Data Centers Are War Targets Now

Data centers are now acknowledged as potential targets in modern warfare, meaning facilities supporting military operations may face direct attack.

Ukrainian drones have targeted and damaged several Russian data centers, marking a significant escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war. These strikes, which hit facilities belonging to Yandex, Russia's equivalent to Google, and Sberbank, Russia's largest bank, have disrupted internet services and communications across Russia. The attacks on Yandex data centers have reportedly impacted the company's supercomputers housing AI models and significantly affected daily life for Russians, disrupting access to email, taxi services, and logistics. This new tactic reflects the growing understanding of data centers as critical infrastructure and valuable military assets, akin to oil refineries. The conflict has also seen Russia target Ukrainian data centers and Iran strike AWS data centers in Dubai, highlighting a global trend of data infrastructure becoming a war target. Experts note that international law is still evolving to address attacks on dual-use data centers, which house both civilian and military data.

The targeting of commercial data centers by state militaries signifies a critical shift in warfare, blurring the lines between civilian infrastructure and military objectives. As "data is the new oil," the facilities processing and housing this data are becoming strategic assets, vulnerable to disruption. This trend, evident in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and strikes on AWS in Dubai, suggests that companies hosting significant data operations, particularly those with potential dual-use capabilities, face increased geopolitical risk. The evolving nature of cyber and physical warfare means that resilience and security of data infrastructure are no longer solely concerns of IT departments but also of national security strategists.

The legal framework surrounding attacks on data centers remains ambiguous, with international law struggling to keep pace with technological advancements and novel combat strategies. The dual-use nature of many data centers complicates their classification as legitimate targets, raising questions about proportionality and collateral damage. As nations begin to develop dedicated military data centers, like France's recent announcement, the push will likely be towards greater separation of civilian and military digital infrastructure to mitigate risks and clarify targeting protocols. This could lead to increased investment in highly secured, specialized facilities and potentially impact the design and location of future commercial data centers, especially those in proximity to sensitive government or military installations.