It is essential that access to the room is controlled and monitored.

Various options are available which range from a simple mechanical digital lock, through card readers, electronic tokens, fingerprint and iris readers, to a live video screening for personal vetting by a security guard.
These are connected to a means of locking/unlocking the door, which may be an electronic retractable lock keep, or a magnetic lock – which is a large electro magnet.

It is important that these locks have either a manual means of release from inside the room, to enable occupants to escape in an emergency.

The locks may be arranged to fail safe, which means that they release when the electrical power to them is switched off – usually when a manual break glass fire alarm is activated. However such an arrangement needs careful consideration – see Pitfalls

More incidents of damage to a computer facility occur from inside the room than outside.

To act as a deterrent, as well as recording events, the room should be covered with CCTV monitoring.

Movement detectors may activate cameras to follow actions, whilst simple contacts fitted to computer cabinet doors can be linked to camera activation and alarms.

The control and recording equipment should be housed outside the room, in a secure area or one attended by security responsible personnel – see Pitfalls

Windows should not occur in the fabric of a computer room, or they should be securely blocked. However there may be emergency exit or equipment delivery doors leading directly to outside the premises.

Such doors should be reinforced with security hinge blocks and metal plate lining.

PIR detection throughout the room and contacts fitted to the doors, all connected back to a central alarm, is required.