Strengthening cybersecurity is the No. 1 concern impacting IT spending in 2023, cited by 35% of IT decision makers in the 2023 Technology Spending Intentions Survey by TechTarget’s Enterprise Strategy Group.1 Security is also the No. 1 area of increased spending in 2023, identified by 65% of respondents.
Servers are the foundation for most IT environments, from the data center to multi-cloud to edge locations. Because they are the hub of so many business activities, servers are a particularly attractive target for adversaries. They can also be a source of internal breaches through malice, negligence or ignorance if the right protections are not in place.
That’s why servers are a major element of any successful end-to-end security strategy—and why IT teams responsible for buying servers must be vigilant in ensuring that their server investments offer maximum modern security protections and features. This article examines four key security factors for IT and cybersecurity teams to consider in choosing a server vendor in 2024.
Factor 1. A security-enabled supply chain.
Server supply chains can be a point of security vulnerability. Adversaries can replace genuine parts with counterfeits or breach security by introducing malicious components. A security-enabled supply chain includes verification tools with features such as secured component verification, chain of custody tracking, anti-tamper packaging and chain of trust maintenance for critical components.
In evaluating supply chain verification tools, Prowess Consulting found that Dell Secured Component Verification (SCV) from Dell Technologies delivers superior value in terms of test time, security, ease of use, reporting and other capabilities.2 As noted by Prowess, “With the Dell SCV tool, organizations that want to keep their supply chain secure have another reason to purchase Dell PowerEdge servers.”
Factor 2. Intrinsic security with a zero trust-enabled framework.
Intrinsic security means security is built into every stage of the server’s lifecycle. This means it is integrated at both the hardware and firmware level through an immutable root of trust that is used to verify subsequent operations within the server. This verification establishes a chain of trust that extends from deployment to maintenance and decommissioning. In addition to silicon root of trust, the latest generation of Dell PowerEdge servers with 4th Generation Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors offer intrinsic security features that stand out from those of the competition, including UEFI Secure Boot with custom certificates, rapid operating system recovery, real-time firmware security scanning, automatic OS recovery and key management, two-factor authentication via email and more.
Zero Trust. Verified Trust.
Read this paper to learn how Dell PowerEdge servers provides a new standard of security to meet the challenge of the increasing amount of ever-changing threats.
Download NowFactor 3: A cyber-resilient architecture
A cyber-resilient architecture delivers a wide range of security protections that expands the benefits of end-to-end intrinsic security and zero trust. This is another area where Dell PowerEdge servers with 4th Generation Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors offer advantages other vendors are hard pressed to match, including SafeBIOS, Safe IT, BIOS recovery and VMware NSX. Features such as iDRAC9 and Intel vPro® provide secure, advanced remote management capabilities that automate a multitude of tasks.
In addition, Dell is the only server vendor to eliminate the need for third-party certificate authorities. It is also the first vendor to join Sheltered Harbor Alliance Partner Program and the first to provide a fully endorsed Sheltered Harbor turnkey data-vaulting solution.
Factor 4. End-to end encryption, single-pane asset management.
End-to-end encryption of server assets both on premises and in the cloud offers multilayered protection and simplifies the path to zero trust. Single-pane asset management improves security by enabling teams to identify and respond to threats in real time and helps reduce total cost of ownership, improve compliance auditing and reduce IT complexity. These are all areas identified by IT decision makers as important priorities for 2023.3 Dell PowerEdge servers with 4th Generation Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors leverage OpenManage Enterprise as a single management platform, offering single-pane management that reduces complexity while improving security and compliance.
Taking the next step
When it comes to evaluating servers in 2024, security is at the top of the priority list for IT and cybersecurity decision makers. Dell PowerEdge Servers with 4th Generation Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors enable organizations to maximize end-to-end protection with a security-enabled supply chain, intrinsic security, a cyber-resilient architecture, end-to-end encryption and single-pane asset management.
For more information, please review the additional articles and resources on this site and visit Dell Technologies.
1 “2023 Technology Spending Intentions Survey,” TechTarget’s Enterprise Strategy Group, November 2022
2 “What Is the Best Supply-Chain Solution to Verify Server Configurations,” Prowess Consulting, December 2022
3 Ibid. footnote 1
