Microsoft Seeks to Strengthen Data Center Protection Against Bombings

Microsoft President Brad Smith stated in an interview with Japanese media outlet Nikkei on April 4, 2026, that he intends to strengthen the protection of the company’s data centers against bombings. “In 2022, we were primarily focused on the cyber dimension, which remains important. But in recent weeks, for the first time, we have seen drones and missiles targeting data centers,” he said.

He was referring to actions by the Iranian government in its conflict with the United States and Israel. Tehran has explicitly threatened to destroy the data centers of major American tech companies in the Middle East, due to these companies’ support for the U.S. military. On March 1, 2026, “objects” fell on an AWS data center in Abu Dhabi, causing a fire.

Brad Smith is calling for the establishment of international rules to protect these infrastructures. He also announced his intention to strengthen their defenses against bombings, particularly in geopolitically sensitive areas. This new reality “will influence the design and construction of data centers, with varying effects depending on the regions of the world,” he added.