Chris Landen, Managing Director of Exacta Technologies, explains why regulatory alignment is becoming a critical factor for server and infrastructure buyers looking to scale across international markets.
With growing demand from international markets for hardware that meets strict regulatory requirements, it is crucial that server and infrastructure providers view compliance not simply as a final hurdle, but as part of the wider design and procurement process. So, what are the key considerations for data centre operators and infrastructure buyers when procuring storage solutions?
Why compliance is becoming more critical in 2026
As we move through 2026, the regulatory landscape for storage solutions is continuing to evolve. Servers and network appliances must comply with a range of international standards covering electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and energy efficiency certification before they can be legally sold in many markets.
For infrastructure providers operating globally, compliance with standards such as IEC/UL 62368-1 for safety and regional EMC regulations is no longer simply a final certification step. It is a design discipline that must be considered from the earliest stages of product development.
As data centre operators deploy infrastructure across multiple regions, buyers increasingly expect hardware that is engineered to meet these requirements from day one. In this environment, compliance is becoming not only a regulatory obligation, but also an important factor in global market access and long-term operational planning. Put simply, compliance is an operational risk factor for infrastructure deployment, not a technical formality to be considered later.
Why compliance matters for organisations deploying infrastructure
For operators, specifiers and buyers deploying server and storage infrastructure, the consequences of non-compliant hardware can be significant. In essence, equipment that does not meet the required electrical safety or EMC standards cannot legally be placed on the market in many regions.
In practical terms, leaving redesign work until late in the development cycle can prove costly and, in some cases, products can be recalled where safety issues are discovered after deployment.
Beyond regulatory barriers, non-compliance can also impact operational confidence in suppliers. Data centre operators, technology partners and buyers expect infrastructure to meet recognised international standards; if products fail to meet these parameters, they cannot be reliably deployed across different regions and environments. In turn, this can delay deployments and project timelines, as well as undermine trust between suppliers, partners, operators and customers.
In the UK and European markets, this challenge has intensified following the introduction of UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) marking alongside CE requirements, as well as tighter enforcement of EMC and safety standards in high-density data centre environments. For operators deploying infrastructure across multiple jurisdictions, regulatory mismatch can quickly translate into delayed commissioning or restricted market access.
Compliance as part of infrastructure strategy
By treating compliance as a foundation for expansion rather than a constraint, operators, specifiers and buyers can gain greater procurement certainty and reduce the risk of issues emerging during multi-region rollouts.
For organisations supplying infrastructure into multiple international markets, each with its own certification and regulatory requirements, it is crucial to design hardware with compliance built in from the outset. This approach can improve agility and reduce the likelihood of costly retrofitting late in the development process, which can delay product delivery timelines.
When compliance is embedded into the design process, operators can help reduce friction in product development, mitigate risk and build trust with enterprise buyers who value reliability and regulatory alignment.
Hardware that meets global standards from day one simplifies procurement, reduces deployment challenges and allows organisations to scale infrastructure more confidently across borders.
How operators can embrace compliance capability
Across the sector, there is a growing expectation that compliance expertise is embedded into the infrastructure supply chain, rather than treated as an external, transactional step. For operators, access to credible regulatory insight can be as critical as hardware performance when deploying systems across borders.
While there are clear advantages to driving compliance into the hardware design process, achieving this in practice can be a real challenge for engineering teams. Operators must work closely with designers to strike the right balance between performance, cost and regulatory requirements, ensuring each element is addressed throughout the development process.
In server and network appliance design, compliance considerations influence a wide range of engineering decisions. Component selection, power distribution, thermal management and enclosure design must all align with recognised safety and EMC standards.
High-speed interfaces commonly generate electromagnetic interference. To counteract this, engineers must manage grounding, shielding and PCB layout to prevent interference and ensure the system does not fail regulatory testing.
Given the level of complexity, it is no surprise that these technical requirements can extend beyond the product itself and into the wider supply chain. Infrastructure managers must therefore select certified components, ensure appropriate compliance documentation is available from suppliers, and manage product lifecycles carefully. This helps avoid introducing non-compliant parts during revisions, as well as in the event of component shortages.
While these constraints can add an extra layer of complexity to the process, they do not have to limit organisations’ ability to innovate at scale. Data centre managers are using modular system architectures, advanced simulation tools and close collaboration with testing laboratories and certification bodies to ensure hardware meets regulatory requirements without compromising performance or reliability.
Moving from compliance to regulatory expertise
Many organisations now require expertise that goes beyond product design alone, including guidance to ensure infrastructure can be deployed across multiple regions while meeting local certification requirements.
As a result, infrastructure professionals are increasingly expanding their role to provide advisory and technical support that helps partners navigate global regulatory frameworks.
Working closely with testing laboratories and certification bodies enables operators to streamline approval processes and reduce potential operational disruption for customers deploying infrastructure internationally.
Moving from compliance purely as a product requirement to accessing regulatory expertise is likely to become increasingly important as global hardware regulations continue to evolve.
Setting a global standard for the future
As global hardware regulations continue to expand, compliance will remain a critical consideration for server and data centre providers. Embedding a regulatory mindset into both engineering and operational processes not only mitigates risk, but also supports more resilient infrastructure planning.
Organisations that treat compliance as an enabler of innovation, rather than a constraint, will be better positioned to deliver resilient, future-ready infrastructure.
In a market where trust, reliability and performance define success, compliance is no longer simply about meeting minimum standards; it is about setting the benchmark for global infrastructure deployment.
For data centre operators and infrastructure buyers, the message is clear: regulatory alignment is as important as product performance, availability and cost. With compliance woven into product design and maintained throughout its lifecycle, organisations can strengthen relationships with suppliers and support smoother deployments across international regions.
