White paper on physical security in IT and data centre technology

Data centres represent a key technology in an increasingly digitised world. They house the servers and storage systems with their associated network components so that applications are present with the agreed availability and the required performance. Equally important is the physical infrastructure that provides the power and cooling for these components, as well as permitting the monitoring of all the operating parameters.

Increasing importance is being given to all aspects of security. This starts with well-known anti-virus protection and firewall systems, although protection against physical threats also calls for increasing attention. Besides defence against such very real threats as burglary and theft, it also involves avoiding unwanted eavesdropping via the EMC irradiation from IT equipment, as well as the “traditional” potential dangers of fire, smoke, water and dust, to only name but a few.

This white paper explores each of these threat scenarios and reveals the measures that can be used to counter physical hazards.