Security Tech Reinforces Data Centre Defences

Because there are countless ways in which data or systems can be compromised, so also are there varied responses to physical security, writes Boon Edam Australia managing director Michael Fisher.

The galloping growth of data centres in Australia—some now 20 times larger than they were a few years ago—focuses attention on the need to physically protect government and corporate data contained within them.

Australia had 306 data centres at the start of 2024, with Sydney the most intensive concentration of the facilities, according to the Cloudscene data centre ranking organisation.

Sydney is also listed as a Tier One global Top 10 Data Centre Market, along with, in the Asia-Pacific, Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo, and Shanghai.

The major types of data centres (omitting the smallest, modular, types) include: 

Hyperscale data centres, also known as cloud data centres, serve 10,000-plus servers, cost up to $US1 billion to build and have the greatest need to ensure protection of their assets from physical threats. Their customers include the world’s largest web services providers.

Enterprise facilities are private facilities owned by companies on the Fortune 500 top 20, with revenues up to $US600 billion. Enterprise data centres often store and manage data such as customer information and sensitive financial records.

Co-Located centres, also known as CoLos and Multi-Tenant Data Centres, (MTDCs) used by multiple companies. These include:

• Retail CoLos, where the owner manages operations, cooling, and security. Customers are required to manage only their own cage equipment, including multiple cabinets and racks

• Wholesale CoLos, leased to a single user or customer 

• Managed Services CoLos, fully managed by a third party

Edge Data Centres, also known as Micro Data Centres, are smaller decentralised facilities that provide data storage in a location closer to where data is being generated and used. They are typically situated near their intended users, allowing for real-time processing and analysis.

▲ Boon Edam, Australia, managing director Michael Fisher and a state-of-the-art high security portal.

How does a layered approach benefit physical security?

Because there are countless ways in which data or systems can be compromised, so also are there varied responses to physical security.

The leading revolving door and security entrance organisation I represent, Boon Edam, a global leader in security entrances, has introduced a layered approach to physical security for data centres globally, including the different types mentioned above.

Secured entry products:

• Protect sensitive areas, ensuring that one person, the authorised person, enters the secure area, utilising technologies such digital identification, and elimination of tailgating and piggybacking access practices.

• Maintain regulatory compliance, which is critical not only for facilities housing government data, but also as an important benefit of private businesses and service organisations. Important security compliance issues include Data Sovereignty Assurance which confirms that government data stays within Australian jurisdiction. Protection of health and personal data is an important focus of national security.

• Reinforce compliance of physical security requirements affecting particular industries, including, for example, those observing PCI DSS provisions for restricted access to critical areas or facilities. The PCI DSS international standard applies to all organisations globally that use payment cards to facilitate payment. All Australian organisations that accept card payments are required to comply with the PCI DSS regardless of business size.

• Reinforce physical security of CoLo centres which have emerged as a critical component of the infrastructure of modern businesses. This cloud service provider model is increasingly relevant in a digital landscape where efficiency, scalability and both cybersecurity and physical security are paramount to protect the service hubs themselves.

• Reduce guard labour cost of 24/7/365 operations, where tailored combinations of entrance technologies—security revolving doors, security portals, and security speed gates, for example—can streamline strong access permissions and enable skilled personnel to be posted only where it is most needed. 

Securing an entrance is vital for an effective risk-mitigation strategy that involves keeping an intruder where they belong—outside.

A twin focus on digital and physical security is inevitable, because digital and physical security are different sides of the same coin—centres need both, not one or the other. In a very real sense, physical security is increasingly essential to cybersecurity.

Download Boon Edam’s white paper, “Best practices for data centre security and efficiency” for more insights into data centre security.

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About the Author

Michael Fisher is Managing Director of Boon Edam Australia, which provides a full suite of entrance security solutions in Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Royal Boon Edam is a market leader in 27 countries, providing, under the one roof, revolving doors, security doors & portals, speed gates, access gates and full height turnstiles to ensure the security of your entry and perimeter. Boon Edam Australia operates under Master security licence number: 000104487.