Risk management in facility management for data centres: status and deficits

Abstract

Purpose Data centres (DC) serve as critical infrastructure and require a sustainable and uninterrupted building operation. Effective risk management (RM), as a component of enterprise RM (ERM), is the basis for secure DC operations. The purpose of this paper is to determine, whether holistic and integrated RM solutions already exist or what they might look like. Design/methodology/approach A literature review of laws, norms, standards, methods and certifications combined with transcribed paper and pencil expert interviews with DC, facility service companies and consulting firms has been conducted. The study also investigates RM practices of 23 large international DC and facility service companies. Findings Results of literature research and intensive interviews with experienced DC experts, covering the entire life cycle of buildings, indicate that there are no holistic and integrated RM practice applications for DC on a sound academic basis. Practical implications Findings suggest that there is a need for developing a holistic and integrated RM framework for DC. This paper is a contribution to the expansion of ERM research and can be very valuable for builders and operators. The results of this research form the basis for the development of a structured RM framework for DC that improves performance. Originality/value The study allows professionals to understand the operational state-of-the-art of RM in critical environments and shed light on the wide spectrum of conceptualities and definitions.