Data facilities today play a vital role as critical computing infrastructure that drives the modern internet.

In the images presented by In Pictures Ltd | Andrew Aitchison | Corbis News | Getty Images

London has announced that it now recognizes data centers as crucial infrastructure, a step that is anticipated to enhance cybersecurity within the nation and facilitate cooperation between operators of these critical computing facilities and the government to safeguard data from malicious attacks and disruptions.

The British Minister of Technology, Peter Kyle, stated that data centers in the U.K. will be designated as “Critical National Infrastructure,” a status typically reserved for key sectors like energy, nuclear power, defense, space, and emergency services.

“Data centers are the backbone of modern life, powering the digital economy and securing our most sensitive information,” mentioned Kyle in a statement.

Granting critical infrastructure status to data centers will empower the government to collaborate more effectively against cyber threats and unforeseen events, according to Kyle.

Data center operators will have a direct channel to the government to prepare for and address data breaches, as per the government’s announcement.

For the first time in nearly ten years, a new sector has been granted CNI recognition. Both space and defense sectors received CNI status in 2015.

Investment of £4 billion in data centers

Simultaneously, the U.K. declared its support for a proposal by a company named DC01UK to construct a massive 85-acre data center in Hertfordshire, England, which is poised to become Europe’s largest upon completion.

DC01UK intends to invest £3.75 billion ($4.9 billion) in the new data center project, which is projected to directly generate over 700 local jobs and bolster 13,740 data and tech positions in the U.K., as per the government’s announcement.

This news follows the announcement by the U.S. tech giant Amazon, made on Wednesday, committing £8 billion ($10.45 billion) through its AWS cloud computing division to establish and operate data centers in the U.K. over the next five years.

Data centers are a critical component of today’s internet ecosystem, enabling the provision of internet services to end-users on a large scale through remote servers.

Any downtime at data centers can result in widespread internet outages, with potentially severe consequences for essential services.

The emphasis on critical data infrastructure was accentuated by a major global IT outage earlier this year that disrupted a significant portion of medical practices in the U.K. This outage was triggered by a faulty software update issued by the U.S. cybersecurity company CrowdStrike.

The U.K. has ambitious plans to fortify cybersecurity within the country. In recent months, it was revealed as part of the King’s Speech that a new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will mandate that providers of essential IT infrastructure safeguard their supply chains against cyberattacks.