Also, security staff and controlled access procedures protect AWS data centers. Staff with system access undergoes background checks, and all hardware is located behind firewalls that are configured by default to block all traffic. Operating security patches are automatically applied to AWS servers, including BaseSpace Sequence Hub servers. AWS actively monitors its firewalls to check for vulnerabilities, a service beyond the resources of most institutions. BaseSpace Sequence Hub encrypts all data, something that is rarely done in the institutional IT setting.