Foto: BB.LV / Дата центр
According to Vedomosti, due to attacks from Ukraine, which is reflecting the full-scale Russian invasion, the largest internet provider in Russia, Rostelecom, plans to build underground data centers (DCs). These data centers will have an increased level of protection against external threats, the publication reported on Monday, November 2, citing a top manager from Rostelecom and other sources. ## ## Protection Against Drone Attacks and Certain Missile Strikes Placing servers underground can provide additional protection against drone strikes and certain types of missiles, the company believes. Negotiations are already underway with Norilsk Nickel regarding the creation of one of the underground data centers, a source familiar with the discussions told Vedomosti. The mining and metallurgical company has experience in underground construction and ensuring the safety of mines. Underground facilities are considered the most protected, as they have three levels of protection, explained a top manager from Rostelecom to the publication. The first level involves creating backup sites and placing copies of data on them in case the main servers are damaged. The second level of protection consists of distributing computing power and services among several geographically distant sites. The third level involves placing data centers underground. ## ## Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Data Centers In October, Russian IT systems faced massive problems following Ukrainian attacks on the data centers of Yandex, Sberbank, and VK in several regions of Russia. The consequences affected a wide range of digital services, including delivery, taxi services, and arbitration court websites. In some cases, judicial institutions had to postpone hearings and announce breaks due to technical failures. After this, the Ministry of Digital Development approved recommendations for protecting data centers from drone strikes. Among other things, the Russian agency urged the placement of equipment in underground facilities.
