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Hardware Protection… Dust, Temperature, and Humidity - Oh My! – Part V

Decreasing computer hardware replacement cost has not eliminated the need for adequate environmental protection. To avoid humidity corruption, information security managers should verify humidity and temperature levels are maintained within the operating range specified in supplier documentation for deployed IT. Periodically, an information security professional should inspect for obvious external influences such as close placement to air conditioners, elevator shafts, industrial equipment or other sources of potential atmospheric variations. If a high level of reliability is required, then optimal conditions should be maintained. Maintaining equipment at the optimum climate range aids in protecting hardware from corrosion problems associated with high humidity levels and failures caused by static discharge when humidity is too low.

“View Part I of the Hardware Protection… Dust, Temperature, and Humidity - Oh My! series here“

Hardware Protection… Dust, Temperature, and Humidity - Oh My! – Part IV

IT can, and does, operate within a wide humidity range. Seasonal humidity changes are usually easier to control than hourly fluctuations. Under either circumstance, normally the primary environmental concern is preventing conditions that permit humidity alterations where condensation is the result. Data culled from analysis of historical psychrometer reading can be instrumental in determining seasonal changes or outside influences. Technically, a psychrometer is a hydrometer consisting of two thermometers with bulbs, one wet and one dry. One bulb is kept wet so the cooling that results from evaporation permits registration of a lower temperature than the dry bulb. The difference between the two readings constitutes a measure of atmospheric dryness.

“View Part I of the Hardware Protection… Dust, Temperature, and Humidity - Oh My! series here“

Hardware Protection… Dust, Temperature, and Humidity - Oh My! – Part III

When the relative humidity is high, water particulates are formed corresponding to the heat index. High humidity can warp hardware configuration cards. In addition, without adequate insulation, any conditions that cause moisture to be deposited on equipment will eventually depreciate hardware functionality. Maintaining the optimal temperature and humidity enable planning minimum user impact responses to hardware configuration item failures.

“View Part I of the Hardware Protection… Dust, Temperature, and Humidity - Oh My! series here“

Hardware Protection… Dust, Temperature, and Humidity - Oh My! – Part II

Climatically, strategizing optimum environmental conditions for information assets is a managerial safeguarding responsibility. Environmental conditions such as heat production, airflow, and humidity are factors that should be considered during IT site preparation as well as operational sustainability. Concerning heat production, equipment utilizing energy releases thermal units that can substantially increase ambient temperature. Air movement must be enabled or temperature and humidity will normally escalate within an unregulated confined space. When ambient temperature is at the manufacturer’s recommended level, there usually is adequate cool air flow for minimizing IT availability risks.

Low humidity can generate static electricity, causing shocks, electrical malfunctions, paper jams, and recording media errors. In too dry a climatic, dust can accumulate on system boards; where the first components typically effected are the central processing unit modules, thus potentially causing system reliability problems that translate to IT availability issues.

“View Part I of the Hardware Protection… Dust, Temperature, and Humidity - Oh My! series here“

Hardware Protection… Dust, Temperature, and Humidity - Oh My! – Part I

‘Plug-and-Play’ devices should never be regarded as ‘Install-and-Forget’ hardware. Though computer operations personnel are normally responsible for IT related hardware implementations, monitoring environmental adequacy falls within the realm of information security due diligence. In particular, accurate and comprehensive monitoring of environmental support equipment and installation conditions is critical for reliable processing within complex and sensitive hardware configuration areas.