High-Security Solutions for Military and Law Enforcement

Introduction

In today’s threat landscape, military and law enforcement agencies face complex challenges when it comes to high-security solutions for their data centres. These facilities house critical and often classified information, making them prime targets for those intent on causing harm or disruption.

Let’s be honest: the landscape is challenging, but with the right security measures in place, you can stay ahead of the game and ensure your data remains safe and sound.

The Need for High Security in Military and Law Enforcement

You might be aware of the foiled plot to bomb an AWS data centre, demonstrating the escalating threats against critical infrastructure. The attempted attack reveals how data centres (including those used by military and law enforcement), are not only targets for cyberattacks but also for physical sabotage.

A study found that in 2020, 10% of malicious breaches were the result of physical security compromises, leading to $4.46 million in damages. While this statistic is based on data from the U.S., it clearly illustrates the significant financial impact a security breach can have.

Perimeter Concerns

Let’s talk about the reality on the ground. Data centres that support military and law enforcement are frequently situated in urban areas or near other vital infrastructure. This can make establishing a solid perimeter defence quite challenging. A data centre surrounded by other buildings makes it all too easy for potential adversaries to get close, making the facility vulnerable to physical attacks or attempts at infiltration.

Access Control

Access control is another major concern. With a constant flow of authorised personnel, visitors, and contractors, managing who enters/exits the facility is no simple task. Issues like tailgating, where someone slips in behind an authorised person are constant headaches. It’s crucial to stay one step ahead with effective high-security solutions and access management strategies.

Insider Threats

In military and law enforcement environments, insider threats pose an even more critical risk due to the highly sensitive nature of data involved. Disgruntled employees, contractors, or even personnel with security clearances can misuse their privileged access to steal classified information, plant malware, or sabotage infrastructure.

Such actions could compromise national security, expose covert operations, or endanger public safety. For these sectors, rigorous background checks, continuous personnel monitoring, and layered access controls are essential to mitigating the heightened risk of insider threats.

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

Supply chain vulnerabilities add another layer of complexity. Adversaries may attempt to infiltrate through compromised hardware, software, or third-party suppliers. The introduction of malicious elements into equipment, or the use of counterfeit components, can lead to data breaches or operational failures during critical missions.

Therefore, securing the supply chain in these sectors requires strict vetting of suppliers, maintaining control over the lifecycle of equipment, and ensuring that all components meet stringent security standards to prevent potential compromises.

Colocation Challenges

In military and law enforcement contexts, colocation in data centres presents unique security challenges, as multiple government agencies or departments may need to share infrastructure.

Differing security protocols and priorities between agencies can lead to vulnerabilities that adversaries could exploit. Supporting consistent application of high-security solutions across all parties, as well as clearly defined access controls, is crucial to prevent breaches and maintain the integrity of sensitive information across shared environments.

Importance of Data Security

Given these physical security challenges, why is robust data centre security so crucial?

For military and law enforcement, safeguarding data isn’t just about protecting information, it’s about national security and public safety. A security breach can have serious repercussions, from compromising critical operations to exposing classified intelligence or disrupting essential services.

Datacentre UK’s High-Security Solutions

With a deep understanding of the unique demands and high-stakes environment of these sectors, Datacentre UK offers a comprehensive range of cutting-edge solutions designed to ensure the highest level of protection for critical assets.

Constructing a High-Security Data Centre

Datacentre UK’s facilities are built to withstand the most rigorous security challenges. Their rooms are engineered with exceptional flexibility, designed to be shipped and deployed anywhere while adhering to stringent standards. They conform to LPS 1175 standards, ranging from SR1 to SR5, and meet the UK Government’s ModuSec GS: NPSA requirements. This ensures robust protection for critical infrastructure.

For facilities requiring enhanced physical security, Datacentre UK provides advanced blast and ballistic protection options. Their panels, manufactured in the UK, are designed to meet EN1522/23 standards. They can incorporate materials up to FB7, offering significant resistance against explosive and ballistic threats. The ModuSec GS, an NPSA-rated product approved for UK Government use, exemplifies their commitment to meeting the highest security standards.

What do these security classifications mean?

LPS 1175 Standards:

The LPS 1175 standard, established by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB), assesses the ability of physical security products—such as doors, walls, and fencing—to withstand forced entry. The higher ratings (like SR5) are suitable for facilities housing highly sensitive data. Examples include military and law enforcement data centres, where the risk of targeted attacks is elevated. These products are tested to resist increasingly sophisticated tools and methods, ensuring robust protection against intrusion. For example, SR5-rated products can withstand sustained attacks using heavy-duty tools for extended periods, ideal for securing critical assets.

UK Government’s ModuSec GS: NPSA:

The ModuSec GS is a modular construction system approved by the UK Government’s National Protective Security Authority (NPSA, formerly CPNI). It provides high-security enclosures with enhanced fire protection, ballistic resistance, and blast protection. This system is tailored for government use, offering a flexible solution for both temporary and permanent high-security installations. For military and law enforcement data centres, sensitive data and operational systems are safeguarded within secure, scalable environments.

EN1522/23:

EN1522/23 outlines the ballistic resistance standards for building components. This classification is crucial for military and law enforcement facilities, where protection against gunfire and explosive threats is paramount. EN1522 defines seven levels of ballistic resistance (FB1 to FB7), with FB7 providing protection against high-calibre weapons like the 7.62×51 rifle. Datacentre UK’s solutions incorporate materials tested to FB7 standards. This offers the highest level of protection to defend against the most extreme ballistic threats, ensuring personnel and data are shielded in hostile environments.

Materials up to FB7:

FB7 represents the highest level of ballistic resistance in the EN1522 classification. Materials rated at this level can withstand rifle fire from high-calibre weapons. This provides a critical layer of defence for military and law enforcement data centres. The protection is essential for safeguarding classified information and operational equipment in scenarios where the risk of armed assault or terrorism is present. By integrating FB7-rated materials, Datacentre UK ensures that its facilities are prepared to handle even the most severe physical threats.

EMSEC Capabilities

Safeguarding communications and preventing data leaks from electromagnetic signals is vital to preserving operational secrecy and protecting classified intelligence. Without EMSEC solutions, critical data could be intercepted, compromising missions or national security.

In addition to physical security, Datacentre UK excels in electromagnetic security (EMSEC). They offer Tempest, EMI, and RFI shielding solutions that conform to NATO SDIP-27 standards. These measures are crucial for protecting against electromagnetic threats. They ensure that sensitive information remains secure from electronic eavesdropping or interference.

Power Protection

Careful now. Any disruption in power can undermine operational readiness, delay response times, and compromise national security.

Datacentre UK supplies and installs both single and three-phase uninterruptible power supply (UPS) solutions tailored to customer requirements. Their systems are designed for scalability, efficiency, and manageability, featuring both VRLA and Li-ion battery technology. For extended runtimes, standby generators are integrated to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

Cooling

Maintaining the correct temperature is vital to prevent equipment failure and data loss. It ensures critical systems remain operational during high-intensity or prolonged missions.

To therefore maintain optimal operational efficiency, Datacentre UK offers a range of cooling solutions. These include rack, row, and room cooling systems designed to match the IT load precisely. Options such as Rack Door, In Rack, In Row, and perimeter room cooling are available. There is also advanced airflow management to prevent hot and cold air streams from mixing, ensuring maximum cooling efficiency.

Fire Protection

Ensuring safety from fire is a top priority. Datacentre UK provides rooms with standard certified 90-minute fire protection, both externally and internally. They also install sophisticated fire detection and suppression systems. Examples include HSSD and VESDA, which offer early alerts to potential issues and protect critical data and assets effectively.

A very real example that demonstrates the need for fire protection is the significant fire at the OVHCloud data centre in Strasbourg, France, in March 2021. This incident disrupted services for millions of websites. Some of those included government agencies and banks, underscoring the critical importance of robust physical security measures. The prolonged downtime experienced by many services following the fire highlighted how essential it is to implement comprehensive fire protection systems. It’s crucial to mitigate risks and ensure continuity in the face of such disasters.

Technical

Datacentre UK’s offerings include a range of rack and open frame solutions designed to meet diverse needs. These solutions feature best-in-class static load capability. They come equipped with accessories such as HID locking handles and biometric access controls. Intruder detection systems, building alarms with remote notification, and CCTV systems with local or cloud video storage are also installed to enhance security.

Electrical Infrastructure

The comprehensive electrical distribution infrastructure includes Automatic Transfer Switches for emergency generators, External Bypass switches, and Tempest power filters. All installations are conducted to the latest British electrical standards and tailored to specific application requirements.

For military and law enforcement data centres, maintaining uninterrupted power is critical for the continuous operation of mission-critical systems. Any downtime could jeopardise security or disrupt sensitive operations, making a reliable electrical infrastructure a top priority to ensure that secure communications and data handling remain uninterrupted during crises.

Monitoring

Real-time monitoring is essential for detecting and addressing potential vulnerabilities quickly, from physical breaches to environmental anomalies. This ensures that any disruptions to critical systems or sensitive operations are identified and mitigated before they can escalate into larger security threats.

Datacentre UK provides extensive monitoring solutions, from physical and environmental oversight to fully functional data centre infrastructure management (DCIM). Tailored solutions cover temperature and humidity monitoring, leak detection, and hydrogen monitoring, ensuring that all aspects of the data centre environment are continuously monitored and managed for optimal performance and security.

Conclusion

Research from Gartner predicts that by 2025, 85% of infrastructure strategies will incorporate a mix of on-premises, cloud, and edge solutions.

With this trend on the rise, it’s crucial to evaluate: is your military or law enforcement data centre equipped with the high-security solutions required to protect your most sensitive assets?

If you’re looking to improve your data centres security, reach out to the team today to find out how we can help.