Data centers have become one of the most demanding verticals for physical security systems integrators. They combine the access-control requirements of critical infrastructure, the uptime expectations of IT environments, and the cybersecurity concerns of network-connected security systems.
A recent
Hanwha Vision case study on Seznam, the Czech internet portal and search engine, offers a useful example of how these requirements are evolving. Seznam operates two data centers, Nagoja and Kokura, to support services including search, email, advertising, directories, and apps. According to Hanwha Vision, Nagoja covers about 1,200 square meters, while Kokura has recently been expanded with a new data hall.
The project involved replacing older CCTV infrastructure at Kokura, which had been installed in 2013, and extending surveillance across both sites. Hanwha Vision said Seznam selected its cameras because of their cybersecurity credentials, AI analytics, ability to integrate with existing infrastructure, and suitability for phased rollout.
For integrators, the case highlights several issues that are becoming central to data center projects: perimeter protection, operational continuity, cybersecurity assurance, false alarm reduction, and the need to modernize without disrupting live facilities.
Security tied to uptime
Unlike many commercial sites, data centers are not just protecting property or people. They are protecting the digital services that depend on continuous infrastructure availability. This changes the nature of the security brief.
At Seznam, Hanwha Vision said the challenge was to protect the company’s two data centers against cyberattacks and operational emergencies such as fire or flooding. The objective was not only to improve monitoring but also to support faster response times.
This is important because security incidents in data centers can quickly become business-continuity incidents. Unauthorized access, tampering, equipment damage, fire, water ingress, or prolonged disruption can affect service availability and customer trust.
For systems integrators, this means data center security design must be closely aligned with uptime requirements. Cameras, analytics, access control, alarms, and monitoring workflows need to support rapid verification and response. Security systems must also avoid creating new risks, whether through network vulnerabilities, operational disruption, or false alarms that distract operators from real events.
Wide areas, restricted zones
The Seznam deployment also shows the scale and complexity of monitoring data center sites. Hanwha Vision said the two data center locations each have two data halls comprising 200 racks. To cover the estate, 121 cameras were installed at Nagoja and 84 at Kokura, where a central control room manages the entire estate.
This reflects a common data center requirement: the need to secure multiple layers of space. These may include the perimeter, building entrances, loading areas, corridors, server halls, restricted rooms, and technical infrastructure areas.
The challenge is not simply to record video. Operators need to understand who is entering and leaving, whether someone is present in a restricted area, whether an event is routine or suspicious, and whether an alarm requires immediate action.
Hanwha Vision said the cameras at Seznam support perimeter protection and monitoring of people as they enter and exit the area, helping ensure unauthorized individuals do not enter restricted zones.
For integrators, the lesson is that data center projects require a layered approach. Perimeter detection, internal monitoring, access control integration, and forensic search all need to work together. The design should help operators move from detection to verification to response as quickly as possible.
Why AI analytics matter
Data centers may not have the same crowded scenes as airports, retail stores, or city surveillance environments. But they still generate many events that can distract operators.
Hanwha Vision noted that AI analytics at Seznam help reduce false alarms, allowing operators to focus on events that require attention. The case study cited false alarms caused by wildlife, moving tree branches, and even flickering server lights inside data centers.
This is an important point for integrators. In data centers, the value of video analytics is not only in detecting unusual behavior. It is also in improving operator efficiency and reducing alarm fatigue. If every movement, lighting change, or environmental disturbance generates alerts, operators may become slower to respond or less confident in the system.
Hanwha Vision said the XNF-8010RV camera used in the project includes loitering detection, people counting, queue management, audio detection, and sound classification. It can alert operators to sounds such as shouting, screaming, or glass breaking. The XNO-C9083R includes object detection and classification to reduce false alarms, as well as forensic search for investigations.
For data centers, these capabilities can support both real-time security and post-incident analysis. Loitering detection may help identify suspicious behavior near restricted zones. People counting and queue management can support access-control workflows. Audio detection can add another layer of situational awareness. Forensic search can reduce the time needed to investigate incidents.
Cybersecurity becomes part of physical security
The Seznam case also underlines a major shift in the video surveillance market: cybersecurity is no longer a secondary consideration. In data centers, it can be a deciding factor.
Hanwha Vision said cyber-resilient video cameras were essential because of the financial and reputational costs of a data breach. The company highlighted several cybersecurity-related credentials, including NDAA compliance, UL Cybersecurity Assurance Program certification for its products, ISO 27001 certification for its information security system, and preparedness for the Cyber Resilience Act and NIS2.
The case study also referenced Hanwha Vision’s S-CERT security response team, which monitors threats and vulnerabilities, and the company’s role as a CVE Numbering Authority authorized to identify, define, and catalogue publicly reported cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
For integrators, this points to a clear message: product selection for data centers must include cybersecurity due diligence. Cameras and video systems are network-connected devices. If poorly secured, they can become attack surfaces.
This is especially relevant as customers become more concerned about spyware risks, supply-chain security, and compliance with local or sector-specific requirements. Integrators may increasingly need to document the cybersecurity posture of the systems they recommend, including certifications, vulnerability disclosure processes, firmware update practices, encryption, authentication, and compliance with relevant regulations.
Modernization without disruption
Another important lesson from the Seznam project is the value of phased deployment. Hanwha Vision said one reason its cameras were selected was the ability to integrate with current infrastructure and be rolled out in phases. The result, according to the case study, was enhanced security with minimal disruption to existing infrastructure.
This matters because data centers cannot easily tolerate downtime or intrusive installation work. Many upgrades must happen while the site remains operational. Integrators need to plan around access restrictions, operational schedules, cabling limitations, network policies, and existing security infrastructure.
A phased rollout also gives operators time to adjust workflows, test analytics, tune false alarm settings, and validate integrations before wider deployment.
What integrators should take away
The Seznam project shows that data center security is moving beyond traditional CCTV replacement. Operators are looking for systems that can improve visibility, reduce false alarms, support compliance, strengthen cybersecurity, and integrate into existing infrastructure.
For systems integrators, this means data center projects require a broader consultative approach. The conversation should not begin only with camera counts and coverage maps. It should include risk assessment, regulatory requirements, cybersecurity expectations, operational continuity, incident response, integration with access control, and the ability to scale over time.
As data centers continue to expand to support cloud services, AI workloads, enterprise digitization, and consumer internet platforms, their physical security requirements are likely to become more demanding. The Seznam case suggests that successful deployments will be those that combine cyber-resilient devices, intelligent analytics, centralized monitoring, and a practical upgrade path that does not disrupt critical operations.