Moving servers from an office or private server room to a professional data center can significantly improve infrastructure protection.

However, security involves more than cameras, guards, and controlled physical access. What matters is how the data center protects the equipment, restricts unauthorized access, and mitigates network threats, as well as where the line is drawn between the provider's and the customer's responsibilities. It is the combination of these measures that determines how secure a colocation service is.

How Does Colocation Improve the Physical Security of Servers?

One of the main advantages of colocation is that the physical protection of the equipment is integrated into the data center's infrastructure and day-to-day operations. This includes restricting and tracking access to server areas, continuous monitoring, and controlling the conditions in which the equipment operates.

For businesses, this means they do not have to build and maintain the same measures around their own servers. The provider takes responsibility for protecting and managing the physical environment, while the customer retains control over its equipment and systems.

Example: If a company keeps its servers in its own facility, it must control who has access to them, provide video surveillance, and maintain suitable operating conditions for the equipment. With colocation, these measures are already part of the data center's infrastructure and procedures. The company retains control over its servers without having to build and maintain the physical environment around them itself.

However, this protection does not automatically extend to the operating system, applications, and data. Their security remains separate from the data center's physical measures.

How Is Physical Access to Servers Restricted?

Physical access within a data center is typically controlled at several levels. Separate authorization may be required to enter the building, access server areas, and reach a specific customer's cabinet or designated space. Access can also be logged so that, when necessary, it is possible to verify who accessed a particular area and when.

Controlled procedures also apply when physical work on the equipment is required. Through Remote Hands services, for example, authorized technicians can install or replace components, restart equipment, or perform initial diagnostics on the customer's behalf. Such work is typically requested in advance and carried out in accordance with the data center's procedures.

Physical access is therefore about more than simply controlling who can enter the server room. What matters is who is authorized to reach specific equipment, for what purpose, and whether the actions performed can be traced.

What Network Protection Can Colocation Provide?

Placing a server in a data center does not eliminate the risk of internet-based attacks. However, a colocation provider may offer additional protection through traffic monitoring and filtering, firewalls, and DDoS protection. Private or isolated network connections can also be used for systems that should not be directly accessible from the public internet.

However, these measures are not necessarily included with every colocation service. Some may be available as additional or managed services. At the same time, the customer typically remains responsible for configuring and securing its own systems.

When choosing a colocation provider, it is therefore important to check not only what network protection is available, but also which measures are included in the service and which must be handled by the customer.

Which Security Risks Remain the Customer's Responsibility?

Even a well-protected data center cannot prevent problems caused by the way a customer manages its own systems. A server can be compromised remotely without anyone gaining physical access to the equipment.

Some of the most common risks include:

• Unpatched systems: Missed updates can leave known vulnerabilities in the operating system and applications.
• Compromised credentials: Stolen passwords, leaked keys, or poorly protected administrator accounts can provide access to the system.
• Misconfigurations: Open ports, unnecessary services, and overly permissive firewall rules increase the risk of attack.
• Excessive privileges: Users and applications with more permissions than necessary can increase the impact of a security breach.
• Malware and ransomware: They can disrupt systems or compromise data regardless of the physical protection in place.
• Inadequate backups: Missing or untested backups can make recovery more difficult after an attack, hardware failure, or accidental deletion.
• Human error: Incorrect settings or maintenance mistakes can compromise an otherwise well-protected system.

Physical data center security and the security of the systems themselves address different risks. Colocation can protect the environment around the server, but it does not replace good security and system management practices on the customer's side.

How Is Security Responsibility Divided?

With colocation, security responsibility is shared between the provider and the customer. The provider is primarily responsible for the physical environment and data center infrastructure, while the customer is responsible for its servers, systems, and data. The exact boundary depends on the services included and the terms of the agreement.

If needed, Delta.BG offers an additional management and administration service, with a team of system administrators and DevOps engineers looking after the servers and collocated equipment 24/7.

Before deploying equipment, it is therefore important to clarify which security measures are included in the colocation service and which remain the customer's responsibility. An unclear boundary between the two parties can create gaps in protection.

What Should You Check When Choosing a Colocation Facility?

Do not rely solely on general claims such as "enterprise-grade" or "high security." Check what specific measures the provider has in place and how they are controlled and documented.

Use the following checklist:

• Physical access: Who is allowed to enter the data center, and how is access to server areas controlled?
• Access logs and video surveillance: Is there a record of who accessed specific areas and when?
• Equipment protection: Are separate lockable cabinets or designated areas available for customer equipment?
• Remote Hands: How is a technician's physical work requested, authorized, and tracked?
• Network protection: Are firewalls, traffic filtering and monitoring, or DDoS protection available?
• Incident response: Is there a clear procedure for detecting, handling, and communicating security incidents?
• Policies and procedures: Can the provider supply documentation explaining how security is managed?
• Independent assessments: Are there current certifications or independent assessments confirming that the relevant controls are in place?

The goal is to get specific answers rather than simply a promise of "high security." The more clearly a provider can demonstrate how these measures work in practice, the easier it is to determine whether the service meets your business requirements.

What Do Security Certifications Tell You?

Certifications and independent assessments provide information about how a provider manages security and implements specific controls. When evaluating a colocation facility, however, it is important to check not only whether a certification exists, but also exactly what it covers.

ISO/IEC 27001

ISO/IEC 27001 defines the requirements for an information security management system (ISMS). Certification indicates that the organization follows a structured approach to identifying, managing, and reducing information security risks.

SOC 2

SOC 2 evaluates controls against specific criteria related to security and, depending on the scope, availability, confidentiality, processing integrity, and privacy. It is therefore important to check which services and systems are actually included in the specific report.

PCI DSS

PCI DSS applies to organizations that store, process, or transmit payment card data, as well as to certain service providers whose services may impact the security of the environment where such data is processed. A service provider's compliance can assist a client in meeting their own requirements, but it does not automatically mean that the client's systems also comply with the standard.

When reviewing a certification or independent assessment, pay attention to the scope, the data centers and services included, and how current the assessment is. A certification provides evidence of specific processes and controls, not a guarantee of the security of the customer's systems.

Conclusion

Colocation is a suitable choice for companies that want to retain control over their own server hardware without having to build and maintain the surrounding infrastructure themselves. This allows resources to focus on managing systems and applications, while the data center maintains the environment in which the hardware operates.

At Delta.BG, we provide colocation services in an Equinix Tier 3+ data center in Sofia, with controlled physical access, video surveillance, redundant power and cooling, and connectivity through three independent internet providers. We also offer optional 24/7 administration and technical support for colocated equipment. As an additional service, clients can also request 24/7 system administration and technical support for the deployed equipment.

If you are planning to move your existing servers to a professional data center, we can help. Contact us at support@delta.bg or +359 2 4 288 288 to discuss your infrastructure with our team.