Data centers to be divided into three categories
Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development has approved industry recommendations for protecting data centers against drones and other aerial threats, according to Kommersant. The guidelines apply to planned, under-construction and operational facilities, regardless of ownership.
The measures were developed following drone attacks on five data centers belonging to Yandex, Sberbank and VK in different regions of Russia. Under the recommendations, facilities will be divided into three categories based on their importance, ranging from strategic sites to corporate infrastructure whose damage would not have large-scale consequences.
The proposed measures include reducing data centers’ visibility from the air, reinforcing structures, and protecting server halls, cooling systems and power supplies against shock waves and shrapnel. The guidelines also call for radio-electronic countermeasures, systems designed to address aerial threats and backup arrangements for critical services.
A centralized situation center is proposed to coordinate responses, alongside closer cooperation between data center operators and the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the National Guard and emergency services.
Industry representatives estimate that implementing the measures could increase service providers’ costs by around 10%, excluding inflation. The specific solutions would depend on each facility: some may require engineering barriers and anti-drone nets, while others could need localized electronic warfare systems and geographically distributed backup infrastructure.
Building additional infrastructure could take between six and 12 months. Industry participants also point to rising electricity prices, equipment shortages and high interest rates as further challenges.
