Physical Security Entry Control for Data Centers

By Mike McGovern
October 23, 2024 

Everyone seems to be talking about the “AI Revolution” and the demand it will place on the world’s data storage and processing capacity. We hear about both the benefits and threats of AI in classes, lectures, on social media, and in the news, as discussed in a recent Forbes article.

It’s also no secret that – partially as one major result of AI – the Data Center Industry is experiencing tremendous growth. According to a recent BD&C (Building Design and Construction) study, the demand for data center capacity will grow twice as fast in the next 5 years as it did in the past 10 years. This rapid expansion underscores the critical importance of data center security, as AI’s advent and growth drive industry demand and necessitate robust security measures to protect sensitive data and ensure reliable operations.

Key Considerations in Data Center Design

Architects, designers, and developers have several critical priority considerations to balance when selecting sites and designing those data center facilities. Security design concerns are also critically important in that process. They should not be overlooked – as the safety of employees, the integrity of the data center, and all stored customer data must be protected.

Current Market Trends

Already in late 2024, data center construction is at an all-time peak. According to a study by Mordor Intelligence, this year’s new data center construction market is forecasted to be $13.24 billion and is growing at 8.36% through 2029. Then, Forbes provides a slightly more optimistic growth rate of 10% through 2030.

Geographical Growth Areas

Geographically, the data center growth is strongest in places like Northern Virginia outside Washington, DC (especially Loudon County), Dallas, Chicago, Phoenix, Atlanta, Portland, NYC tri-state area, and the Silicon Valley. Those eight markets account for the largest data center construction growth, according to another recent CBRE Research 2024 study.

The Importance of Physical Security

At Saima America, we look at this tremendous growth – especially in areas located close to major metropolitan areas – and ask, “How much attention is being given to the physical security design of these data centers?” We suggest that the answer is “not enough” presently. The data center world needs to be keenly focused on physical security!

Competing Priorities in Design

We understand that there are competing priorities right now. Data Center developers and operators are focused on some competing considerations when designing a new facility:  Real estate availability, energy capacity, fiber connectivity, water supply, social and environmental pressure, and cooling concerns are some that top the list of pressing issues being addressed. As leaders in the security and entry/exit control solutions industry at SAIMA, we observe that security features sometimes can take a back seat to some of these other very pressing concerns in data center design.

Security Threats and Solutions

Regarding security issues, data centers need to be concerned with three general areas: data breaches, cyberattacks, and physical security threats/breaches. Data breaches and cyberattacks are typically expected to come from outside via remotely located hackers, but even those threats can be initiated by physical presence inside the property.

Types of Physical Security Threats

Most typically, physical security includes events that involve some unauthorized or ill-intended person(s) entering a facility to steal data, implant devices, disrupt operations, or otherwise compromise the data center’s operations. Additional physical security threats can include destruction or interference with data center operations and theft of servers, hard drives, or other equipment. Bad actors who can enter a data center facility also carry threats in their pockets. Often, these perpetrators can attempt entry through security doors by tailgating or piggybacking, with or without the collusion of authorized persons. An effective, secure entry system helps address all of these threats.

Role of Security Consultants

The project architect or developer will hire a security systems design consultant to select the solutions and best implementation to protect the facility. Professional security consultants have the knowledge, experience, and contacts to choose and specify a secure and reliable system for managing security at all tiers of the data center campus.

Levels of Physical Security Design

Physical security design can be seen as 3 levels for the data centers:

• Level 1 – perimeter security; fencing, gates, outdoor turnstiles. Perimeter sensing systems controlling access to the campus
• Level 2 – card access automatic & other swinging/revolving doors limiting access to the building’s main entry areas (offices, visitor areas).
• Level 3 – security portals, mantraps, airlocks, and other high security/limited access security entry control devices designed to limit access to the client data server areas.

We can view the 3 levels as similar to 3 concentric circles (circles within circles, sharing a common center point). Each circle protects a more focused area of the data center asset. This article looks most specifically at the innermost circle, the Level 3 physical security level concern.

Focus on Level 3 Security

At the Level 3 security level, we are focused on a small number of persons who have access to the most sensitive assets of the data center, the client area servers, and data. In the security entry systems world, we refer to this as a “high security/low throughput” entry /exit point. The idea is that very few people – typically less than 50 per day – need to pass by this point, but the need for restricting unauthorized access is very high. An additional consideration is that a security staff person is not located at the entry point 24/7. In other words, a secondary benefit is the ROI regarding security staffing needs.

Recommended Security Systems

The most often prescribed system for high-security entrances will be security mantrap portals and/or revolving doors. Both doors offer high-security entry control with tailgate and piggyback prevention. Security design consultants and architects will occasionally work together to create an onsite mantrap/airlock system of interlocking doors and a security video system instead of a purchased security portal system. Generally, when total costs and footprint considerations are factored in, we feel that, most often, the manufactured security portal – installed as a unit – makes better sense.

SAIMA America’s Security Solutions

At SAIMA, we have been designing and providing turnkey-installed security entry control solutions around the world for more than 40 years. Our security revolving doors, one-way airport exit control systems, security (mantrap) portals, turnstiles, and speed gates are the product of many years of experience in all sorts of settings, including banks, jewelry stores, government, military, airports, utilities, property management and of course data centers.

Innovative Security Technology

The SAIMA America line of Securlock and SecurTel portals, with BR (ballistics/bullet resistance levels) safety and our proprietary stereovision security, provide the highest level of protection and reliability. Our team has many years of consulting on custom system design for our clients to provide the most secure and throughput-friendly systems.

Commitment to Safety and Security

Security and safety are equal in our company philosophy, which motivates our design of high-performance, reliable solutions that maintain the highest standards in security while providing a safe product for all. We combine new technologies, great engineering, and best-in-class design to create secure, customizable products that are pleasant to the eye.

Partner with Saima America

Security design consultants, architects, and developers are increasingly calling on us for our experience and knowledge in security entry solution design and implementation. We look forward to working with more professionals in the future on new and upcoming data center security projects. Please contact our security solutions team to help with your data center project.

For more information or security entry solution design help from SAIMA, contact [email protected] or 610-585-7279.

Website: www.saimanorthamerica.com