Data Centers on the 21st Century Battlefield

Data centers have transitioned from commercial utilities to critical national security assets, anchoring military power and geopolitical leverage. These facilities are highly vulnerable to both cyber attacks, as demonstrated in the Russo-Ukrainian war, and physical sabotage like the cutting of undersea cables. The reliance on private industry for cloud services and supply chain dependencies, particularly with China, further expose these strategic assets. A new doctrinal framework is needed to treat this digital infrastructure as operational terrain and integrate its defense into national strategy.