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S&P warns data center cyber risk is rising and underrecognized
S&P Global Ratings links the growing exposure to tighter concentration of workloads in fewer facilities and to AI infrastructure expansion, with AI-related data center capex expected to exceed $1.3 trillion by 2027.
S&P Global Ratings says cyber risks tied to data centers are increasing but remain underrecognized, according to a new report titled Data Center Cyber Risk Is Increasing And Underrecognised.
The rating agency pointed to the growing integration of operational technology and IT systems and the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure as factors that could raise the potential impact of cyber incidents, S&P said.
S&P also noted that data centers now play a larger role in cloud computing, AI, financial services, healthcare, telecommunications, and government operations. With more critical workloads concentrated in larger facilities and among fewer providers, the consequences of a successful cyberattack could spread across multiple customers and sectors.
S&P added that expanding AI is driving demand for computing capacity, and cited planned investment by Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, Oracle, Meta, and SpaceX. It said their combined capital expenditure is expected to exceed $1.3 trillion in 2027, up from about $870 billion in 2026 and $470 billion in 2025.