Skygard
Skygard
Skygard

Data Centers

Sustainability

Sustainability at Skygard

From K9 patrol to data security

The journey from police dog handler to Chief Security Officer at one of Norway's most advanced data center providers may seem unusual, but for Bjørn Almås, it has been both logical and exciting. Today, he leads security operations at Skygard, where he draws on his background to build something new in the Norwegian data center landscape.
From uniform to consultantAlmås spent 20 years in the police force, ten of them with the K9 Unit in Oslo, where he trained patrol dogs to search for missing persons and criminals. In 2012, he became curious about life outside the police force and started working as a consultant on assignments related to securing the critical infrastructure we all depend on in Norway."The transition gave me the opportunity to see security from a broader perspective. In the police, I worked operationally with concrete threats. As a consultant, I got to work more strategically on how we build security into society-critical infrastructure from the ground up," says Almås.It was this expertise that brought him to the Skygard project in 2023. As advisor and project security manager during the construction phase, he helped design the security requirements for the new data center - everything from physical measures to electronic security systems and administrative procedures at the facility.Holistic security approachPhysical and electronic measures must always be viewed in conjunction with the administrative procedures that are established. But technology and procedures are only part of the equation."Security is as much about people as it is about systems. Employees, contractors, and our customers must receive adequate training in how security should be maintained. It's the work culture we establish at the facility that ultimately determines whether security requirements are followed," Almås explains.For him, the transition to full-time employment at Skygard was a natural choice after 12 years as a consultant."I found this so exciting because Skygard delivers something more than just data centers. We contribute to societal security and target organizations that manage society's critical infrastructure and functions."Security as a competitive advantageSkygard differs from competitors in several areas, but Norwegian ownership is an important factor. National control over the most important functions we all depend on is something Skygard can contribute to. At the same time, it's about balancing security considerations with other priorities. Where many data centers are established in remote locations, Skygard has chosen urban locations in the Oslo area."We could have established these data centers outside urban areas, but with today's developments in power capacity, it's more important than ever to think circularly - to reuse the resources we consume. Skygard's data center in Hovinbyen can reuse excess heat to warm approximately 12,000 apartments in the surrounding area," says Almås.The threat landscape facing the data center industry is also constantly evolving. The world has become more polarized, and the geopolitical situation can change rapidly."More isn't always better. We must be able to document our security objectives and communicate them clearly to employees and customers alike. We're managing our customers' valuable assets while simultaneously inheriting their threat landscape. This makes continuous dialogue about their specific needs and concerns essential," Almås emphasizes.Advice for establishing an organizational culture that maintains securityAlmås' experience has given him clear insight into what creates a good organizational culture that maintains security:Leadership as good role models: If you follow the rules, you want everyone else to follow; they will naturally do so, provided they trust you.Put people first: By building a work environment where people receive adequate training and are seen, you create safety and well-being. Well-being and safety, in turn, create loyalty.Be clear about expectations: You must communicate your expectations clearly. This is primarily done through the documented management system consisting of policies, guidelines, and instructions.
  • "Consistency in how we work over time creates predictability and mutual understanding of expectations between employer and employee," Almås concludes.