Securing data centres

The rising challenge of physical threats

Many data centres need to improve their security standards to protect against both cyber and physical attacks, writes Rick Wakeham, Senior Technology Manager, OPTEX EMEA

Data centres face rising physical security risks alongside cyber threats. Governments now classify data centres as critical infrastructure, which raises security expectations and regulatory pressure. Growth across EMEA increases exposure as sites scale in size, complexity, and value.

While cyber risks dominate headlines, physical breaches remain common. A significant share of incidents involve insider access, external devices, vandalism, theft, and protest activity. Large sites with multiple access points struggle to control movement, especially beyond server rooms.

Environmental and social factors add pressure. Activism, climate events, and energy disruption increase the likelihood of intrusion and damage. Perimeter security often suffers from nuisance alarms, wildlife triggers, and poor detection reliability.

The article stresses the need to strengthen perimeter and early detection layers. Operators need advanced sensing technologies that detect real threats early, reduce false alarms, and integrate with wider security systems. Physical security must start well before attackers reach critical assets.