Why Data Centres Are Switching to Modular Vaults

We often imagine data centres as highly fortified environments, protected by perimeter fences, biometric doors and strict access controls. Yet, in many facilities, the most critical hardware — such as Hardware Security Modules (HSMs), root-of-trust servers and sensitive storage — remains behind lightweight mesh cages or plasterboard partitions.

This surprising gap between perception and reality is driving a clear shift: organisations are increasingly choosing modular vaults, certified panel-based strongrooms designed specifically for modern data centres.

Why Traditional Cages Are No Longer Enough

Server cages provide visibility and airflow, but they offer minimal physical resistance. A determined intruder wielding basic tools can breach mesh or drywall within minutes. Raised floors and suspended ceilings further expose critical areas. Official guidance from the NCSC and NPSA emphasises that data centres must combine logical and physical security — and lightweight barriers simply do not meet that standard.

What a Modular Vault Delivers

A modular vault — also known as a demountable strongroom — is a six-sided shell built from rigorously tested composite panels, complete with a certified door. These systems are tested to EN 1143-1, the European burglary-resistance standard for safes, strongroom doors and strongrooms. Because they are graded against specific attack tools and methods, they offer measurable resistance — making risk assessments, insurance underwriting and regulatory compliance far more straightforward.

Why Data Centres Are Choosing Modular Vaults

1. Certified Physical Security
Modular vaults are rated to EN 1143-1, which assigns a “grade” based on how long they can resist attacks using tools ranging from crowbars to grinders. Aligning with a certified grade helps match physical defences to insurance thresholds, audit requirements and compliance standards. Furthermore, many vaults are certified under LPCB, VdS or LPS regimes, giving UK operators additional assurance.

2. True Six-Sided Protection
Unlike cages or reinforced walls, modular vaults protect all sides — the walls, floor, ceiling and door. This eliminates common entry paths such as ceiling voids or beneath raised floors.

3. Practical for Live IT Environments
Despite the term “vault,” these units remain practical for active server environments:

• • • • Secure ventilation: Specially designed air-transfer grilles allow cooling airflow without compromising the integrity of the barrier.
      • Cable access: Power and network cables pass through reinforced entry points that block physical tampering.
      • Flexible design: The panel-based system enables easy expansion or reconfiguration as data centre needs evolve — ideal for scaling AI, cloud or financial workloads.

If you need more technical detail, SMP Security can explain the range of cooling, airflow and installation options best suited to your environment.

Market Momentum: Why Organisations Are Adopting Modular Vaults

Modular vault adoption is not happening in isolation — it’s part of a broader trend in data centre infrastructure.

• • • Rapid market growth: The global modular data centre market is projected to climb sharply, driven by capacity needs and flexibility.
    • UK-specific surge: In the UK, demand has soared, especially where operators require high-security zones for regulated or sensitive workloads.
    • Risk and regulatory drivers: Verticals such as finance are leading adoption because they need both certified physical security and deployment agility. Sustainability demands and the speed of modular deployment reinforce this shift.

Growth is especially strong in sectors such as finance (where HSMs are common), IT & telecoms, and cloud providers. While traditional builds still dominate large-scale hyperscale facilities, modular systems are increasingly seen as the go-to solution for securing high-value zones within existing data halls.

Zoning: A Smart Approach to Protect Your Crown Jewels

Not every rack demands the same level of protection. By creating a “high-security zone” around Tier-1 assets, organisations can apply proportionate controls: modular vaults secure the most sensitive equipment, while the remainder of the hall retains cost-effective accessibility. This risk-based zoning aligns perfectly with government and industry guidance that encourages proportionate, layered defences.

Aligning Physical and Cyber Security

Physical security and cybersecurity are two sides of the same coin. Authorities like the NCSC and NPSA advocate a holistic strategy that unites physical, personnel and cyber controls. Modular vaults integrate seamlessly into this framework: by physically safeguarding your most sensitive hardware, you reinforce your digital defences too.

Compliance and Future-Proofing

As regulatory regimes and standards mature — especially for critical or regulated data centres — demonstrable, certified physical protections become ever more important. Because modular vaults carry documented resistance grades and independent certification, they simplify evidence-gathering for audits, insurer assessments and long-term compliance.

Conclusion: Stronger Security, Without Compromise

Modern data centres are more than racks and power lines — they’re the foundation of digital infrastructure. If you manage critical systems like HSMs, root-of-trust servers or regulated compute, a mesh cage is simply not enough. Modular vaults give you certified, practical, scalable protection that resists real-world attacks while supporting live IT requirements.

With the modular data centre market expanding rapidly, these vaults are no longer a niche solution — they’re becoming essential to modern security architecture.

If you’d like to explore how SMP Security’s modular vaults could work in your environment — from airflow design to installation timelines — do reach out to us. In the meantime, check out our Strongroom and Modular Vault solutions.

Sources:

NCSC, GOV.UK, GOV.UK, NPSA

BSI Knowledge, The NBS, Redbook Live, RedBook Live

Mordor Intelligence, Grand View Research, GlobeNewswire, Congruence Market Insights