NSA building $1.5 billion cyber security data center

The massive complex, comprising up to 1.5 million sq ft of building space, will provide intelligence and warnings related to cyber security threats across government bodies.

Source: J. Nicholas Hoover, InformationWeek

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The National Security Agency (NSA) will soon break ground on a data center in Utah that will reportedly cost $1.5 billion. The NSA is building the facility to provide intelligence and warnings related to cyber security threats, cyber security support to defense and civilian agency networks, and technical assistance to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

"Our country must continue to advance its national security efforts and that includes improvements in cyber security," Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, said in a statement. "As we rely more and more on our communications networks for business, government and everyday use, we must be vigilant and provide agencies with the necessary resources to protect our country from a cyber attack."

The data center will be built at Camps Williams, which is a National Guard training center 26 miles south of Salt Lake City. The complex will comprise of the 1.5 million sq-ft-building on 120 to 200 acres of land. According to the budget , the 30-MW data center will be cooled by chilled water and capable of Tier 3, or near carrier-grade, reliability. The design of the data center also calls for the highest LEED standard within available resources.

The U.S. Army Corps of engineers will host a conference in Salt Lake City to provide further detail the data center building and acquisition plans. The project will require between 5,000 and 10,000 workers during construction, and the data center will eventually employ between 100 and 200 workers.