Russia Considers Underground Data Centers

Russian data centers are being considered for underground placement to enhance security amid drone attacks, with government officials advocating for this approach over relocating them abroad. The move follows multiple attacks on major data centers, including those of Yandex, Sber, and VK.

Consensus

The Russian Ministry of Digital Development is interested in keeping data centers within the country rather than relocating them abroad.
Minister Maksut Shadaev stated that placing data centers underground is preferable to moving them overseas.
The idea of underground data centers has been discussed in response to drone attacks on digital infrastructure.
Several major data centers, including those of Yandex and Sber, have been targeted by drone attacks in October.
The government is pursuing multiple strategies to protect data centers, including physical protection and decentralization.
The Ministry of Digital Development has already initiated concrete projects related to underground data centers.

Points of divergence

The construction of underground data centers requires significant investment and is complicated by geological conditions in some regions. — fontanka
Experts suggest that government data centers may be prioritized for underground placement due to their strategic importance. — fontanka
The idea of using abandoned coal mines in Kuzbass for data centers was proposed by a Duma deputy and supported by the governor of Kemerovo Oblast. — fontanka
The decentralization of data centers began before the attacks due to energy limitations in Moscow's agglomeration. — interfax
Minister Shadaev mentioned that data centers are vulnerable due to their non-betonated, non-robust construction. — interfax
The Ministry is working on three directions: passive protection, active defense, and underground placement. — interfax

Coverage (5 sources)

«This will be pure gold». Why data centers in Russia want to hide underground — Фонтанка
Shadaev called for placing data centers underground, not abroad — РИАМО
Shadaev: "It is clear that one needs to bury" — Фонтанка
Ministry of Digital Economy preferred underground data centers to moving data abroad — Вести
Shadaev stated interest in Russian data centers going underground — Интерфакс

Key entities

More on Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of Moscow

FSB Officer in Running for Cybersecurity Deputy Role