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UK government adds datacentres to CNI regime: Why did it take so long?

Published

12 hours ago

September 19, 2024

UK government adds datacentres to CNI regime: Why did it take so long?

The UK government’s decision to classify datacentres as critical national infrastructure (CNI) has been met with approval from tech industry stakeholders. Questions, however, remain about the practical implications for operators.

Reported by Computer Weekly on 12 September 2024, this designation recognizes the vital role datacentres play in sustaining the UK’s digital economy. Operators can now anticipate increased government support in the event of cyber attacks or critical incidents, a move long awaited by industry experts.

Mark Boost, CEO of UK-based cloud services provider Civo, expressed his satisfaction with the government’s recognition of datacentres as critical infrastructure, stating, “Datacentres have been a critical part of our national infrastructure for years.”

Emma Fryer, director of public policy at colocation giant CyrusOne, echoed this sentiment, noting that some UK operators already have facilities classified as CNI due to the hosting of sensitive data.

While the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has yet to provide specific criteria for CNI status, the decision to classify all datacentres as critical infrastructure aligns them with other essential sectors like power plants, defense, and emergency services, offering economic benefits to the UK.

Andrew Jay, head of datacentre solutions at CBRE, highlighted the increasing demand for datacentre capacity, particularly in London, driven by cloud services and artificial intelligence. However, challenges such as land acquisition costs and power infrastructure limitations persist.

The addition of datacentres to the UK’s CNI regime is expected to attract global investment, facilitating the expansion of datacentre capacity in the UK. This move reflects a shift towards recognizing the importance of datacentres in supporting critical infrastructure sectors and managing infrastructural interdependencies.

Overall, the government’s decision to classify datacentres as critical national infrastructure marks a significant policy development that acknowledges the industry’s value and impact on the nation’s operations.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s specialist team worked for four years before the Covid-19 pandemic to represent the datacentre sector at a government level. This team ensured that the sector’s views were considered in government decisions regarding lockdown exemptions and related policies. The creation of this team marked a significant change in the government’s approach to the datacentre industry, as there was previously no single department responsible for advocating for the sector’s needs.

Before joining CyrusOne in January 2024, Fryer played a key role in educating the government about the importance of the datacentre industry during her time at TechUK. Luisa Cardani succeeded Fryer at TechUK and continues to advocate for the industry’s interests in government decision-making processes.

The new government, in power since July 2024, has committed to reducing planning barriers for new datacentre construction. They are considering reclassifying datacentres as “nationally significant infrastructure projects” to expedite planning permission decisions. Additionally, projects previously blocked by the government are under review.

The groundwork for classifying datacentres as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) was laid by DSIT and the previous Conservative government in December 2023. The consultation process, which ran until February 2024, highlighted the need for greater oversight and intervention in the datacentre industry to protect national interests.

DSIT’s announcement granting CNI status to datacentres raises questions about potential administrative burdens on operators and operational changes required. The impact of these changes on operators remains uncertain, as details on additional reporting or site modifications have not been provided.

Despite the uncertainties, industry experts like CBRE’s Jay view the proposed planning reforms and CNI status for datacentres as positive developments. The government’s shift towards a more coordinated approach to datacentre development aims to ensure adequate services for the UK and beyond while enhancing security measures.