Understanding The Risk: Data Center Security On The Agenda At Bisnow Virginia Event

Northern Virginia, the largest data center hub in the world, is not immune to the security threats that impact data centers everywhere. And with an additional 11 GW of capacity expected to go online in Virginia by 2030, those challenges are likely to intensify.

Would-be terrorists are often at the top of the list of bad actors who might want to breach data center perimeter security. But because of rising concerns among the general public about artificial intelligence and the power of Big Tech — or simply due to NIMBYism — data centers are seeing an increase in protests outside their gates. 

This trend raises another concern for those responsible for keeping the centers safe and operating.

“A lot more protests are happening, some of it due to misinformation being spread about data centers and their impact on communities,” said Amy Dunton, data center security expert with Ameristar Perimeter Security. “This is not a time for companies to lower their guard against intrusions.”

Data center security will be front and center when Dunton moderates a panel at Bisnow’s Data Center Investment Conference and Expo in Leesburg, Virginia, which will run May 20-22. Register here.

Bisnow spoke with her about the panel she will lead — What The Future of Security Looks Like in the Data Center Space — and what operators can do now to prepare for that future.

Bisnow: How should data centers approach perimeter security?

Dunton: Many operators focus on price, not cost. They are looking to save money by selecting cheaper products for their installations. Essentially, they end up stepping over dollars to save pennies, often at the expense of security.

By emphasizing price, they are not considering the risk and potential costs of installing a less secure fence instead of one that provides long-term protection as well as meets the requirements of the MSA/SLA, their tenants and possibly compliance requirements. 

This problem is compounded by the fact that security is typically the last item on their list of priorities. We're doing what we can to spread the word about the importance of taking it much more seriously.

Bisnow: Why is it important to get this message out?

Dunton: There are so many new players in the data center space, and that can create a big security risk. Some are new to the space, such as contractors or designers from other commercial real estate markets. They see that there is a ton of business in data center development, but they don’t really understand the nuances of it. 

Bisnow: Does that mean that education is a major part of your job?

Dunton: Yes, and this isn’t just about existing data centers. Security often isn’t a high enough priority for construction teams because each member of the team is in their own lane thinking, “Well, I’m doing my part trying to save money.” But there’s a lack of priority placed on protecting the site not only as it’s being built but through commissioning and operation.

In construction, everybody talks about speed to market and cost. But security should be considered, too, at the very beginning of site development. The team should be able to go back to executive leadership and explain that while a certain barrier might seem like a more expensive option, it also means that it will be adaptable to changing security needs and not have to be ripped out and replaced in the future.

Bisnow: What challenges do existing data centers face and how receptive are they to updating their security infrastructure?

Dunton: Just because you haven't yet had an incident at your 10-year-old facility doesn't mean you are immune from future challenges. As the facility ages, problems with perimeter security may arise that weren’t an issue a decade ago. 

It’s like the old saying: You may be locking your front and back doors but you're leaving the windows all open. Our task is to help them identify those “open windows.”

Sometimes, we’ll also see a facility that would rather pay service-level agreement penalties to its tenants than address the underlying security issue. That’s not solving the problem.

Bisnow: What do you hope people take away from your panel at the Data Center Investment Conference and Expo?

Dunton: I hope they come away with a better understanding of how security is everybody's responsibility within their organization and they need to have a discussion about price vs. cost. 

Bringing security experts into the conversation at the earliest stage is the best way to keep your people and your data safe.

Visit here to learn more about Bisnow’s data center event in Virginia.

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.