Demand for data centers is growing at a remarkable rate. Data’s strategic importance, for both commercial and non-commercial organizations, makes physical security fundamental at these sites. In addition, national and regional regulations place ever more stringent requirements on in-house and co-location operators to take a secure approach to data management and protection.
By: Thomas Schulz Director & Head of Marketing DAS EMEIA ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions
E-mail: thomas.schulz@assaabloy.com
Data’s sensitive nature also brings data centers within the scope of the EU’s NIS2 and Cyber Resilience Act. Penalties may be severe for organizations which get data security wrong: the projected cost of an average data breach is 3.8m EUR, according to IBM’s 2025 annual report. The penalty in terms of reputation and/or regulator fines could be even more.
Because staff, contractors and visitors all require varying levels of access at different times, physical security depends on flexible, scalable access management. Systems must enforce strict, least-privilege access policies and prevent the misuse of credentials. Multiple layers must work together seamlessly, with every event logged and traceable. Integration between security, HR, and visitor management systems can ensure access rights stay current as people join or leave projects. Remote and real-time oversight are essential.
The goal is not only to prevent unauthorized access. Data centers aim to maintain a clear audit trail which satisfies ISO 27001, NIS2 and other standards. Intelligent security management underpins the data center’s resilience and operational efficiency – deterring hybrid physical & cyber-attacks in the process, for example.
“As a powerful new addition to our stable of digital solutions, the KentixONE platform was designed specifically from the ground up for the white space of data centers,” explains Jochaim Mahlstedt, Managing Director at Kentix GmbH, part of ASSA ABLOY. “It performs eight critical security tasks within its one intuitive, integrated platform. With KentixONE, we can equip data center white space with the security and monitoring capacity it needs – now and well into the future.”
KentixONE: control and convenience from a unified interface
A recent addition to ASSA ABLOY’s portfolio of digital solutions, KentixONE is an integrated platform for physical security and critical monitoring. This unique solution combines 8 different data center functions within one system, all accessible from a single, unified interface:
- access control
- intrusion detection
- video surveillance
- external fault report
- early fire detection
- environment monitoring
- power monitoring
- network monitoring
KentixONE strengthens data security by creating a direct link between physical infrastructure and IT operations: it supports seamless integration with data center infrastructure management (DCIM), ticketing systems, and EAC solutions. It can keep sensitive operational data under local control while enabling granular access management, full audit trails, and real-time alerts. At rack level, integrated cabinet access control, intelligent PDUs, and environment sensors allow operators to set temporary permissions, track interventions, and monitor energy usage by rack. Its integrated functionality and approach to risk management across multiple potential factors also helps a data center to achieve important security certifications EN 50600 and ISO 22237. The platform is designed to scale from small technical rooms to multi-site data-center estates, helping an organization’s infrastructure to grow, evolve, or become more geographically spread without adding complexity.
KentixONE’s early fire detection monitoring capability – before a fire breaks out – goes beyond conventional smoke-based systems by correlating thermal imaging, gas detection, temperature trends, and air-quality data to identify risks much earlier. This is especially important in high-density computer environments and battery-powered infrastructure where traditional alarms often activate too late to be effective. Indeed, KentixONE offers real-time overview for more than 40 potential physical risk factors, from unauthorized entry and perimeter breaches to overheating, humidity changes, water leaks, and power anomalies. Everything the security manager needs is accessible on dashboards or via the convenient mobile app.
“According to many of our customers, KentixONE makes significant operational cost savings when measured against traditional siloed solutions,” adds Joachim Mahlstedt. “This also helps to explain why its wide adoption in a range of settings, including a co-location facility in Heidelberg, an on-premise solution for a major utility, and for a provider of modular, container-based solutions. Its flexibility and cost-efficiency are a major plus for data center managers.” “Data centers deserve a digital security management solution built entirely with their needs in mind,” he adds. “Now they can have it.”
