in use at the datacentre are destroyed in a multistep process to ensure that the data they contained is not recoverable.

The first step is putting drives into the crusher, where a steel piston is pushed through the drive deforming the drive's platters and making them unreadable.

Caption by: Nick Heath

5 of 9

Related Topics:

Security TV Data Management CXO Data Centers

Related Galleries

    • 1 of 3

  • Apricorn Aegis Secure Key 3NXC

    The new Aegis Secure Key 3NXC builds on Apricorn's Secure Key 3z and Aegis Secure Key 3NX, taking the same proven form-factor and physical keypad, and adding something that users have ...