Security is coming up more recently in the light of high profile data thefts and new threats to your private information. According to many experts cloud computing increases data center risk, as both cloud and virtualization create new vulnerabilities.

Risks comes in both cyber and physical forms, with attacks increasing as more business is conducted via networks, data centers and end-user devices. So the question that comes up in the board room, “how little can we get away with…” needs to really be, “what can we do to ensure the flexibility to grow and expand yet keep our vital data secure?”

Many are banking on simply going to the cloud. For many industries security concerns make them reluctant to trust their data to a public cloud. Most older data centers, whether they are company owned or a co-location arrangement, were not built to meet the far tougher standards for both security and uptime. They also were built when their purpose was less critical and not designed to meet today’s computing needs.

So what do you do?

The first advice that you will hear from experts is “don’t cut any corners”. Even with the cloud the two key pieces in a solid strategy is excellent network connectivity and purpose built facilities constructed to meet the stringent standards needed for maximum security and uptime.

When we think about physical threats to the data center our minds naturally go to the dramatic natural disaster: earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, extreme weather, and tidal waves. Data centers should be located as far away from active disaster threats as possible.

But what about physical intrusion? Does it happen? London has experienced more than its share: burglars broke into a Verizon data center, tied up employees and stole equipment. A year earlier another burglary occurred at a Level 3 co-location center. Just a couple of examples out of many. Don’t leave your data center wide open to unwanted visitors or careless staff.

For tech companies seeking to build clouds or deploy application driven services, choose something built with at least these basic guiding principles. You need not only the “best of the best” data center security and strict carrier neutrality (don’t get tied to one carrier), but also systems that provide maximum protection against unplanned power outages and is located in an area with a very low risk of exposure to disasters.

So the question is, are you worried and is it time to consider new options?

Only you know that answer but I suggest you heed the warning – don’t short change your data center, it’s now more critical to your success than ever.