In a major development today, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle announced that UK data centres have been officially designated as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). This is the first such designation in nearly a decade, following the inclusion of the Space and Defence sectors in 2015.
The new status highlights the pivotal role data centres play in the modern digital world, powering the UK’s economy by storing and processing vast amounts of sensitive information, from personal smartphone data to NHS records and financial details. The CNI designation is set to provide increased government support and protection for data centres, recognizing their importance to national security and resilience.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle explained, “Data centres are the engines of modern life, they power the digital economy and keep our most personal information safe. Bringing data centres into the Critical National Infrastructure regime will allow better coordination and cooperation with the government against cybercriminals and unexpected events.”
Key implications of the CNI designation include:
- Enhanced protection against outages, cyberattacks, and adverse weather events.
- Greater government support in anticipating and recovering from critical incidents.
- Creation of a dedicated CNI data infrastructure team of senior government officials.
- Prioritized access to security agencies, including the National Cyber Security Centre.
- Coordinated access to emergency services during incidents.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns over cybersecurity, following incidents like the CrowdStrike attack that compromised 60% of GP practices in the UK. This highlighted the critical need for data security across essential services such as healthcare. Industry leaders have welcomed the move, with Bruce Owen, UK Managing Director of Equinix, and Matthew Evans, Director of Markets and Chief Operating Officer at techUK, both emphasizing the importance of data centres to the UK’s digital future and economic growth.
Coinciding with the announcement, the government has also welcomed a proposed £3.75 billion investment by DC01UK to build Europe’s largest data centre in Hertfordshire. The project is expected to create over 700 local jobs and support 13,740 data and tech jobs nationwide.
The CNI designation is expected to strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in data security and bolster further investment in the country’s thriving data centre industry, which currently generates an estimated £4.6 billion in annual revenue.
