UK Data Centres Designated Critical Infrastructure Amid Controversy Over £3.75B Green Belt Development

16 Sept

UK data centre’s have been officially designated as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), a move intended to strengthen national cyber defences and enhance the country's data resilience. This announcement, made by Technology Secretary Peter Kyle on Thursday, marks the first CNI designation since 2015, when the Space and Defence sectors received the status.

Support Bitesize Bitcoin

Kyle mentioned the essential role data centres play in the modern economy, stating, “Data centres are the engines of modern life, they power the digital economy and keep our most personal information safe.” With the new CNI status, data centres will benefit from greater collaboration with the government to combat cyber threats and manage unforeseen disruptions.

Cybersecurity and Regulatory Support

The primary benefit of CNI designation lies in the enhanced cybersecurity measures, regulatory oversight, and financial assistance available to data centres. This includes the formation of a dedicated CNI data infrastructure team composed of senior government officials who will monitor and respond to potential threats, coordinate with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), and ensure prioritized access to emergency services in the event of an incident.

While the government suggests that CNI status will deter cybercriminals from targeting these facilities, industry experts caution that such a statement may be overly optimistic. Citing recent warnings from CISA in the U.S. about Russian military cyber actors targeting global critical infrastructure, critics argue that heightened designation alone may not reduce threats.

Green Belt Controversy: The £3.75B Data Centre Proposal

Amid the positive reception of the CNI designation, the announcement of a proposed £3.75 billion data centre in Hertfordshire has stirred debate due to its location on protected Green Belt land. The Green Belt is designated to preserve open, rural spaces, making the proposed development by DC01UK contentious.

DC01UK, a company founded in 2022, has drawn scrutiny due to its lack of transparency. It has published dormant company accounts and only recently incorporated two related entities, DC01AB and DC01 Holdings. Despite this, the government has lauded the potential economic benefits, noting that the new data centre would create over 700 local jobs and support nearly 14,000 tech jobs nationwide.

While the planning proposal has only just been submitted to the Hertsmere Borough Council, the government's CNI announcement strongly endorsed the project as a "vote of confidence" in the country’s technological future. Critics, however, point out the timing of the announcement and the vague details surrounding DC01UK, questioning whether the project is being used to bolster political messaging without sufficient scrutiny.

Articles