Data Centers: The Invisible Backbone of Digital Britain That Few UnderstandData Centers: The Invisible Backbone of Digital Britain That Few Understand

Data centers have become increasingly important in the modern digital age. Yet despite their critical role, in the UK at least, most people still don’t know what they are or why they matter.

A new study reveals a significant disconnect between the British public’s daily reliance on digital services and their understanding of the infrastructure that powers it. The ‘Connecting Lives’ research, conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Telehouse, surveyed more than 2,000 UK residents aged 18 and above.

According to the research, 67% of UK consumers admit they don’t know what a data center is or what it does. This is surprising given that the UK government recently classified data centers as critical national infrastructure.

With all the hype around AI data centers around the world, there has also been a growing amount of media coverage and interest in the data center market overall.

While there is a lack of awareness, there are also other key information gaps. The report found that only 48% believe data centers positively impact their access to digital services, although 59% see data centers as critical for remote work.

“The industry is used to talking to IT and technical professionals, but in order to generate broader public awareness, it could and should go back-to-basics by removing jargon and making the language around data centres more accessible," Mark Pestridge, executive vice president and general manager at Telehouse, told Data Center Knowledge.

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Misconceptions About Data Centers Abound

The survey uncovered significant gaps in public understanding of data centers. Pestridge noted that over four in ten (43%) UK adults are unaware of the vast number of people, applications, and data supported by such facilities.

Additionally, 19% of respondents said they were not sure how these facilities support remote working, and perhaps more significantly, 15% don’t believe they are critical to enabling a dispersed workforce. This is despite many UK workers having maintained some degree of remote working arrangements since the pandemic.

However, there were some positives to take from the findings.

“Just under half (48%) of adults believe that data centers positively impact the digital services they use at home and work, such as video streaming and online shopping,” he said.

Lack of Awareness Has a Significant Impact on Data Centers

Lack of awareness has a real impact on the UK data center industry in multiple respects.

The UK technology sector, including the data center industry, has a digital skills deficit, much like many other jurisdictions around the world. Pestridge noted that the deficit is threatening to hold back technological progress and prevent organizations from upskilling, reskilling, and redeploying employees in areas where they are most needed.

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Part of the reason for this is an unawareness among young people about the potential roles and exciting career opportunities available in the sector and the skills they need to succeed.

“It’s up to the industry to set aside resources to inspire the next generation of diverse talent,” he said. “Part of the strategy should be engagement with schools and universities to highlight the opportunities, but also the development of graduate entry schemes, apprenticeships, and training to help grow the job market.”

Data Centers are a Critical Utility

Mark Yeeles, vice president of Schneider Electric’s secure power division in the UK and Ireland told Data Center Knowledge that with the new critical national infrastructure designation, data centers have become an indispensable utility – as important as water and energy – and provide individuals and organizations with the digital foundations that power everyday human life.

The Telehouse report’s findings that so many people are unaware of what data centers do is seen by Yeeles as an opportunity for the industry to better communicate and close the knowledge gap.

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“For many years the industry has flown under the radar out of necessity, but with data centers becoming a more prominent topic in mainstream news – and playing a key role in accelerating the UK’s AI leadership position – it’s vital that the industry helps the public see how important data centers are in the wider technological and economic landscape,” Yeeles said.

Each day the average person uses a data center hundreds of times – through their banking and payment apps, social media, gaming, streaming, and emails. Yeeles noted that data centers play an increasingly crucial role in powering healthcare and life science research, identifying and advancing medical cures, and supporting disease prevention initiatives.

They also enable everyday people to use AI platforms like ChatGPT to access information, create content, and complete tasks more efficiently.

“As the industry grows and digitalization becomes more prevalent, the role it plays within the digital ecosystem, and the public’s understanding of the benefits that data centers can bring becomes even more crucial," he said. "Many operators such as CyrusOne, Kao Data, PureDC, and Digital Realty are already engaging with local communities on this subject.”