The key to selecting a site for an EDC is to weigh both
environmental and manmade risks and decide if they
are worthwhile investing in the site’s development.
40 I ICT TODAY
a way to lessen impact. For example, in areas like industrial,
mining, coast, dumps, and oil rigs where equipment
could have potential risks of corrosion, explosion, and
failures due to chemical agents in the air, air treatment
and corrosion protection solutions should be deployed
to mitigate these risks. In areas of potentially high snow
load, roofs may require a slope design, while high fire risk
areas should consider fire-rated enclosures in addition to
required internal fire detection and suppression systems.
Physical protection measures also need to be deployed
to protect the EDC, as well as the components within and
any incoming service. Every data center should have
an access control system in place to ensure that gaining
control to assets is authorized and restricted based on
organizational requirements. Access control levels for
EDCs include:
• Level 1: Key-based with manually recorded
logon entry
• Level 2: Electronic access with automated
recording of entry/exit enabled by cloud-based
third-party systems
• Level 3: Electronic access, integrated with
identity management system and automated
recording of entry/exit with no third-party
cloud-based systems
• Level 4: Electronic access, dual-factor authentication
(e.g., video verification, biometrics) with
automated logging of entry/exit/location and
no third-party cloud-based systems
Video surveillance has also become an important part
of EDC security and serves as the first layered application
Adequate utility coverage is also an important factor,
which can be a challenge for some remote locations. Connectivity
is the primary need for every EDC site being
considered, including the quality and bandwidth of that
connectivity. While relatively low compared to more
traditional data center sites, power needs for EDCs are
also an important aspect of site developments. Water
availability can be a concern for EDC sites that require
water-based cooling systems.
Aside from the obvious need to get permitting for
an EDC site, other factors, such as local, state and federal
regulations, may also impact a site’s development. Zoning
or planning guidelines for everything from parking and
vegetation to environmental permitting may be required.
Labor agreements, taxation, and safety requirements
may all affect a site location’s ultimate viability. Having
a firm understanding of the regulatory requirements
of a specific site is, therefore, critical for site selection.
PHYSICAL SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
There are several areas to consider when ensuring physical
security of an EDC. While primary environmental risks
should have been considered during the site selection,
it is virtually impossible for every location to be free of all
environmental factors. Furthermore, unexpected conditions
can arise, which can be anything from naturally
occurring events like floods, solar flares and earthquakes
to changes in the environment due to adjacent space
development. It could also be due to changes in the environment
that have required policy changes, such as recent
COVID-19 policies that would cause a need for amending
operation or mandating a maintenance, repair and
upgrade necessary to sustain a safe and secure operation.
When considering potential environmental factors for
a given site, the EDC may need to be designed in such