Once you have created a short list of potential data center sites, you should visit the site to evaluate the building or construction areas. This will help to validate decisions and identify any potential issues in the chosen locations. Use this checklist to capture and document any issues as well as ensuring the data center facility is free of both internal and external threats.

This checklist addresses the following when evaluating potential building sites for the data center:

• External environment within which the data center may be located, including environmental and physical hazards nearby
• Internal checkpoints to consider when conducting the site visit such as clean power, secured areas, and cooling equipment
• Physical attributes of the building such as loading docks, water lines, and power grids
• Access control to prevent intruders from entering the building

Use this checklist to help you choose the right site for you. Also, once the facility is fully operational, the ISO IEC 27002 2005 (17799 2005) Information Security Audit Tool, Section 9 Physical and Environmental Security Management Audit should be used to access the facility on a regular basis.