Datacenter Security Operations Manager

Overview

Microsoft's Cloud Operations + Innovation (CO+I) organisation powers the infrastructure supporting Microsoft's cloud services. Datacenter Physical Security is responsible for protecting people, facilities, assets and critical infrastructure.

The Datacenter Security Operations Manager (DSOM) leads day-to-day physical security operations across assigned Microsoft datacenters, campuses and metro locations. The role provides operational leadership, security subject-matter expertise and oversight of contracted security services, ensuring physical security measures remain effective, resilient and aligned with Microsoft policies, standards and operational requirements.

The ideal candidate will work closely with Datacenter Operations, Engineering, Environmental Health and Safety, Compliance, Investigations, Security Design and Delivery, lease providers, construction partners and contracted security service providers.

Responsibilities

Security Operations Leadership

• Lead and oversee physical security operations across assigned datacenters, campuses and metro locations.
• Ensure security programmes, procedures, post orders and site-specific instructions are implemented consistently.
• Assess the effectiveness of access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, alarms, physical barriers, screening checkpoints and other security measures.
• Conduct regular site visits, security reviews and operational assessments to verify compliance with established security baselines.
• Monitor operational performance, identify gaps and drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Maintain accurate security documentation, operational records and leadership reporting.

Incident Management and Investigations

• Lead on-site response to security incidents, threats and significant operational events.
• Coordinate response activities with Datacenter Operations, security service providers, lease providers, internal security teams and local authorities, as appropriate.
• Support security investigations, fact-finding, evidence preservation, root-cause analysis and after-action reviews.
• Ensure incident and investigation records are prepared accurately and actions are tracked to closure.
• Apply lessons learned from incidents to strengthen operational controls and procedures.
• Support security bridge calls and provide timely situation updates to security leadership and stakeholders.

Risk, Compliance and Audit Readiness

• Conduct or support physical security risk assessments and develop practical mitigation plans.
• Maintain audit readiness across assigned locations.
• Coordinate audit evidence and support internal, external, customer and regulatory audit activities.
• Present site physical security posture during audits and operational reviews.
• Track audit observations, risk actions and remediation commitments to closure.
• Monitor changes in the local threat and operating environment and recommend appropriate adjustments to security posture.

Vendor Governance and Performance

• Provide operational oversight of contracted security service providers and ensure services are delivered in line with contractual and programme expectations.
• Establish a structured governance cadence with vendor security management, including operational reviews, performance discussions and action tracking.
• Review security incidents, staffing readiness, training, procedure compliance, technology issues and service-delivery risks.
• Hold service providers accountable for timely remediation of operational gaps while maintaining professional working relationships.
• Support security staffing readiness for new sites, checkpoints, operational expansions and changes in site requirements.

Datacenter Delivery and Change Management

• Support physical security readiness for new datacenters, site expansions, beneficial-use activities, early access, checkpoint deployments and security lockdowns.
• Participate in security integration, end-to-end readiness and transition discussions.
• Review security readiness requirements, implementation plans, site start-up activities and unresolved security issues.
• Coordinate with Security Design and Delivery, project teams, Datacenter Operations and security service providers to transition new facilities into steady-state operations.
• Participate in security-related projects, technology deployments and changes to physical security infrastructure or procedures.

Stakeholder Management

• Build effective relationships with Datacenter Operations, Engineering, Environmental Health and Safety, Compliance, Security Design and Delivery, Investigations, lease providers and other internal stakeholders.
• Provide physical security expertise and risk-based guidance to business partners.
• Communicate security risks, operational constraints and mitigations clearly to management and stakeholders.
• Influence cross-functional teams to achieve security outcomes without direct organisational authority.
• Represent physical security in operational governance, readiness and business-review forums.

Crisis Management and Operational Resilience

• Participate actively in the local crisis management structure.
• Support emergency preparedness, crisis-response exercises and business-continuity activities.
• Provide on-site security leadership during significant incidents or periods of elevated risk.
• Ensure contracted security teams understand and execute their responsibilities under emergency and crisis-management plans.
• Identify resilience gaps and support practical contingency and recovery measures.

Security Culture and Continuous Improvement

• Promote security awareness, vigilance and responsible reporting across the datacenter community.
• Support initiatives addressing insider risk, access control, protection of data-bearing devices and other physical security risks.
• Analyse incidents, trends, security metrics and operational feedback to identify improvement opportunities.
• Contribute to regional security programmes, standardisation and the adoption of effective security practices.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• 14+ years of professional experience in physical security, security operations, critical-infrastructure protection, military service, law enforcement, investigations, intelligence, risk management or a closely related field.
• A minimum of 3 years of corporate security experience within a private-sector organisation operating established security governance, compliance, reporting and stakeholder-management processes.
• Demonstrated experience managing physical security operations in a complex, high-availability or critical-infrastructure environment.
• Experience overseeing contracted security services, guarding operations or third-party service providers.
• Experience managing security incidents, investigations, operational risks and corrective actions.
• Working knowledge of physical security systems, including access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, alarms and screening technologies.
• Experience supporting security audits, compliance reviews, risk assessments and remediation programmes.
• Strong stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to work across operations, engineering, compliance, facilities, project and vendor teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of incident reports, risk summaries and leadership updates.
• Ability to make sound, risk-based decisions in time-sensitive and operationally demanding situations.
• Ability to travel between supported datacentre locations as business needs require and provide on-site support during significant incidents or critical operational activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in security management, risk management, business administration, engineering, criminal justice, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience supporting datacenters, cloud infrastructure, telecommunications, utilities, manufacturing, energy or another critical-infrastructure sector.
• Experience working within a multinational corporation or similarly complex organisation.
• Experience in new-site delivery, security commissioning, operational readiness, checkpoint deployment or site lockdown activities.
• Experience in crisis management, emergency response, business continuity or operational resilience.
• Experience managing multi-site security operations or security programmes across a metro or regional footprint.
• Professional certification such as Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Physical Security Professional (PSP), Professional Certified Investigator (PCI), Project Management Professional (PMP), or an equivalent recognised credential.
• Working knowledge of relevant Indian regulatory, statutory and operational requirements applicable to private security and critical infrastructure.
• We encourage candidates to apply even if they do not meet every qualification listed. If your experience is closely aligned with this role and you are passionate about protecting critical infrastructure, we welcome your application.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected characteristics. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, please let us know.

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.