Jeff Huggins, Vice President, Government Programs & National Accounts at ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions discusses sustainability and security in the data center market.

The importance of data

Data centers are critical to everything digital today and are continually evolving in functionality, size, number and the range of geographic locations where they’re now being built.

Changes have been significant in recent years with the proliferation of cloud services, the growth of data lakes, the swell in computational power needed for AI and advancements in physical and cybersecurity solutions.

Data centers used to be primarily located near key power-generating facilities and away from major storm centers and seismic-prone areas.

However, today, they’re going up almost everywhere across the US as demand escalates, renewable and affordable energy resources become available, and designs address the structural resiliency required to withstand severe weather and natural disasters.

Seeing as these facilities need to stay up and running 24/7/365, that requires a considerable amount of power, which means these high-tech marvels can have a significant environmental impact if sustainability isn’t kept top of mind.

With businesses, government agencies and consumers now more environmentally conscious than ever before, on-premises and co-located data centers that align with their sustainability values are now in demand.

Organizations that invest in sustainability can also build in greater resiliency to better adapt to shifting climate and other environmental challenges as well as evolving regulations, enhancing their reputations in the process.

Power usage

The increasingly high demand for data is expected to require nearly double the gigawatts of power in the US by the end of the decade compared to just a few years ago.

One vital factor concerns power usage effectiveness (PUE) – the energy used by IT equipment inside the racks and for capturing data from sensors outside the racks that monitor physical access, occupancy, energy utilization, temperature and air quality.

This is where sustainable doors, digital access control and related hardware solutions can play a key role.

Data centers require a tightly controlled environment in terms of airflow, humidity, temperature, prevention of seepage and more – all of which contribute to greater energy efficiency.

That means ensuring doors and frames keep the required cooling in place with proper weather stripping and door seal components.

It also means keeping the energy required to operate security products to a minimum.

These requirements can drive innovation.

For collocation operations, in particular, energy re-balancing translates into more capacity and billable services.

Incorporating a resistor into the body of a lock set also helps protect against the possibility of someone breaching that secure opening.

Many data centers are considering energy-efficient opaque doors for both new construction and renovations.

For example, one option is a solution that now offers a steel-stiffened door that can achieve an operable U-factor of 0.34, which is the industry’s most energy efficient steel stiffened hollow metal swinging door when combined with a thermally broken frame, and the first to qualify for GreenGuard Gold.

New thermally enhanced cores with a 0.37 U value rating are also available for specialty doors.

Representatives from well-known engineering and architectural firms have stressed the importance of reducing embodied carbon in data centers, which can be accomplished by choosing products that validate their measured embodied carbon through Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).

A growing number of door security solutions come backed with these certifications.

New EMI-RFI/STC shielding door and frame assemblies with adjustable seals are also available.

These assemblies are ideal for data centers, sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) locations or any other environment needing to protect and secure electronic information.

With more data centers being constructed globally, including regions prone to extreme weather, there’s an understandable higher demand for windstorm-rated, blast-resistant-rated and other specialty doors and the proper hardware to support them.

In addition, oversized openings are common in data centers where large equipment needs to be moved in and out.

Doors that offer sound attenuation are also in demand to meet certain sound transmission class (STC) ratings.

Data center security is vital

The continuous evolution of innovative security technology, stronger procedures and greater vigilance is vital.

Today’s connected world relies on a non-stop flow of data to power our devices and networks.

If this source of data is compromised, the daily operations of critical businesses and corporations can grind to a halt, which can negatively impact people’s lives and a company’s brand.

Disruptions can also result in fines and penalties for non-compliance with security regulations.

According to IBM’s 2023 Cost of a Data Center Breach report, the global average cost of a data breach in 2023 was $4.45 million, a 15% increase over three years.

Subsequently, this growing reliance on flawless data center operations requires an investment in comprehensive physical security to prevent breaches.

Data center managers must rely on the latest technology and industry best practices to provide viable and cost-effective physical security for their facilities.

Whether they’re company-owned data centers, co-locations or managed services, organizations must do all they can to comply with the challenges of legislation such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX).

Scalable security measures range from those covering the perimeter and power management to multiple levels of access control, including hardened doors, visitor management vestibules, security revolving doors, biometrics like facial identification, digital access locksets for individual server cabinets and more.

Lines of defense to secure your data center

Perimeter security

Perimeter security controls access to the building.

Basic components can include industrial and high-security fencing, bollards, guard booths and entry barriers that help prevent unauthorized access.

The heavy steel construction and intimidating profile of a high-security fence can act as visual deterrents against intrusion.

The latest generation features bracketless design, heavier posts, and a redesigned rail, allowing easier integration with intrusion detection systems, surveillance video and other monitoring devices.

Access to the building and spaces within

As big as the footprints of today’s data centers can be, they typically don’t require many employees to manage and secure them.

It could be as few as half a dozen in some cases or up to 50 depending on the scale of the physical plant and assets inside.

Regardless, it’s crucial to ensure personnel are indeed currently authorized, that airtight processes are in place for vetting and escorting contractors and visitors or, in the case of co-located services, that proper access control segmentation is in place.

Commercial-grade doors, frames and hardware provide a means to restrict access to the facility and specific areas within it, a primary goal in any building.

Many data center main entrances feature a vestibule where a visitor enters and waits until granted (or denied) further access.

Depending on the requirements of some jurisdictions, more facilities today are installing a security revolving door that momentarily holds a visitor until they’re cleared for access.

Revolving doors also help prevent tailgating. If a tailgater is sensed, the door will temporarily trap that person.

For those denied access, the door can be reversed to back people out.

In addition, doorways designed and tested to endure extreme weather conditions offer protection against these hazards.

Server cabinet security

As more companies move into shared locations, the opportunities for unauthorized server access increase.

Whether the intrusion is accidental or malicious, the potential costs are very high.

An additional layer of access control, such as OSDP server cabinet locks, can reduce this risk.

Power management and backup

Intelligent power management solutions are essential in the data center space because they can provide flexible, predictive and proactive power systems for access control, intrusion detection and surveillance.

Another critical line of defense is having backup generation on-site to ensure that operations stay up and running during utility outages.

Many data centers even have redundant backup systems.

Since these generators rely on diesel and other fuel sources, extra security measures need to be considered as to where fuel tanks and pipelines are located.

A major factor in the development potential of land parcels is how robust and secure the electrical grid and fiber optic network are to meet the intense power and communication demands of data centers.

Are utility substations well-monitored and enclosed within sophisticated fence and wall systems?

Are they located within the footprint of the data center campus or down the road, requiring additional coordination with local jurisdictions and utilities?

Depending on their purpose, sensitivity, location, exposure to extreme conditions and access control needs, there are many considerations for physical security, cybersecurity, sustainability and resilience of today’s expanding data center fortresses.

This article was originally published in the September edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.