Russia Mandates Stronger Data-Center Defenses Amid Drone Threats

A late-August presidential decree enables Russian authorities to temporarily assume control of critical infrastructure deemed inadequately protected, driving data-center operators to expand physical and cyber defenses. The requirements affect critical sectors including energy, telecommunications, transport and utilities, and reportedly extend to facilities serving government agencies, banks and major service providers.

Operators are expected to harden exposed engineering equipment, establish backup communications, improve DDoS protections and strengthen software-vulnerability management. Russia's data-center capacity is heavily concentrated around Moscow and St. Petersburg—areas increasingly within reach of Ukrainian long-range drones—while the new measures are expected to increase operating costs amid a conflict that has already caused physical and cyber disruption to Ukrainian and Russian digital infrastructure.