Data Centers, Artificial Intelligence, and a New Control Approach: Weidmüller's Perspective

[Erkan Teskancan]

## Data Centers and Artificial Intelligence: Weidmüller's Control Strategy

Data centers form the backbone of electrical services and industries. However, they face challenges such as high energy consumption, water requirements, and an increasing risk of cyberattacks. Weidmüller leads the industry in automation and security.

### Energy and Environmental Regulations

In the US, there is no single federal "data center efficiency" law. Operators often refer to DOE design practices and EPA ENERGY STAR certification. While these programs are voluntary, they are frequently used in corporate ESG policies and customer demands.

• SEC climate-related reporting rules compel large companies to disclose Scope 1/2 emissions and climate risk management.
• States in the US are introducing reporting for water usage and incentives for reclaimed water and closed-loop cooling.
• In the EU, the EED directive mandates data centers with an IT load of 500 kW or more to report environmental KPIs such as PUE, WUE, and renewable energy use.

### Weidmüller's Approach to Automation and Security

Weidmüller offers security solutions based on NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5, NIST SP 800-82 Rev. 3, and NIST SP 800-207 Zero Trust principles. Security vulnerabilities in data centers often originate from building automation and OT areas.

Since artificial intelligence systems process large datasets rapidly, security measures include:

• Classification and isolation of AI data
• Policy-based firewalls for model inputs and outputs
• Logging of all operations

### Updates and Continuous Reliability

Continuous updates are mandatory, but reliability must not be compromised. Weidmüller designs IT and OT systems, which operate at different speeds, to be adaptable to change.

• Uninterrupted operation is ensured with redundant power and cooling paths
• Existing sensor and telemetry data are used to verify software updates
• Performance (PUE, WUE) and stability metrics are continuously monitored

Weidmüller supports the sustainability, security, and reliability of data centers with cabling, I/O, endpoint connections, and secure software updates.

### Resources and Standards

DOE Energy Efficient Data Center Design Guide (2024), EPA ENERGY STAR, SEC Climate Reporting Rules, EU EED, ISO/IEC 30134-2:2026 (PUE), ASHRAE TC 9.9, NIST SP series.

Weidmüller shapes the future of data centers with flexible and robust automation connections.