Putin mandates 10% private data storage for state use
A new decree requires Russian private data centers to hold back capacity for the government, granting it 24-hour access rights.
By Lucas Navarro ·
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday requiring private data center owners to reserve 10% of their total capacity for state use. The order aims to guarantee the continuous operation of Russia's IT infrastructure.
The Ministry of Digital Development must now create a full inventory of available space and capacity in all non-state facilities across the country. A new government commission will have the authority to call upon this reserved capacity. Once the commission makes a demand, operators must grant access within 24 hours.
The decree also permits the temporary use of data centers located outside Russia. However, operators must secure explicit permission from the Federal Security Service before utilizing foreign infrastructure. This provision offers the state an additional layer of redundancy for critical digital assets.
This move follows a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian data facilities in October. In the first instance, drones struck Sasovo in Ryazan Oblast, causing a fire at the Sasta plant. Yandex press officials confirmed that their Sasovo data center suspended all operations following the morning attack.
Further strikes occurred later in the month. Yandex reported an attack on a facility in Kaluga on October 9. On October 11, the company announced it had suspended operations at its Vladimir data center due to another drone strike. These incidents have underscored the vulnerability of concentrated private IT infrastructure.
The new rules place a direct obligation on private operators to maintain a portion of their hardware and space specifically for state access. The 24-hour response window creates a strict timeline for compliance with government demands during potential disruptions.
