Campus-Wide Rack Security for a Leading UK University
How one university secured 200 distributed racks with a single, centralised platform
One of the UK’s largest universities faced a growing challenge. Its IT infrastructure was spread across an expansive campus, with server racks located in buildings and rooms far beyond a traditional data centre environment. Furthermore, managing physical security at that scale, using manual processes, was no longer sustainable.
The university needed a smarter way to secure its racks and gain visibility across the entire campus.
The Challenge: Distributed Infrastructure, Limited Oversight
Unlike a single, centralised data centre, the university operated around 200 server racks across multiple locations. Most cabinets relied on standard, keyed-alike locks, making it difficult to control access or prove who had entered a rack and when.
Also, manual key management introduced risk. There was no reliable audit trail, no real-time alerts, and limited ability to respond quickly to unauthorised access. At the same time, the university needed to meet strict regulatory and compliance requirements.
The solution had to provide centralised control without requiring a traditional data centre layout.
A Central Platform for a Decentralised Campus
Advanced Datacentre Systems (ADS) designed a bespoke solution using the Sensorium™ DCIM platform.
Additionally, each rack was retrofitted with an iAccess Controller, enabling electronic door handles and door contacts to report status in real time. This immediately transformed rack security from a manual process into an automated, centrally managed system.
To reflect the university’s unique environment, ADS moved away from conventional floorplan views. Instead, Sensorium™ was configured with a campus-wide dashboard, organised by building and room. Security teams gained a clear, top-down view of rack access events, door status, and environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.
In addition, automated alerts ensured that any unauthorised access attempt or environmental deviation was flagged immediately.
Adding Visual Verification and Accountability
Additionally to further strengthen security, ADS integrated CCTV directly into the rack infrastructure.
Compact cameras were embedded into rack blanking panels and linked to each iAccess Controller. When a rack door was opened, the system not only logged the access event but also presented a live visual feed to the security desk.
This dual-verification approach combined digital audit data with visual confirmation, delivering full accountability for every access event across the campus.
The Outcome: Visibility, Compliance, and Future Readiness
The university now manages its entire server estate through a single, centralised platform. Furthermore, security teams have real-time visibility into rack access and environmental conditions, regardless of where racks are located on campus.
The system provides a complete digital audit trail, supporting compliance and regulatory reporting with minimal effort. Manual key management is no longer a risk factor, and security incidents can be identified and addressed immediately.
Just as importantly, the solution is built to scale. As the university’s infrastructure evolves, Sensorium™ will continue to serve as the foundation for campus-wide governance, supporting future integrations without introducing complexity.