As data centers rapidly expand to support AI and digital infrastructures, the security landscape is evolving just as quickly. Businesses are under pressure to address complex risks while balancing cost and speed of deployment.
In this blog, Milton Plet, Senior Vice President of Global Clients, shares his perspective on the key challenges data centers face today and how scalable, adaptable approaches are helping clients stay ahead.
The most pressing security challenges for data centers
When we think about threats to data centers, cyberattacks often steal the spotlight. According to Plet, however, the biggest risk isn’t always coming from the outside; it’s also coming from within.
Insider threats remain one of the most significant challenges for data centers today. With so many people needing access, like employees, contractors, and vendors. The potential for accidental mistakes or intentional breaches is high. Whether it’s someone mishandling sensitive information or deliberately exploiting their access, the consequences can be severe.
That’s why companies like Securitas USA are stepping up. With extensive experience supporting data centers, we can manage these risks by helping provide highly trained security professionals who understand not just physical safety, but also the technology and protocols that help keep these facilities secure. From smart access controls to real-time monitoring, Securitas USA is a trusted partner in helping protect what matters most.
Perimeter security and access control are other critical areas. Having strong external defenses, such as gates, barriers, and layered access protocols, is crucial in protecting facilities from unauthorized entry.
Cost is also a growing challenge, reshaping security strategies. As demand for data centers rises, businesses are asking how to keep sites secure while managing budgets. “Many of the companies that we work with are coming to use with the same question, how can we reduce our costs while making our security more efficient and effective?” says Plet. This drives the shift toward integrated solutions, combining technology with human expertise to create agile and scalable security solutions.
While cyberattacks often dominate headlines, there’s another growing concern that’s happening right outside the walls of data centers: public demonstrations and protests. Data centers are increasingly being targeted not because of what they store, but because of who they support or where they operate. Whether it’s environmental concerns, political affiliations, or corporate partnerships, data centers are becoming symbols in larger public debates. These external threats can disrupt operations, delay access, and pose safety risks to staff and infrastructure. That’s why proactive security planning is more important than ever.
We help clients stay ahead of these challenges with trained personnel, remote monitoring, and strategic response plans that help balance protection with respect for public expression. As the role of data centers continues to grow, so does the need to help secure them from every angle, inside and out.
Moving beyond traditional models
Plet explains that Securitas USA’s strategy is built on a foundation laid years ago: the digitalization journey. Unlike competitors that still rely on static, labor-focused models, Securitas USA integrates three core elements: digitalization, data, and physical security services, with technology at the center.
For data center clients, this means we never engage without our technology experts being part of the conversation. “Data is king. We gather data from technology and security services, and then we use that data to optimize both. And that is a non-traditional approach.”
While many in the industry still procure security in traditional ways, Plet sees Securitas USAs’ integrated security solutions as a clear differentiator. One that is a non-traditional approach designed to stay ahead of emerging risks and client needs, adapting to their dynamic needs.
Why scalability matters
For global and regional data center operators, scalability is a key selection criterion. Plet explains that clients expect standardized security solutions across all their sites, whether in the U.S., Europe, or worldwide. “It doesn’t make sense to offer a solution that works in one country but can’t be deployed elsewhere,” he says. “Our clients demand scalability, and that’s where we differentiate ourselves.”
This capability can be demonstrated in two key ways: first, through technology. Plet highlights work with a global technology company that’s operating data centers across multiple countries. Every site must meet the same security standards, from CCTV and access control to perimeter solutions. “There can’t be differences from one country to the next,” they said. Delivering this consistency requires both global reach and local expertise.
Second, through guarding services. Some clients require hundreds of officers per data center across multiple regions. Meeting that demand means recruiting, training, and deploying staff at a scale quickly and reliably. “That’s not easy,” Plet admits, “but it’s one of our strengths. We can do it because of the footprint and structure we have at both the global and local levels.”
By combining technology with specialized guarding, Securitas USA helps deliver scalable solutions tailored to the unique demands of each facility, enabling speed and flexibility in a fast-paced industry.
Blending human expertise with digital intelligence
Digital intelligence is increasingly central to assessing risk and informing security decisions. At Securitas USA, our risk intelligence team gathers and analyzes data, sometimes in collaboration with clients. This intelligence then guides decisions about where human expertise and physical resources are needed, as well as which additional security measures to deploy.
By combining data-driven insights with trained officers, security measures become targeted, adaptive, and responsive to evolving risks.
Partnerships that showcase agility and scalability
Plet shares an example of a client partnership that started with roughly 20 data centers worldwide. The client sought to globalize and standardize security across all sites, and Securitas USA adapted its approach, deploying solutions that would scale across regions while maintaining consistent standards for guarding, technology, risk management, and digitalization.
Today, that client has more than 300 data centers secured globally, with solutions that function consistently across locations. “Scalability and agility are key here. Deploying standardized solutions worldwide is one of our strengths.”
From supplier to trusted partner
Finally, Plet emphasizes that Securitas USA’s success is due to collaboration. We work closely with technology, digitalization, and risk intelligence teams while listening and advising clients from pre-construction through operations.
Our greatest impact comes when we’re in the passenger seat, guiding our clients through the twists and turns of securing their data centers. We’re not just advisors; we’re copilots, helping them navigate risk, compliance, and resilience with clarity and confidence.”
Preparing for the future of security
Plet anticipates a shift toward “dark” data centers, facilities that operate with minimal or without human intervention, relying on remote monitoring and on-demand physical security responses. A facility where almost all tasks are automated. This model doesn’t eliminate people, it elevates them. The demand will grow for security professionals who can interpret complex data, manage AI-driven systems, and respond swiftly to security and health and safety threats. “It’s a shift from boots-on-the-ground to brains-in-the-cloud.”
“AI is taking over tasks that used to take hours; now they’re done in minutes or seconds,” Plet explains. Security officers’ roles are evolving from routine checks to responding when exceptions occur, supported by intelligent access management systems, cameras, and biometrics.
By combining technology, data, and human expertise, Securitas USA is positioned to stay ahead of industry trends, helping enterprise data centers remain secure in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Looking ahead: securing the future of enterprise data centers
The scale and ambition of today’s data infrastructure investments demand a new security mindset. One that prioritizes agility, scalability, and continuous risk assessment. As the digital landscape evolves, enterprise clients need security partners who can anticipate change, not just respond to it. Securitas USA is positioned to meet this challenge head-on, helping clients secure their most critical assets.
Curious about how scalable, agile security solutions can future-proof your enterprise data centers? Contact us today to learn how we help industry leaders stay secure in the digital age.
