5 Trends in the Data Center Security Industry

With the data center market estimated to grow to $143.4 billion by 2027, business leaders are aware of how crucial data security is to business operations. On par with this growth trajectory, data center operators are rapidly expanding to new regions to keep up with the demand for more infrastructure –which means they require more methods to physically safeguard their assets. It also means that more innovations in data center security are needed to keep up with its growth.

From artificial intelligence (AI) to light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology, more trends are surfacing that can help secure data centers and drive “security culture”–the set of values shared by everyone in an organization that determines how people are expected to think about and approach security.

Security culture is important because it takes more than simply implementing access control and video surveillance technology to help ensure the security of a data center. You can have the best security equipment in the world, but unless security culture is enforced throughout an organization, then people’s behaviors aren’t altered, and you may end up in a less secure environment.

The incorporated security measures need to deter potential threats and equip security teams with the necessary support to protect data centers –which is done, in part, by leveraging data insights from security systems to help drive and reinforce positive behaviors and security compliance.

As we look ahead at the future of data center security, here are five data center security trends to consider:

LIDAR Technology

LIDAR technology has flown relatively under the radar, but its versatility makes it a solid solution for securing a data center facility, both internally and externally. It can identify various objects, such as people, animals and vehicles, and determine their intended path. LIDAR technology can work with surveillance cameras by feeding it the collected information, allowing security cameras to follow the object. LIDAR technology enables security teams to track people or objects anonymously, allowing for people counting (to determine occupancy) or locating a person with a high degree of accuracy.

Video Content Analysis

The video captured by CCTV is helpful in monitoring activity around data centers, but the inclusion of video content analysis can elevate its effectiveness. Video content analysis, powered by AI, takes video content and derives insights from it, such as the number of people on-site, potential tripping hazards, tailgating and suspicious behavior. This allows data to drive more strategic decision-making for security staff, creating a more secure environment.

The analytics present in security devices provide data centers with thorough, real-time insights around activity in their facilities. This allows security teams to identify areas in data centers that may require attention or additional security interventions. Using alarm verification technology can also save time and resources by helping to distinguish between a false alarm and true criminal activity. This can mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and a costly break-in.

Rack-Level Security

The rack level of data centers tends to get overlooked regarding physical protective measures. However, keeping the rack level safe is becoming increasingly important. 

To protect data at the rack level while data centers are in use by multiple parties, personnel can request access to control specific racks and CCTV cameras to monitor activity –if something accidental or deliberate happens. By only giving specific-rack access to authorized personnel and linking it to their overall digital access credentials, it helps prevent malicious tampering and can reduce the potential for human error.

Using Data Analytics to Enhance Existing Security Software

Combating physical threats to data centers may be as simple as maximizing the data from existing security software. Data analytics is emerging as a tool that enables the transformation of raw security data into actionable insights that can help improve operations and drive more intelligent decision-making. This data also assists the performance management of predictive systems and enables operations-enhancing insights, improving security overall.

Increasing the Use of AI in Data Center Physical Security

Physical security breaches can sometimes be the result of human error. To minimize this risk, integrate AI-based technology into data center security to transform it into a preventative, pre-emptive, and proactive defense system. Security surveillance, environmental monitoring, and condition-based maintenance are possible with the actionable intelligence generated by AI. With the assistance of AI, data centers can leverage predictive analytics capabilities that help them identify the waning functionality of a security device (such as when it’s nearing end-of-life or needs servicing). This allows security teams to rectify the situation before problems arise that could harm a data center.

With data centers’ fast growth, they require more solutions that can help ensure their security during this time of expansion. The above data center security trends can enable their continued protection and also aid in establishing a strong security culture driven by everyone within the organization.  

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