The Security Industry Association (SIA) has launched the Data Center Advisory Board, a panel of experts that will provide guidance on data center security topics to the SIA board of directors and related resources to SIA members. Jim Black, senior director and security architect at Microsoft, has been named chair of the group.

The data center sector is growing rapidly, as artificial intelligence and other technologies daily increase the demand for cloud storage. As the repositories of so much information, much of it sensitive, these centers require sound and resilient security systems and processes. The Data Center Advisory Board will support this need by, among other things, developing information and guidelines related to security deployments, facilitating collaboration between the security industry and data center security practitioners, and working with the SIA government relations team on legislative and regulatory issues, where appropriate.

Black has served at Microsoft since 2011 within the cloud operations + innovation group. As senior director and security architect, Black defines security technology strategies and vision to protect assets and personnel across Microsoft’s global ecosystem of more than 400 data centers. He holds credentials as a Certified Protection Professional and Physical Security Professional from ASIS International, as well as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional designation from ISC².

“The data center industry is experiencing unprecedented growth and heightened risks driven by emerging technologies and global operational challenges,” Black said. “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.”

Don Erickson, CEO, SIA, added, “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 from its inception. Jim has for many years been an enthusiastic and generous supporter of SIA, contributing to multiple groups and projects that have advanced the industry’s professionalism and knowledge base. We are excited about what the advisory board will accomplish under his leadership.”