A data center owner might invest tens of millions of dollars to ensure its power density and cooling capabilities meet today’s tenant needs. Shouldn’t they also prioritize perimeter security to protect their big investment?

Too often, a facility's physical security is frozen in time, said Liz Lasko, a data center security expert for Ameristar Perimeter Security. This becomes evident when a legacy data center is planning a retrofit to bring its operations up to today’s standards and expectations.

“The retrofit is the moment that everything about the asset changes, but the fence protecting it doesn't always get the memo,” Lasko said. “If perimeter security isn't part of the conversation, you end up modernizing the inside and leaving the outside operating as if it were still 2010.”

Bisnow asked Lasko what data centers should think about when selecting a new perimeter security system, whether for a new or retrofitted facility. Her advice: Give as much thought to the fence, gates and exterior security components as you do to server racks and other operational components.

Think Long Term

Lasko recommended looking for fencing that was independently tested and has earned third-party performance certifications. This is important to keep pace with ever-tightening tenant and insurance requirements. 

Next, think past installation day: Will the fence material hold up to corrosion in your climate? Will you be able to get parts for it 15 years from now? Is there a service element to support you long after installation? 

“Also, make sure you build in room to grow because security technology is going to keep changing,” she said. “A system built to integrate with new tech is going to age a lot better than one built to stand alone.”

And while nobody likes to read the fine print, Lasko urged people to actually review the warranty before they commit to a purchase to avoid costly surprises down the road.

“There's often fine print buried in there about exclusions or maintenance requirements that can quietly void your coverage right when you need it most,” she said. 

Out With The Old Thinking

The days of relying on a chain-link fence, passively monitored by a guard stationed in a shack with a clipboard, are over, Lasko said. Today’s facilities require integrated perimeter protection systems that can detect, delay and deter intrusions, giving security teams valuable time to respond before a threat reaches critical assets.

“You're talking crash-rated fencing and gates tested to stop a vehicle, anticlimb mesh, K-rated barriers, intrusion detection that can tell the difference between wind rattling a fence and someone trying to cut through it, thermal cameras and AI video analytics,” she said. “And it's all wired into one platform instead of a handful of systems that don't talk to each other.”

Anything less can leave the data center vulnerable to physical breaches, she said.

Don't Treat Perimeter Security As An Afterthought 

Perimeter security needs to be part of the design conversation to ensure the fence will meet the facility’s current and future needs and integrate well with other security components. But that isn’t always prioritized, according to Lasko.

“I still run into projects where security is an afterthought, and by the time anyone calls us, the civil work's done, the grading's locked, and there's nowhere left to put a barrier or get the standoff distance the site actually needs,” she said. “Looping us in early can save the data center a lot of expensive rework down the line.”

Also, don’t neglect security needs during construction work.

“You need a real plan for keeping the perimeter monitored the whole way through so the facility isn't exposed mid-project,” she said. 

Your Clients Care About It

Physical security can make or break a deal with a hyperscale or enterprise tenant whose leasing criteria includes stringent security requirements. Even if the facility’s owner hasn’t yet thought much about rated fencing, monitored access points or standoff distances, they can be sure the tenant has.

“An owner can spend a fortune to retrofit their data center to modern standards and still not land the tenant they built it for because nobody thought about the perimeter until the end,” Lasko said. “Security deserves a seat at the table with power and cooling, not a spot at the bottom of the punch list.”

Assess Your Current Situation

In the case of a legacy data center, an old fence is not automatically a bad fence. Lasko said an owner can get many more years of reliable use if the fence was specified correctly, is maintained and structurally sound, and is capable of accommodating upgrades and integration with newer security hardware. 

But that is not something the data center can take for granted. It requires conducting a thorough site assessment to help decide on the best path forward.

“You need to figure out the gap between what's there and what today's tenants, insurers and threat landscape actually require, and let that drive the decision,” Lasko said. “Don't assume newer is automatically better, and don't assume a fresh coat of paint will fix a fence that was never rated for the job.”

Her bottom line: To protect the owner’s investment, perimeter security needs to be given the same level of attention as the technology inside the data center’s walls, or risk leaving it underprotected against intrusions.

This article was produced in collaboration between Ameristar Perimeter Security and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.