Private data-center operators in Russia must reserve 10% of their own space and capacity for domestic information resources under a decree signed Nov. 2 by President Vladimir Putin, creating a pool the government can call on.
The requirement applies to each operator’s facilities, rather than to 10% of Russia’s entire data-center sector. The decree’s stated purpose is to support domestic information resources. It was signed and published Nov. 2, according to Russia’s official legal-information portal.
Expert reported that operators have 10 days from the decree’s effective date to establish the reserve. They may keep using those resources until a government subcommission orders them made available. After that order, operators have 24 hours to provide access, the outlet reported.
The government is to establish a subcommission responsible for maintaining uninterrupted operations at information technology and communications facilities, Expert reported. Snob also reported that the panel would decide when reserved resources must be provided. The Digital Development Ministry is to inventory available data-center space and capacity, the outlets reported.
Temporary use of data centers outside Russia would require approval from the Federal Security Service (FSB), Expert reported. The outlet also said the subcommission would set a maximum fee for using reserved capacity; it did not report the amount of the ceiling.
Separately, Yandex’s status page reported that unmanned aerial vehicle attacks damaged its Sasovo data center on Oct. 8 and its Vladimir data center on Oct. 11. Operations at both sites were suspended.
On Oct. 14, Alexander Vedyakhin, first deputy chairman of Sberbank’s Executive Board, told TASS that a drone attack had targeted the bank’s data center in Balakovo. Vedyakhin said the incident did not disrupt Sberbank’s systems or services.
Operators’ 10-day period to establish the reserve begins when the decree takes effect, Expert reported.
