Amidst widespread outages and evolving global regulations, data centers, vital hubs for business operations, are facing growing pressure to stay resilient, compliant, and future-ready. As AI and digital transformation occur, security has become a protective measure and a strategic advantage. Staying resilient in a world of growing risks requires a shift in mindset toward predictive technology, digitalization, and specialized security strategies.
In this blog, Milton Plet, Senior Vice President of Global Clients for Data Centers, shares his perspective on the trends shaping the future of data centers, the role of AI, and how security must evolve alongside the industry.
Why Securitas USA takes a different approach
While many security providers still operate under a traditional guarding services model, Securitas USA is not only a guarding company but a solutions-driven security partner. It understands the specialized environment of data centers and helps meet modern challenges with modern tools.
“If you look at the industry today, any company that is still looking at security through a purely traditional lens—focused solely on officers and guarding hours—is already facing a difficult conversation,” says Milton. “The industry has shifted. AI is here now and rapidly advancing.” To stay relevant to data center clients, it’s no longer enough to rely on outdated models. “It takes a strategic combination of specialized guarding supported by AI, digitalization, and technology today.”
For data center clients, that value includes delivering value through deep specialization in data centers, AI and digital platforms, and flexible, proactive security solutions.
AI in today’s data centers
There’s no doubt about AI's potential to help transform data center operations. Opportunities exist, from predictive analytics to real-time risk detection, but adoption remains slow.
“We’re still beginning our AI journey,” Milton says. “We’re getting better at understanding what AI can do and how it can be supportive... I don’t think any other security company today invests as much as we do in AI and digitalization. We’re investing significantly in the development of our security solutions in close collaboration with our clients so that it truly aligns and helps support their operations and evolving needs."
AI has enormous potential to help improve resilience and predict risk, but we’re just scratching the surface and continue to learn through best practices and engaging with industry experts.
How data centers help stay resilient during disruptions
Recent news of disruptive system outages in Spain, London, and Newark Airport highlights the vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure. These incidents, including multiple telecommunications and radar failures, have led to significant flight delays and cancellations, underscoring the challenges faced by facilities that lack robust security measures.
In contrast, data centers can be built to withstand such disruptions. While other parts of critical infrastructure may be susceptible to systemic failures, data centers often have backup systems to help with continuous operation, even during power outages, cooling failures, or natural disasters.
Data center facilities are built in a way that they would be able to survive hurricanes, loss of cooling, loss of electricity, and loss of water. Data centers have contingency plans in place that are meant to help prepare for these types of events or disasters. The recent incidents highlighted the weaknesses in the system, but not necessarily weaknesses within data centers. Data centers continue to operate even though these events are happening.
Still, many haven’t connected the dots between resilience and security innovation. This is where AI-driven security can help anticipate and not just react to disruptions. Adaptability, paired with strong infrastructure, is a key reason these facilities can stay online even when everything else shuts down.
"AI is helping us as a security provider, particularly our clients. It allows Securitas USA to operate more predictively rather than reactively. It allows us to set ourselves up for a much better position, should one of these disasters happen," Milton said.
The recent events at Newark Airport serve as a reminder of the importance of investing in resilient infrastructure. As data becomes increasingly central to our daily lives, ensuring the continuous operation of data centers is critical.
Milton Plet's five predictions for the future of data center security
Milton sees a rapidly changing security landscape driven by technology, data, and more innovative strategies. Here are his five predictions:
- Less labor, more automation
“Today it’s very labor-intensive, but we will see that significantly drop over the next few years... As part of security within data centers, integrating AI with technology will help to become more predictive.”
Tasks like access control and patrols will increasingly be supported by AI, automation, and technology, assisting with how those responsibilities are carried out. The security officer of the future will be more effective and efficient, equipped with the skills to work alongside intelligent technology and operate confidently within this transformed environment.
2. Smarter investments
With better access to data and the introduction of AI, data center operators have started to make risk-based decisions, allocating resources to where threats exist rather than following outdated standards.
AI will help to better define the actual risks that these facilities face based on their data. It will allow them to become more agile about where they want to invest their resources."
3. A push for specialization
Security providers who deeply understand the data center environment, like Securitas USA, will outperform those offering generic security services.
A more specialized security company that aims to learn more about data centers to better serve clients will have more success. The better you understand the risks that data center clients face, the better you can prepare and anticipate support. Companies that are going in that direction will be more successful. In addition, the specialization really allows us to connect with our clients and help identify those areas where we need to continue to invest.”
4. Sustained industry growth
While the AI boom initially generated enthusiasm for adopting and supporting AI, we see a trend that certain companies are recalibrating their growth, forecast and spending. Milton predicts this brief pause won’t last, and the long-term outlook will see continuous growth. “I do think that the better our clients are able to plan and grow, the more sustainable that growth is going to be.”
“The amount some of these companies in the market today are investing in to have data centers that support AI, some are taking a step back, but I do predict that in five years, you’re going to see significant growth within the data center industry.”
5. The security industry is changing.
Digital and tech-enabled solutions are more integrated in the traditional guard-first model.
"AI will further accelerate that journey of providing more technology-driven solutions. Our resources will be better trained, better supported, and have access to more data and more technology. The security industry will shift, not only for data center security. This is particularly good for our security guard services."
Now it’s time to act
Data centers today require more than traditional security measures. Their resilience is built on a combination of reliable physical security, security technology, and intelligent, data-driven decision-making. Integrating AI into security operations allows businesses to move from reactive to proactive strategies, using predictive analytics to help identify potential threats before they manifest.
Explore how our tailored security solutions and data center expertise can support your security and operations. Contact us today.
