UK data centres designated as critical infrastructure | Data Protection

The UK government has announced that data centres will be designated as critical national infrastructure to protect them from cyberattacks and IT outages.

The buildings store a large proportion of data generated in the UK, including photos taken with smartphones, financial information and NHS data.

The categorization of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) means that data centers are put on an equal footing with water, energy and emergency services systems. They therefore receive greater government support to anticipate and recover from negative incidents such as cyberattacks, power outages or environmental disasters.

The government said the move – the first CNI designation in nearly a decade – will not only help protect critical data infrastructure but also provide businesses with peace of mind as they look to boost economic growth in an increasingly digital world.

The data centre sector generates an estimated £4.6 billion in revenue per year and the UK has the highest number of data centres in Western Europe.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Data centres are the engines of modern life. They power the digital economy and keep our most personal information safe.

“By including data centers in the critical national infrastructure regime, we can better coordinate and cooperate with the government against cybercriminals and unexpected events.”

The government also welcomed a proposed £3.75bn investment in the construction of Europe’s largest data centre in Hertfordshire by data company DC01UK, which it said would create more than 700 jobs locally and support thousands of jobs across the country.

Kyle said: “The huge £3.75 billion private investment announced today in Hertfordshire is a vote of confidence in those plans and a clear example of my determination to ensure that technological advances help grow our economy and create prosperity across the country.”

Amazon Web Services (AWS) also announced this week plans to invest £8 billion in the UK over the next five years to build, operate and maintain data centres. Amazon was one of the world’s largest providers.