NEW YORK, July 7 — Allied Universal and Securitas, two of the largest private security firms operating in the United States, reported a 40 percent increase in contracts for data center construction site protection in 2024.
The demand, according to the companies’ filings and industry reports, now encompasses round-the-clock guard services, motion-activated camera systems, and drone surveillance. A typical artificial intelligence data center construction project currently spends between $200,000 and $500,000 on security per project, the record shows. That figure stood at roughly $50,000 in 2022.
The Security Escalation
The jump in spending reflects a broader shift in how builders protect high-value construction sites. Some firms have deployed AI-powered cameras capable of detecting intruders and automatically alerting local police, according to sources familiar with the security contracts. The technology allows for real-time threat assessment without requiring a human guard at every post.
Insurance premiums for data center construction have risen by 20 percent in 2024, driven by a wave of theft claims at active build sites. Insurers have begun requiring more robust security protocols as a condition of coverage, pushing developers toward the higher-end security packages now common in the sector.
The global construction security market is projected to grow from $15 billion in 2023 to $25 billion by 2030, according to a forecast by MarketsandMarkets. That trajectory places the industry on a compound annual growth rate that security analysts describe as unusually steep for a mature sector.
What Is Driving the Surge
The construction of AI data centers has accelerated sharply since 2023, with hyperscale projects requiring vast amounts of concrete, steel, and copper wiring — all materials that have become targets for organized theft rings. Security firms report that the value of materials on a single large data center site can run into the tens of millions of dollars at any given moment.
The 24/7 guard requirement is not merely a precaution. Industry records show that theft at data center construction sites has become a recurring problem, with copper wire and server-grade components fetching high prices on secondary markets. The 20 percent insurance premium increase in 2024 is a direct consequence of those claims, according to filings reviewed by InfoPulse Today.
Drone surveillance has become a standard feature at the most sensitive sites. Security contractors now operate aerial patrols that can cover the perimeter of a 200-acre construction zone in minutes, feeding video to command centers staffed by former military and law enforcement personnel.
Market Outlook
Allied Universal and Securitas have both expanded their specialized data center divisions, hiring additional personnel with experience in critical infrastructure protection. The two firms now compete for contracts that include not only construction phase security but also long-term monitoring once facilities become operational.
The $25 billion global market forecast for 2030 suggests the current spending levels are not a temporary spike. Sources familiar with the bidding process say that data center developers are increasingly writing security costs into their initial project budgets rather than treating them as an afterthought.
What remains to be seen is whether the security industry can scale fast enough to meet demand. The 40 percent contract increase in 2024 has already strained staffing pipelines, and some firms have begun offering premium wages to attract guards willing to work the overnight shifts that data center sites require.
