Conclusion

AI data centers may be similar to traditional ones in various ways, but they require a heightened threshold for security because they face expanded risks. With the global race to develop AI power and sovereign AI, securing AI and the infrastructure behind it—AI data centers—becomes critical for national security, the economy, defense, energy, and more. This report recommends that in order to develop cyber-secure AI data centers, there must be a framework that aligns the technical, corporate policy, and national governance approaches to cover the six layers of security: hardware & compute, network & storage, model & data, software & application, physical access, and geopolitical.

First, since the technical needs for a cyber-secure AI data center are known, operators must implement existing research and standards in an AI data center. Second, corporate policies need to require technical measures across the six layers of security. Finally, national governance measures should focus on incentivizing AI data center operators to meet the technical needs and implement corporate policies for a cyber-secure AI data center.