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.
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.
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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.
