Physical Security for Data Centers
This course covers the design, installation, and operation of physical security systems that protect data center perimeters, building envelopes, and white space. Topics include layered defense-in-depth concepts (perimeter, building, floor, cage, rack), access control system configuration and credentialing, video surveillance system layout and retention practices, mantrap and interlock operation, visitor and vendor escort procedures, and security operations center monitoring workflows. Students configure access control panels and card readers, position and test IP cameras for coverage and evidentiary quality, and practice incident documentation and escalation consistent with data-center change-management and compliance requirements. Emphasis is on verifiable, logged performance of security procedures rather than security theory.
What you'll be able to do
- Configure an access-control panel to enforce a layered credentialing schedule across perimeter, building, and cage doors.
- Terminate and commission an IP camera at a designated coverage point to meet evidentiary image-quality requirements.
- Test a mantrap interlock sequence for fail-secure behavior under a simulated power loss. Safety-critical
- Document a physical security incident using the facility's standard incident report format.
- Escalate a detected security event to the correct on-call authority within the facility's defined response-time window. Safety-critical
- Audit an access-control system's badge-holder list against the current employee and vendor roster to identify orphaned credentials.
- Position perimeter fencing, lighting, and camera coverage on a site drawing to close identified lines-of-sight gaps.
- Conduct a visitor and vendor escort procedure through a restricted data-hall zone in compliance with the facility access policy.
- Verify video retention configuration against a customer SLA requirement for footage availability.
- Calculate camera storage requirements from resolution, frame rate, retention period, and compression settings.
- Isolate a malfunctioning door controller from the access-control network without disabling coverage of adjacent doors. Safety-critical
- Interpret a TIA-942 physical-security tier requirement and map it to an as-built facility control.
Train the team that runs the factory.
The Institute travels with every SAVRN campus.