The typical image of data centers is endless corridors humming with servers and cooled by precision climate systems. A place of clean order, efficiency, and advanced technology. But beneath that quiet exterior lies a far more dynamic and potentially hazardous environment.
We’ve learned from years of working inside these highly controlled and regulated facilities that ensuring safety means understanding the unique demands that come with them. Now, we’re launching a new global training module focused exclusively on health and safety for security officers working inside data centers.
Safety Essentials for Data Center Officers is the second module in the growing Data Center Academy, which aims to help train and upskill 10,000 data center security professionals. The new training equips officers with the knowledge and confidence to manage safety risks, protect people, and reinforce a safety-first mindset across every level of operation.
Zero tolerance for error
Data centers are critical infrastructure sites, all with zero tolerance for error. While cybersecurity usually dominates headlines, physical risks inside data centers are often overlooked. Officers operate near high-voltage systems, large diesel fuel back-up reserves, pressurized fire suppression systems, and mission-critical technology.
“Data centers come with electrical, mechanical, even chemical hazards,” says Vice President of Global Clients Bert den Hartog, who has been shaping Securitas’ data center strategy. “These are environments that, from a health and safety perspective, need to be treated with the same seriousness as oil and gas or manufacturing.”
Safety and security go hand in hand, so it’s essential that officers are trained to lead in both.
The stakes are rising
As data centers grow in size, number, and strategic importance, new regulations are emerging globally. Health and safety expectations are evolving, and organizations are increasingly under pressure to demonstrate compliance not just at the policy level, but in day-to-day practice.
“There’s no question more regulation is coming,” says Kayo Anosike, Securitas’ director of training, learning, and development. “But we’re not waiting to be told what to do. We’re acting now, because our people deserve it, and our clients expect it.”
For clients, the value proposition is clear: Officers who are trained in both security and safety bring double the benefit, without doubling the headcount. It’s a more holistic service, with fewer gaps and greater peace of mind.
“We’ve already seen great interest from our global clients,” Bert says. “They see the added value of better risk management and smarter use of resources.”
Designed for the real world
The training is hands-on, interactive, and developed with officers' everyday work in mind. Comprising 10 modules of roughly 30 minutes each, it blends interactive elements with realistic task scenarios and the ability to discuss with site managers.
“This is how you build culture,” Kayo says. “Not with posters or policies, but by giving people something they can use and something that sparks meaningful dialogue on-site.”
The course includes everything from hazard recognition and emergency response to ergonomics and incident reporting. It also introduces officers to broader thinking about their role by demonstrating how they contribute to the well-being of everyone inside the data center in addition to protecting the perimeter.
From guards to specialists
“We’re building a full learning ecosystem,” Kayo says. “It’s all about continuous development and giving officers the confidence and clarity they need to thrive.”
This new training is part of a broader shift in how we think about frontline development, shifting from traditional guarding roles toward specialization.
As Kayo shares in an episode of our podcast Connecting the Dots, 80% of the global workforce are frontline workers, yet access to meaningful, engaging training has often been limited. By prioritizing upskilling, we’re improving performance, investing in people, strengthening culture, and building a workforce that feels confident, capable, and connected to purpose.
“This isn’t just about making our people better at their jobs,” Bert says. “It’s about redefining what the job is. We want to attract people who see protecting data centers as a career, with development, responsibility, and purpose.”
Empowering our people
At its core, the new training module helps reinforce a culture where health and safety are second nature, and where the people who keep data centers running feel empowered with the knowledge and skills to respond with confidence in any situation.
“Our purpose is to make the world a safer place,” Bert says. “That starts with our own people – making sure they have the tools and training to stay safe and do their jobs with confidence. That’s the culture we’re committed to at Securitas, together with every client we work with.”
