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. This decision comes as data centres play a crucial role in powering services like artificial intelligence applications, data processing, and streaming.
The new Labour government has expressed its support for the sector, with technology secretary Peter Kyle calling data centres “the engines of modern life.” This classification brings the total number of critical national infrastructure sectors in the UK to 14, with the previous government initiating a consultation in December 2023 to consider adding data centres to the list.
A team of officials will now be dedicated to monitoring potential threats against data centres and coordinating responses in case of serious incidents. Despite this classification, there are no plans for new regulations or additional scrutiny of data centre operators’ existing contingency arrangements.
Cyber security expert Prof Alan Woodward from Surrey University emphasized the importance of classifying data centres as critical infrastructure, noting that many critical online services rely on physical infrastructure housed in these facilities. The move also aligns with concerns raised by former deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden about Russian attempts to attack British infrastructure.
Lindy Cameron, the boss of the National Cyber Security Centre, stressed the need for enhanced protection against cyber threats, stating that bringing data centres into the Critical National Infrastructure regime will improve coordination and cooperation with the government.
As the demand for data centres continues to grow, major tech companies like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Google are investing billions in building and operating data centres in the UK. However, environmental concerns persist, as data centres are known for their high energy consumption and water usage for cooling purposes.
The chief executive of the National Grid has warned that data centre power usage in the UK is expected to increase six-fold in the next decade. Additionally, plans to build data centres often face opposition from local communities, as seen in the rejection of a proposed development in Buckinghamshire due to its impact on the green belt.
