Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
individual
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Athena Leader, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Athena Leader
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Joanne Detore-Nakamura
Abstract
Bridging the Gap: Cybersecurity and Occupational Safety Frameworks in AI Data Centers As artificial intelligence infrastructure expands, AI data centers represent a critical and underexamined convergence of cybersecurity and occupational safety risk. Existing frameworks such as NIST, OSHA, and ISO standards were largely developed in isolation, leaving significant gaps in how organizations manage risks that are simultaneously digital and physical in nature. This study investigates the gaps and overlaps between cybersecurity and occupational safety frameworks as they apply specifically to AI data center environments. Drawing on a targeted literature review of established regulatory and standards-based frameworks, this research identifies where these domains intersect, contradict, or fail to address AI-specific hazards. To supplement secondary sources, 3–5 semi-structured interviews with practitioners in cybersecurity, occupational safety, or AI operations will be conducted, with case studies serving as a backup method if access is limited. Findings will be synthesized into a preliminary exploratory checklist designed to help practitioners identify cross-domain risks in AI data center contexts. Rather than proposing a fully integrated framework, this project aims to map the current landscape and offer a foundation for future, more formalized integration efforts. This research contributes to a growing conversation about how safety governance must evolve alongside AI deployment.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Bridging the Gap: Cybersecurity and Occupational Safety Frameworks in AI Data Centers
Bridging the Gap: Cybersecurity and Occupational Safety Frameworks in AI Data Centers As artificial intelligence infrastructure expands, AI data centers represent a critical and underexamined convergence of cybersecurity and occupational safety risk. Existing frameworks such as NIST, OSHA, and ISO standards were largely developed in isolation, leaving significant gaps in how organizations manage risks that are simultaneously digital and physical in nature. This study investigates the gaps and overlaps between cybersecurity and occupational safety frameworks as they apply specifically to AI data center environments. Drawing on a targeted literature review of established regulatory and standards-based frameworks, this research identifies where these domains intersect, contradict, or fail to address AI-specific hazards. To supplement secondary sources, 3–5 semi-structured interviews with practitioners in cybersecurity, occupational safety, or AI operations will be conducted, with case studies serving as a backup method if access is limited. Findings will be synthesized into a preliminary exploratory checklist designed to help practitioners identify cross-domain risks in AI data center contexts. Rather than proposing a fully integrated framework, this project aims to map the current landscape and offer a foundation for future, more formalized integration efforts. This research contributes to a growing conversation about how safety governance must evolve alongside AI deployment.