Data centres: Taking a smart, scalable approach 

Integration is “key” in data centre security, writes Craig Newell, VP of Sales and Business Development, Traka Americas.

Construction of data centres continues to grow rapidly worldwide, especially in the US, where costs could exceed more than $100b by 2029.

Operators face pressure to complete these facilities as quickly as possible as society’s reliance on data processing is absolute.  

That pressure can lead to potential missteps, such as not including critical infrastructure and security measures vital to data centre operations.

It’s, therefore, important for owners to have a concrete and comprehensive operations plan before the first shovel is in the ground that establishes a sustainable framework that can scale as needed. 

The power of integration 

The most successful operations are centred on integration and ensuring all solutions communicate within a singular ecosystem.

Access control networks are the foundation on which all security components are based, eliminating unnecessary platforms and employee training.  

The best security solutions are compatible with various networks, streamlining onboarding and implementation.

The more comprehensive of a view that operators have through a single platform, the more efficiently they can manage aspects and optimise the resources they have at their disposal. 

A good example of this lies in physical access control. Keys still play a central role in data centre operations, as do other access credentials like badges, fingerprint scanners, fobs and biometrics.

Since personnel often share keys, it’s important to manage their usage safely and maintain a clear audit trail that shows who accessed each key, when and why. 

Intelligent key cabinets that integrate with an access control platform are a practical solution that eliminates the need for manual oversight while also allowing managers to designate varying levels of access to specific keys.

Designated levels are beneficial in the early stages of operations when temporary contractors or vendors need to access certain facility parts, while full-time employees need more robust access.  

Both parties can keep their keys in the same locker with differing access levels. Additionally, cabinets prevent downtime spent looking for a lost key and eliminate the possibility of re-keying a facility should one end up in the wrong person’s hands. 

Because data centres often include multiple buildings, having numerous key cabinets decentralises storage, which simplifies the process of employees returning keys to a secure location.

Suppose the central platform integrates all cabinets, giving operators a more complete view of usage across multiple locations, a task they can complete remotely if necessary.  

Suppose an employee is terminated, leaves or a contractor no longer needs access.

In that case, a manager can deactivate that credential, preventing the person from accessing both the building and the sensitive areas secured by individual keys, such as server racks and control rooms. 

Expanding security beyond keys 

Many benefits mentioned above regarding key cabinets are evident in shared device management through modular lockers.

Radios, tablets and laptops are essential assets in daily operations and, if not appropriately managed, represent a financial risk to replace and a more significant security threat if lost or stolen, as many contain sensitive information.  

As a reminder, lockers must be integrated into the central access control system so managers can monitor and assign usage that aligns with overall building access.

Operators also use these lockers to temporarily store additional shared items, a solution especially applicable to colocation data centres.

Any security solution does come with an upfront cost and operators need to weigh the return on investment when considering the implementation.  

Singular solutions like key cabinets and asset management lockers can be significant test cases for operators to try out a solution, realise the impact on a small scale and further integrate the solution across a building, campus or multiple locations.

Having internal buy-in from employees who have used, touched and mastered the solution gives further credibility and, when coupled with the benefits mentioned above, represents a compelling ROI argument. 

Flexible and scalable solutions will be signatures of successful solutions within data centres for years, as will their ability to integrate within an access control platform.

These solutions ultimately funnel into a safe and efficient framework, critical in nearly every security vertical, including data centres.  

Key cabinets and asset management lockers are prime examples of this advanced technology, as they safely manage the most important tangible assets within data centres and are well-positioned to scale to meet the growing needs of data management.