Data Centers Targeted Amid Rising Cybersecurity Risks

• •Data centers are high-value targets due to increased scale and interconnection.
• •Operators must ensure the resilience of physical infrastructure to prevent service disruptions.
• •Regulatory expectations for cybersecurity management are rising, particularly in the EU.

Data centers are increasingly becoming high-value targets for cyber attacks due to their growing size, density, and interconnection. The attack surface has expanded significantly, making these facilities vulnerable to operational technology attacks that could disrupt services and cause physical damage. Operators are responsible for ensuring the resilience of their infrastructure, including power and cooling systems, which are critical to maintaining operations. Recent regulatory changes in the EU emphasize the need for incident reporting and cyber risk management for data center operators. The potential impact of cyber incidents includes missed service level agreements and downstream harm to tenants. Strong cyber defense strategies are essential, including incident response plans and continuous monitoring of systems. Foundational cyber hygiene practices can mitigate many threats, but preparedness is crucial for effective response.