A guide to Data Centre Compliance

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When you tap a card to pay, stream a film, or join a video call online, you rarely think about what makes it possible. But behind the scenes, data centres are carrying the weight of these critical services, operating silently in the background of everyday life. Their success is measured in invisibility: when everything works, no one notices. When they fail, the disruption is immediate - and far-reaching.

That’s why it’s so important that data centres achieve compliance with the legal, regulatory, and industry standards that govern how these facilities operate, protect data, and manage energy. For operators, this is the framework that keeps this hidden infrastructure secure, reliable, and trusted. 

At RED, we know the importance of compliance: it protects uptime, strengthens security, and ensures facilities can keep pace with rising digital demand while staying ahead of regulatory change. In an environment of evolving cyber threats and complex regulation, the cost of a single lapse is far more than a regulatory fine - and the risks of neglecting it are real. 

This article will outline the key standards and regulations every UK data-centre operator needs to know, before exploring how RED helps organisations stay ahead of them.

The current regulatory landscape

Modern data centre operators face a dense and overlapping mix of global standards, regional regulations, and contractual obligations. Understanding this landscape is the first step to managing it. Below is a breakdown of the most important standards and regulations operators need to know.

Information security and privacy

• ISO/IEC 27001 (and 27701 for privacy): The main standard for managing information security and protecting data.
• SOC 2: Independent verification that systems are secure and data is handled properly.
• GDPR and UK Data Protection Act 2018: Strict rules on how personal data is stored, processed, and shared.

Operational resilience

• ISO 22301: Sets requirements for business continuity planning - keeping services running during disruptions.
• Uptime Institute Tier Standards: Benchmark for reliability, from basic (Tier I) to fault-tolerant (Tier IV).
• NIS and NIS2: EU/UK rules covering cybersecurity for essential services and critical infrastructure.

Payment and financial data

• PCI DSS: Mandatory for handling card payments securely.

Energy and sustainability

• ISO 50001 and 50002: Help organisations save energy and cut costs by managing energy use more efficiently.
• LEED and BREEAM: Green building certifications that show a data centre is designed to be energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
• UK SECR (Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting): Requires large organisations to disclose energy use and carbon emissions.
• Climate Change Levy (and Climate Change Agreements): A tax and incentive scheme encouraging businesses to cut energy use.

Physical and personnel security

• ISO 27001 Annex A controls, BS 7858 background checks: Protect against insider threats and keep facilities physically secure.
• Fire and safety codes (e.g., NFPA 75/76): Rules that make sure buildings are safe to work in and equipment is protected from fire risks

All these standards and regulations boil down to the same thing: keeping data safe, keeping services running, and doing it in a way that’s responsible for people and the planet. RED helps clients cut through the complexity - designing, auditing, and optimising facilities so they achieve real resilience, efficiency, and sustainability. We turn regulatory pressure into an opportunity to build smarter and more secure operations.

The costs of non-compliance

The repercussions of falling short on data centre compliance rarely stop at fines. Breaches can leave organisations open to ransomware, data theft, and attacks on critical infrastructure. Despite how substantial the financial impact can be, cost is just part of the picture - when sensitive, regulated data is at stake, the wider impact on operations, reputation, and client trust can be severe.

• Operational disruption - regulators may impose change freezes or require system migrations until compliance evidence is provided.
• Contract loss - ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification is often mandatory for hyperscalers, financial institutions, and government frameworks. Without it, contracts are lost before they start.
• Insurance penalties - cyber-insurance premiums increase after findings of negligence.
• Reputation and talent - customers, investors, and employees watch for signals of weak governance. Missed disclosures, leaked audit results, or negative social-media coverage can damage trust, which may take years to rebuild.

These hidden costs rarely appear on a PUE dashboard, but their impact can be equally damaging. Regular internal audits and strict change control minimise legal issues and costly remediation - preventing breaches is consistently less expensive than managing the consequences.

Designing for compliance from day one

RED Engineering Design embeds data centre compliance as an essential part of our design services. Coordinated planning between our technical teams, architects, and MEP engineers ensures facilities meet operational, regulatory, and sustainability requirements while avoiding costly retrofits.

• Design oversight - RED provides independent technical review and client-representative services, monitoring designs and construction to ensure alignment with ISO 27001, EN 50600, and other relevant standards.
• Physical and operational resilience - layouts, electrical systems, and critical infrastructure are engineered to maintain secure and reliable operations.
• Systems integration - RED advises on integrating DCIM and building-management systems with monitoring tools to provide visibility, traceability, and operational control.
• Sustainability - Our sustainability team works with clients on certifications (BREEAM, LEED, NABERS), lifecycle assessments, energy/carbon reporting, and designing low energy infrastructure.
• Construction compliance - RED advises during the build phase on health, safety, and regulatory requirements to prevent non-compliance and costly post-construction changes.

Staying compliant for the long term

Compliance doesn’t end once a data centre goes live. RED continues to support operators with services designed to keep facilities secure, efficient, and audit-ready as regulations evolve.

• Performance and maintenance audits - RED engineers conduct periodic reviews of electrical, mechanical, and cooling systems, ensuring infrastructure continues to operate as designed and meets standards.
• Sustainability monitoring and reporting - RED tracks energy consumption and carbon performance, preparing data for BREEAM, LEED, NABERS, or SECR disclosures, and advises on improvements to achieve future efficiency targets.
• Regulatory updates and advisory - RED monitors changes in UK and EU requirements, including NIS directives and energy-reporting regulations, providing guidance so operators can plan upgrades ahead of compliance deadlines.
• Health and safety compliance - Through operational health and safety services, RED helps operators maintain safe working environments and ensures statutory obligations are met over time.

Compliance is ongoing, not a single milestone. With RED’s expertise in design and operational oversight, data centres remain secure, efficient, and audit-ready as requirements change.

Contact RED Engineering today to discuss how we can help your data centre stay compliant, resilient, and future-ready.