The recent announcement by the UK Government that it would designate data centers as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), placing them in the same category as energy and water systems, is a clear recognition of the vital role they play in today’s economy and society. There are no official records of how many data centers there are in the UK, perhaps down to the sensitive nature of data itself, however, Statistica puts the current number at 514, the third highest number in one country worldwide, behind the United States and Germany.
It’s difficult to envisage any aspect of modern life that data centers don’t impact – from the way we communicate to our interactions with businesses and vital public services, including the NHS. We simply couldn’t function without them. While this government initiative is reassuring, its impact in real terms is questionable.
