With operators pouring billions into new capacity but struggling to find the people to secure it, James Smith, Sales and Marketing Director at Reliance High-Tech, warns that expertise in design, installation and maintenance is becoming the decisive battleground.

As global demand for computing power accelerates, the data centre industry is preparing to invest an eye-watering $1.8 trillion between now and 2030, a scale of ambition that reflects the rising tide of data-intensive technologies, from enterprise workloads to generative AI. Yet, amid the hum of servers and the rush of capital, a quieter crisis threatens to stall progress: talent.

More than half of operators are struggling to train, attract and retain top-tier professionals, and that skills shortage is felt from the very start of a data centre build, including the design and installation of a security system to protect against the increasing risk of physical attack. For, while there is a range of security technology available to operators to ensure their data centres remain secure, the issue isn’t necessarily with the tech – but the people that design, install and maintain it.

Contracting the right team will make a huge difference to the ongoing robustness, maintenance and value of your security system. And given the skills shortage coupled with high demand, data centre operators should always look to skilled integrators. This simply cannot be compromised on.

Ensuring consistency across your portfolio

Indeed, it’s essential that the right people are in place from the start as this in turn ensures that things are right first time. The default position for any security integrator should be: don’t cause headaches, resource properly, meet and exceed high standards, and maintain excellent communications throughout the process – with both the end-client and other providers working across the site.

So, while there are many consistent practices across data centre security which standardise the securing of a site, the principal area of focus for any data centre leader must be the integrator who is delivering a solution. Are they able to properly design, install, commission, and reliably maintain and update it – and do that every single time consistently?

Up to the job?

The best integration project teams manage all aspects of project design, delivery and maintenance with an in-house team of skilled, accredited engineers and project managers who understand the context of a job and can see the ‘bigger picture’.

This ensures consistent quality, accountability, and full control over every project. The project lead needs to understand the nuances of installing and working with different video, access control, perimeter control, radar, AI, analytics, and other systems integrating together to make it easy for operators to manage. Communication skills are essential here. A good project manager will provide a crucial link between engineers installing and maintaining a solution, and a data centre operator and their teams.

No weak links

The training and expertise that a security integrator has put into its team will allow it to deliver better results for a data centre operator on site. The best integrators invest in their teams not just on accreditations and vendor training, but also in experience – ensuring high standards can be maintained again and again with the right oversight, and offer reliable, ongoing maintenance and updates, ensuring no vulnerability is sustained in your security infrastructure. On a very basic level, this means supporting and implementing patching regimes, as data centre security is only as good as its weakest point – make sure your integrator can demonstrate this.

What to look for in an integration team

It may sound obvious, but when appointing a team to lead a data centre security implementation, prioritise a proven track record of delivering to the sector’s exacting standards – where rigorous quality control and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable.

With many facilities designated as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), independent accreditations – Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001 (information security), and ISO 22301 (business continuity) – are clear markers of credibility and operational rigour, showing the integrator is equipped to operate at this level.

A data centre is only as strong as its supply chain, so integrators should include cleared and accredited engineers, including those with specialist clearance levels where required.

Equally important is experience. Seek out integrators that can demonstrate successful implementations aligned with your specific requirements, and are able to articulate how each solution was delivered precisely to spec. Consider partnering with an independent, vendor-agnostic integrator whose scope of work explicitly supports your preferred products, vendors, and supply chains, whether through global agreements or niche routes to market. Their ability to work flexibly, while holding the necessary vendor accreditations, ensures you get a solution that’s not just secure, but tailored to fit like a glove.

Experts can add value beyond installation

Choosing the right expert to partner with on your installation will pay dividends long into the future. Integrators are often right at the leading edge of the industry, understanding and keeping abreast of the latest trends and technologies. Informing you about relevant solutions or new applications for your existing security tools will help your data centre security stay ahead of nefarious actors.

As part of the installation process, an integrator will train operators in how to use the technology to its fullest potential. The best continue with regular touchpoints with your business, making sure the solution continues to work for your needs and adapting it if not. They will also check in with your operators to ensure they understand the security technology installed.

Powering the data centre race

As the race to build out data centre capacity intensifies, the operators that thrive will be those that treat security integration as a strategic priority rather than an afterthought. By partnering with experienced, accredited integrators and investing in long-term relationships with them, data centres can remain resilient, compliant, and ready to meet the evolving threat landscape.