Key Factors When Choosing a NOC Location

LaRon Walker

Master of Information Technology and Internet Security

April, 2010

There are many things to consider when choosing a location for a Network Operations Center

(NOC). These factors can range from cost of operation to the ability to withstand natural or man-made

disasters. Three main components that should be considered when picking the location for a NOC are:

 Risks of encountering natural element events, and ability to withstand them (e.g. Earthquake,

Hurricanes, Tornados, Floods)

 Security of Location (e.g. Public or Privately ran)

 Environmental Control

From my experiences, I have found that leasing space in the basements of Federally-run buildings or

buildings that housed Federal Government offices have been ideal. These facilities have had very high-

level security access protocols, as well as were pre-equipped with higher-end wiring for fast

connectivity. They also were shielded from outside WiFi, Cell Phone and other RF signals to protect

against data being stolen via War-driving techniques. These buildings were also structurally sound when

it came to the natural elements that were in their respective areas, and also provided large insurance

policies to protect data housed there. Being Federal Buildings, they were extra secure and the

basements were designed to withstand various disaster scenarios, which added to the chances of data

being recoverable in the event of a situation. These locations also had high-tech environment controls

which helped with temperature problems, as temperature has always been an issue when working in

large server or web farms.

 If constructing a new NOC, I would consider the same factors as leasing space from the above

described locations. Per Ledford (2010), to protect critical data, businesses should establish high

security sections. These sections should be within high security areas with reinforced rooms that are

fire- and blast-resistant, and can be sealed off in the event of an emergency. I have found there are

companies that already have established data storage facilities and NOCs that offer these types of

hosting services to businesses. These services help businesses cut overhead costs of housing the

equipment for storage, server, and networking, and also can provide insurance policies to protect data

they host.

References

Ledford, J. (2010). Business Continuity for Corporate Libraries. Faulkner Information Services.

Retrieved April 24, 2010 from Faulkner Information Services database.