Panel Discussion at Data Center World Focuses on Physical Security Design

Orion’s Steve Caroselli and Mike McGovern participated in an educational panel presentation at Data Center World in Washington, DC, held April 14–17, 2025. They were joined by fellow panelists Amy Dunton of Ameristar, Steve Oliva of Altronix, and Allen DiGerolami of Hanwha.

The session attracted data center design and security professionals who came to learn about the latest technologies and key design considerations in physical security.

Highlights from the discussion included:

• Master Service Agreements (MSAs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and their implications for long-term security planning and system design.
• Core security technologies such as surveillance systems, power supplies, perimeter fencing, security mantrap portals, turnstiles, speedgates/speedlanes, doorway tailgate/piggyback prevention, and the growing role of AI.
• The five layers of physical security include:
  1. Campus property access
  2. Perimeter fencing
  3. Main entrance access control
  4. Interior door control
  5. High-security portals for server areas
• New products that use Lidar sensors with special software and interlocking doors system as an alternative to traditional mantrap portals.
• The intersection of cybersecurity and physical security, and how physical access controls contribute to data protection.
• Security strategy differences between grey space and white space within data centers.

A lively and insightful discussion followed, with participants asking thoughtful questions about access control and security system integration. After the formal presentation, Steve, Mike, and the other panelists continued engaging with attendees to discuss upcoming projects and innovative concepts in security and entrance control design.