Data centers are a relatively modern development, but some of the basic tools used to keep them secure date back centuries.

Betafence, a manufacturer of perimeter security products, has been supplying fencing and related products for nearly a century and a half. Eric Amann, business development manager for the company’s data center business, said Betafence has evolved with the times and understands the needs of the quickly multiplying data center industry.

“We have a lot of history and a lot of manufacturing capability, and we can support hyperscalers globally,” Amann said. 

Amann said Betafence also understands that there are two sides to every fence, which is why its portfolio includes barriers that not only meet the site owner’s needs but also take into account the concerns of neighbors. Its Securifor 4D welded-wire product is designed to deter breach attempts and offer no toe or finger holds while presenting an aesthetically pleasing barrier that blends into landscaping. 

“It does a good job of not drawing attention to the facility itself, yet it also provides the level of security that a data center needs,” he said. 

Bisnow spoke with Amann to learn more about how Betafence meets the perimeter security needs of today’s critical infrastructure. 


Bisnow: If I am building a new data center, how should I approach perimeter security?

Amann: It is very important to partner with a company that has a manufacturing capability that's local to where they actually are building a facility, or at least in that same geographic region. In the case of a hyperscaler, it’s highly desirable to partner with a company with global manufacturing capabilities.

We have eight manufacturing facilities around the world, so we could work with a hyperscaler who's building in the U.S. and wants to duplicate that same product and level of security in Europe, Asia or wherever they may be building. Working with a team that can provide consistent physical perimeter security products is highly important.

Bisnow: Is this due to supply chain concerns?

Amann: It's a completion concern: There can be situations where a U.S. company may be using a product from another part of the world. They might get to the end of the project and realize they need a little bit more material. Now, they're going to have to wait for it to be manufactured overseas and then shipped across the ocean. So, yes, it is somewhat of a supply chain concern, but it's a logistics concern as well. Perhaps most importantly, delaying a project schedule can have massive financial implications.

Bisnow: How do you help customers select technology that best meets their physical security needs?

Amann: We work very closely with both our data center customers and utility customers, and those two things go hand in hand now. You cannot build a large data center without including substations in the perimeter security package, and they have some unique requirements.

The data center customer, of course, is going to be more concerned about the actual physical perimeter security. The utility customer is going to be concerned with things like grounding the fence materials to meet their requirements. We have enough experience with both utility customer and data center customer projects where we can recommend products that will meet both customers' requirements.

Bisnow: What sets Betafence apart from other perimeter security specialists in a crowded field?

Amann: Our CAD capability on projects is really unique. Our CAD team puts together a submittal drawing package that shows the entire perimeter security scope for both the data center and the substations. When our customer, their design team and general contractor review those drawings, they're going to be able to tell exactly what we're going to be providing and where. With a 3D model, we can identify potential conflicts and underground obstructions before we've even started manufacturing the first bit of the fence itself. 

In addition, once our drawings are approved, we're then able to get them engineer-stamped. So not only does the customer get a fence that's designed to meet a wind load requirement, but the installer knows exactly how they have to build the fence using what size of foundations to meet the wind load requirement for that particular project. 

All of our products are designed to make the installation easier and quicker. This has allowed us to build a loyal network of fence contractors that we can recommend to data center end users, regardless of where the project is.

Bisnow: How else does Betafence’s global presence benefit data center customers?

Amann: Different physical perimeter security standards are used in different parts of the world. In the U.S., there are ASTM standards for things like crash rating and cut-through resistance of products, but in Europe, they use a completely different standard. It’s important to work with a manufacturer that understands this and provides products that meet the different standards, especially for hyperscalers that are building globally.

Bisnow: How is perimeter security evolving as data center construction continues to boom?

Amann: The scale of the projects has certainly changed. These are very large projects that can have miles of perimeter fence. It's not like the typical fence project at a school or a playground. The scale is just massive now. 

As far as technology, it is evolving all the time. We have developed a drone capture technology product because of actual threats in the Middle East, where data center customers’ facilities have been hit by drones. We're always looking at what new threats there are, and as a manufacturer, we want to help solve and provide solutions to those potential threats.

This article was produced in collaboration between Betafence 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.