Data center security faces rising physical and digital threats

Data centers are increasingly becoming targets for both physical and digital attacks, serving as critical infrastructure for modern society. Recent examples include Ukrainian strikes on Russian data centers and Iranian military strikes on Amazon data centers in the United Arab Emirates.

Cybersecurity expert Charles Brooks of Georgetown University notes that data centers house the essential services for daily life, including online banking, cloud computing for government and healthcare, and Earth-to-space communications. Because data has become as valuable as oil, these facilities are alluring targets for state-backed hackers and operatives seeking to steal sensitive information or disrupt operations.

While large-scale foreign drone attacks on American facilities may be unlikely, Brooks warns that U.S. data centers remain vulnerable to physical breaches using explosives or digital incursions, which could have catastrophic consequences for national security and economic stability.