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Use Datacenters Carefully

Datacenters are and will be the first point of attack in a conflict situation, even countries like Ukraine only had 4-5 good datacenters which needed to be taken with disaster results. Next to physical violence Datacenters can be attacked over the network too or through insiders. Centralization is not a good strategy for securing your most valuable assets.

While Datacenters are required for certain high end compute requirements, they are for sure not needed for storage and alternative strategies can be created for most compute workloads as well.

If Datacenters are a must we would recommend to build small ones and have them spread over the country on at least 10 strategic locations and have good strategies in place to deal with data distribution (don't use replication, see below)

more info see Distributed Datacenter

The idea of decentralized datacenters.

To create a strategy for distributing small datacenters across a country, it's essential to focus on their placement, technological integration, security measures, energy efficiency, and cost management. This decentralized approach can enhance resilience against physical and cyber threats, optimize energy use, and potentially reduce costs. Here's a detailed strategy:

1. Site Selection and Geographical Distribution​

  • Strategic Locations: Identify at least 10 locations across the country, these locations should also consider proximity to users for reduced latency.
  • Community Integration: Utilize locations near or within academic institutions, business parks, or government facilities for mutual benefits such as shared security and energy resources.
  • Fiber Proximity: Make sure they are close to fiber.

2. Technological Integration and Network Design​

  • Interconnected Network: Ensure each datacenter is part of a broader network, capable of communicating and sharing resources.
  • Load Balancing and Redundancy: Implement load balancing to distribute computational tasks evenly and ensure redundancy, so if one center is compromised, others can take over its workload without major disruptions.
  • Edge Computing: Incorporate edge computing principles where data is processed closer to its source, reducing the need for long-distance data transmission, thereby saving energy and reducing latency.

3. Cybersecurity Measures​

  • Distributed Defense: A decentralized network inherently offers a more complex target for cyberattacks, making it harder to compromise a significant portion of the network.
  • Central Monitoring and Rapid Response: Implement centralized monitoring for abnormal activities across the network, coupled with rapid response capabilities.

4. Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Practices​

  • Renewable Energy Sources: Utilize solar, wind, or hydroelectric power where possible, reducing reliance on the traditional power grid and minimizing environmental impact.
  • Energy-Efficient Hardware: Invest in energy-efficient servers and cooling systems. Consider liquid cooling technologies.
  • Energy Storage and Backup: Implement energy storage solutions to ensure uninterrupted power supply and manage energy consumption more efficiently.

5. Cost Management and Investment Strategy​

  • Modular Datacenters: Use modular datacenters can be as small as one rack in a telco pop which can be scaled up or down based on demand, helping manage initial and operational costs effectively.
  • Private Partnerships: Explore partnerships with private entities to share the costs and benefits. This can include leasing space, sharing infrastructure, or co-investing in renewable energy sources.
  • Economies of Scale and Scope: While each datacenter center is small, collectively they can achieve economies of scale and scope.

6. Data Management and Privacy​

  • Decentralized Data Storage: Implement decentralized storage solutions to distribute data across multiple locations, enhancing data resilience and privacy.