Data Center Certification (EN 50600)

In today’s demanding digital age, data centers serve as essential infrastructure and the very heart of most digital services, as they gather and transmit all information. The most critical factors ensuring the reliability of data centers are their physical security and availability.

EN 50600 is a series of standards aimed at the consistent assessment of IT infrastructures, adopting a holistic approach to the design, construction, and operation of data centers. The main components of the standard cover building construction, power distribution, environmental control, telecommunications cabling, security systems, and management and operational information. Accordingly, data centers are classified into availability and security classes, and energy efficiency levels.

Certification of data centers according to EN 50600 by an independent and recognized body reliably demonstrates physical security and availability, helping to reduce downtime and limited service availability. It is important to note that beyond physical and logical security concerns, critical aspects of data center safety include building construction, power distribution, power usage effectiveness, environmental control, telecommunications cabling infrastructure, use of renewable energy sources, among many others—all addressed by the EN 50600 series of standards.

TÜV HELLAS collaborates closely with TÜVIT, based in Germany, as members of the TÜV NORD GROUP. TÜVIT has developed the TSI.STANDARD since 2001, a checklist for evaluating data centers, and is also active in certifications based on EN 50600, which relies on risk analysis. In recent years, EN 50600 has been evolving internationally through the ISO/IEC 22237 series of standards. Under Greek legislation—specifically Law 5069/2023 published in Government Gazette 193A/28-11-2023—compliance with at least EN 50600-2-5 has become mandatory.

Certification according to the above international standard demonstrates an organization’s commitment:

• Because IT system availability is of paramount importance for every organization.
• Because data center providers can design, operate, and expand their centers using cutting-edge technology.
• Because it is an internationally recognized standard, offering security in the design and operation of new data centers.
• Because it affirms the commitment of data center providers to a more sustainable future.
   

The EN 50600 series is undoubtedly one of the most important standards for implementing best practices in the design and management of a data center. However, it is worth noting that these specialized standards can be combined with broader quality and information security management standards—such as ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 27001 (information security), ISO 27701 (personal data protection), and ISO 22301 (business continuity)—within the framework of a holistic approach to certifying an effective, efficient, and sustainable data center.