UK Government has designated the data centre sector to be part of the critical national infrastructure.

This would mean it would receive the same level of attention from officials as sectors including energy and water supplies, and will allow the government to support the sector in the event of critical incidents, minimising impacts on the economy.

Data Infrastructure Team

This level of designation will see a dedicated CNI data infrastructure team of senior government officials set up to monitor and anticipate potential threats, provide prioritised access to security agencies including the National Cyber Security Centre, and coordinate access to emergency services should an incident occur.

Also in the event of an attack on a data centre hosting critical NHS patients’ data, for example, the government would intervene to ensure contingencies are in place to mitigate the risk of damage or to essential services, including on patients’ appointments or operations.

Better Coordination and Cooperation

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said that bringing data centres into the critical national infrastructure regime will allow better coordination and cooperation with the government against cyber-criminals and unexpected events.

Matthew Evans, director of markets and Chief Operating Officer of techUK, said it welcomes the government’s 'pivotal decision', and the recognition of the critical role data centres play in the UK’s modern economy.

“Data centres are fundamental to our digitising economy and are a key driver of growth,” he said. “We look forward to collaborating closely with the government and our stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of these new measures and their impact on the sector. Continued engagement and partnership will be key in advancing our shared objectives of a secure, resilient, and thriving digital economy.

The designation follows a proposed £4 billion investment in Europe’s largest data centre in Hertfordshire, which will support almost 14,000 jobs across the country. Also the likes of AWS and Google have announced plans this year to invest in data centres in the UK.