Kentix, an ASSA ABLOY Company, presents data centre security, monitoring and access management with a single, networked software solution, the KentixOne
Data is now a critical strategic resource for so many organisations, both commercial and non-commercial. As a result, demand for new data premises is growing fast. With almost 3,500 data centres in operation, Europe is already the second-largest regional market after the Americas. The UK, Germany, France and Italy each have more than 200 data centres in operation as of late 20251. At the same time, the growing scope of national and regional regulation places ever more pressure on operators to make sure they take an appropriate approach to data management and protection.
For in-house data centres or co-location premises, physical security is therefore a fundamental requirement. Every design, build, or refit of a data centre must adopt it as a guiding principle, as NPSA guidance notes: “Security must be considered at all stages of the project and must not be thought of as a separate entity that can be addressed later.”2
The sensitive nature of much data also brings sites within the scope of strict new requirements such as the EU’s NIS2 and Cyber Resilience Act3. Indeed, the EU’s GDPR has further fueled the European data-centre building boom. According to European Data Centre Association (EUDCA) forecasts, by 2030 more than 100bn EUR will be invested in the sector and co-location will contribute 84bn EUR to Europe’s GDP, almost triple its contribution in 20234.
Stakes can be high and penalties severe for organisations which get data security wrong. The cost of an average data breach is 3.8m EUR, according to IBM’s 2025 annual report5. The penalty in terms of reputation and/or regulator fines could be much more. Clearly, compliance within a complex regulatory landscape and the implementation of joined-up security and access management are growing challenges.
The physical security challenges of data centres
Because staff, contractors and visitors all require varying levels of access at different times, data centre 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 helps ensure permissions stay current as people join or leave projects. Remote and real-time oversight are essential.
The goal is not just to prevent unauthorised access, but to maintain a clear audit trail which satisfies ISO 27001, NIS2 and more. When properly designed and implemented, intelligent security management underpins the data centre’s physical resilience and operational efficiency – deterring hybrid physical–cyber attacks in the process, for example.
“The specification and deployment of the right security and access technologies in data centres requires both project and geographical expertise,” says Jochaim Mahlstedt, Managing Director at Kentix GmbH, part of ASSA ABLOY. “At ASSA ABLOY, we have broad experience in implementing access and security solutions for this sector.”
“As a powerful new addition to our stable of digital solutions, the KentixONE platform was designed specifically from the ground up for deployment in the white space of data centres. It performs eight critical security tasks within its one intuitive, integrated platform without unnecessary complexity. With KentixONE, we can equip data centre whitespace with the security it needs – now and well into the future. The platform supports seamless integration with data centre infrastructure management (DCIM), ticketing systems, and EAC solutions.”
“Data centres deserve a digital security management solution built entirely with their needs in mind,” he adds. “Now they can have it.”…
