Screening Contractors for Data Centers

Companies that maintain or use any volume of data are aware of the steps they need to take to remain secure and avoid the threat of data breaches. Most of the security measures to protect data focus on remote threats like social engineering, phishing, and ransomware, leaving organizations vulnerable to physical onsite threats that often go overlooked. 

It only takes a few seconds for someone to misuse sensitive information. Screening any contractor who works on-site is important to help safeguard your facility—but this is especially true if they have access to sensitive data. A living list of credentialed vendors can be a game-changer to your already busy schedule and a long to-do list.  Let’s talk about setting up boundaries for contracted work at your data center that are actually maintainable. 

Protecting data centers from internal theft 

Data centers are the digital data equivalent of a bank safe, holding valuable information that all the wrong people would probably love to get their hands on. Regular training sessions and physical safety measures like badge scanning can help prevent issues and restrict access as needed. Reviewing your access tools and technology regularly can help you keep a closer eye on your facility, but technology and proper protocol aren’t a one-stop solution.  

There are additional ways to help set up safety barriers that may be easier to implement than you think. The stakes are high when it comes to protecting sensitive data, so data center contractors should be screened to the same high-quality standards as full-time employees, regardless of how long they are on site.  For more extended contracts, adding continuous criminal monitoring can add an extra layer of protection to maintain safety by detecting any changes in behavior and allowing you to address any issues that arise as soon as possible. Matching background check requirements to what’s expected from full-time employees can help filter out contractors with a relevant criminal past. Making sure contractors have been screened to your standards can help you avoid being a victim of repeat offenders, but intentional theft isn’t the only reason why verifying a vendor you are working with is important.  

Maintaining vendor certifications and credentials

Data centers often need to comply with specific security standards, such as PCI DSS or ISO 27001, so anyone who steps on-site should have the proper knowledge and training to comply, just like your full-time team. While other considerations, such as an up-to-date Certificate of Insurance (more on this below), are an important layer of protection for your data center to safeguard against mishaps, it’s important to do what you can to team up with knowledgeable and reliable vendors right from the start. 

An easy extra step to match the right credentials to the role 

Knowing the specifics of who you are working with is critical to getting the right contractors for the job. From cloud data management to infrastructure, data center roles can be highly technical, requiring niche skills and specialties that branch out into sub-specialties. Certain certificates are standard in the tech sector to validate knowledge and competence, and contractor roles need to be matched with the right credentials. While document verification is still necessary, requiring contractors to attest that they have the specific credentials needed for your site adds an additional filter to help save time and help eliminate unqualified contractors up front. 

Verifying your contractor vendor has an active Certificate of Insurance

You can’t see everything, and mistakes can happen, even with the most qualified contractors on the market. Requiring a relevant and up-to-date Certificate of Insurance (COI) for data center vendors is an extremely important step to protecting your business from mishaps. In high-security environments like data centers, COIs also help verify that only insured professionals step on site.  

It’s important to note, however, that there is a significant difference between proof of insurance and a Certificate of Insurance. An up-to-date and relevant COI confirms that the contractor vendor you are considering working with has active liability and workers' comp coverage to protect your data center from financial loss in case of accidents or damage.  

Simplifying screening and vendor verifications 

A COI isn’t an absolute guarantee, but it is a key step to safeguarding your data center from liability and can help you identify professional and contract-ready contractor vendors. That’s why Certified Contractors requires all vendors to provide an up-to-date COI to participate in our program. It’s another way we help your business find qualified vendors with contractors who meet your standards quickly. Our goal is to do what we can to help set up boundaries that foster a more professional environment and protect your business by holding vendors and contractors to the same standards as full-time employees. 

Matching contractor screening standards with full-time employees  

Certified Contractors offers multiple screening levels tailored to the needs of data center facility managers. These levels align with the specific requirements of any role to meet the same standards as full-time employees and help you protect your business. Screening options range from criminal background checks to more comprehensive screenings, including continuous criminal monitoring. Each level can also be enhanced with a drug test to ensure contractors meet the stringent security and compliance standards necessary in data center environments. 

Start pairing internal safety measures with contractor screening and vendor credentials you can trust. Learn more about finding qualified vendor contractors screened to your facility’s standards for free here.