Tanks outside aspectra data centre - not to worry
The SKILL GRANDE 2024 military exercise was a powerful demonstration of the importance of realistic simulation. Our engineers gained new insights into complex security strategies put in practice, right outside our own offices.
This week, Switzerland held the large-scale civil-military simulation exercise SKILL GRANDE. The aim of the exercise was to test the response capability and emergency plans at the federal, cantonal and municipal levels. The army and the Zurich cantonal police were involved. Our primary site, Digital Realty's high-security data centre (Campus ZRH), an essential part of Switzerland's critical infrastructure, was also included in the drill.
It is through simulation exercises such as this one that we can gain the greatest insight into how preparation and response interact. In the same way that real-world critical infrastructure protection is about much more than simply protecting against threats, so too is IT security today about much more than simply protecting against threats. It is about running through realistic scenarios, identifying potential vulnerabilities and constantly optimising procedures.
Simulation exercises: A proven approach to IT security
In the information technology sector, targeted security exercises are comparable to these military simulations. As an IT service provider, we are responsible for preparing systems for an emergency - be it a cyber-attack, a system failure or an internal security incident. As with SKILL GRANDE, it is vital that our systems are regularly 'tested'. Only by doing this can we improve our ability to respond and refine our processes.
IT simulation exercises include:
- Penetration tests are conducted to simulate an attack on a system and identify any potential security vulnerabilities.
- Vulnerability scans are a systematic method of identifying weaknesses and security gaps in systems.
- Disaster recovery tests to ensure that data can be recovered quickly in the event of a system failure.
- Incident response exercises are designed to enhance the coordination between technical and organisational measures.
- Awareness testing (and training) are provided to ensure that employees are aware of the dangers of social engineering.
Such measures are essential for both physical and digital security.
Preparation is key
In both military and IT security, only those who are prepared can respond quickly and accurately in an emergency. Ongoing validation of contingency plans, combined with regular exercises, not only increases resilience to threats, but also builds confidence in the security of systems.
Let's use these lessons to make our IT infrastructures more resilient - just as Switzerland demonstrated with its critical national infrastructure during SKILL GRANDE.
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- The Ecosystem of Vulnerability Scanning (aspectra-Blog 15.11.2023)