Security Industry Association Launches Data Center Advisory Board

Under the leadership of Jim Black, senior director and security architect at Microsoft, the board will concentrate on best practices for securing data centers that house highly sensitive and mission-critical information.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has launched its new Data Center Advisory Board, an expert-led group that will provide guidance to the SIA Board of Directors and resources to members focused on modern data center security practices – which comprise of facilities that are central to today’s digital economy and require advanced, layered security approaches.. The board will help address the growing need for stronger, more resilient protection as cloud infrastructure and AI-driven workloads continue to expand.

Key Focus Areas Of The Advisory Board

The advisory board’s core objectives include developing practical guidance on security system deployments, encouraging collaboration between manufacturers and data center practitioners, contributing to thought leadership efforts, and working with SIA’s government relations team on relevant legislative and regulatory issues.

Chair Jim Black has served at Microsoft since 2011 within the Cloud Operations + Innovation group. In his role as senior director and security architect, he defines the technology strategies that protect people and assets across Microsoft’s global network of more than 400 data centers. He holds credentials as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and Physical Security Professional (PSP) from ASIS International, along with the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) designation from ISC².  “The data center industry is experiencing unprecedented growth and heightened risks driven by emerging technologies and global operational challenges. I am honored to serve as SIA’s inaugural Data Center Advisory Board chair and look forward to working with this accomplished group of industry experts to advance and publish modern security standards that will strengthen cloud critical infrastructure protection worldwide.”

Industry Endorsement From SIA Leadership

SIA CEO Don Erickson highlighted Black’s deep involvement and long-standing support of industry initiatives, calling him an ideal fit to lead the advisory board from its inception. “The Data Center Advisory Board is an important venture for SIA, and we are very pleased that it will be able to benefit from Jim’s experience and expertise in data center security… We are excited about what the advisory board will accomplish under his leadership.”

SIA members can learn more about ongoing initiatives through its committees, advisory boards, and working groups designed to support knowledge sharing and professional advancement across the security ecosystem.