Data centres in the UK have been classified as critical national infrastructure, a move that will provide them with extra government support during major incidents such as cyber attacks, IT outages, or extreme weather. These massive warehouses filled with banks of computers power essential services like artificial intelligence applications, data processing, and streaming.
Despite facing criticism for their energy and water usage, the new Labour government has expressed support for data centres, with technology secretary Peter Kyle calling them “the engines of modern life.” This decision comes after a consultation launched in December 2023 to discuss the potential addition of data centres to the list of critical national infrastructure sectors.
A team of officials will now be dedicated to monitoring threats against data centres and coordinating responses in the event of a serious incident. This move follows recent worldwide chaos caused by an update from cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, affecting millions of people and businesses.
While there are no new regulations planned, the addition of data centres to the critical infrastructure list aims to enhance coordination and cooperation with the government against cyber threats. The need for data centres continues to grow, especially with the rise of AI-based services that require significant computing power.
Major tech companies like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Google are investing billions in building and operating data centres in the UK. However, concerns about their environmental impact, energy consumption, and water usage persist. The chief executive of the National Grid predicts a six-fold increase in data centre power usage in the UK over the next decade.
Despite the growing demand for data centres, plans to build them often face opposition from local communities. In a recent example, councillors in Buckinghamshire rejected a proposed development due to its impact on the green belt. The classification of data centres as critical infrastructure underscores their importance in modern society and the need to ensure their resilience and security.
