● The Barometer of Social Perception of Data Centers shows that society rates the sector 8.7 out of 10. 

● 85% of the population acknowledges having heard of data centers. 

● In addition, 73% foresee a positive and growing future for the sector. 

Spain DC, the Spanish Association of Data Centers, has presented during the second day of its V Annual Congress, the First Barometer of Social Perception of Data Centers in Spain, prepared together with Sigma Dos. 

The study, with more than 2,100 nationwide surveys, confirms a high level of social awareness. 85% of the population has heard of data centers, and gives the sector an average score of 8.7 out of 10 (40% give it the highest score) for its importance, placing it at the level of essential services such as healthcare, education or security. In addition, more than 8 out of 10 consider them key to the digitization of the country and the deployment of artificial intelligence. 

The Barometer reveals the paradox that, despite the high penetration of the data center concept (85%), knowledge is not deep: 40.4% admit to knowing about them "somewhat", while only 11.4% say they know about them "quite a lot". 

With respect to society's expectations, the responses show an optimistic outlook. Seventy-three percent of the public foresees a very or fairly positive future for the sector, with strong growth in the coming years. 

Main concerns 

The most cited concerns in the survey focus on privacy and security from cyberattacks. This priority sets the roadmap for the public conversation: provide practical and verifiable information on how data is protected, how cybersecurity is managed and what safeguards are in place for citizens and businesses. 

The barometer detects a knowledge gap in sustainability. A significant part of the population does not know what energy data centers run on (only 42.7% point to renewable energies). In fact, only slightly more than 27% (27.4) claim to know that new facilities in Spain are built with high efficiency criteria and renewable energy contracts. 

The Barometer also shows that the sector arouses interest among citizens, with 8 out of 10 respondents requesting more (and more accessible) information. In addition, 7 out of 10 consider it useful for a reference entity such as Spain DC to continuously explain the role of data centers and resolve doubts with transparency. 

V Annual Spain DC Congress 

The presentation of the Barometer is part of the V Annual Congress of Spain DC, which this year is entitled Data centers: towards a digital and sovereign Spain, and has focused on society, digital sovereignty, energy and technology. 

The agenda brings together the main players in the sector - operators, European associations, analysts, the energy industry and multinational and domestic technology companies - as well as representatives from the institutional and social spheres. 

The Congress had the institutional presence of the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, and the participation of government and autonomous community officials such as the Minister of Digitalization of the Community of Madrid, Miguel López-Valverde, and the Secretary of State for Energy, Joan Groizard, who will perform the institutional closing ceremony. 

The inauguration was led by Begoña Villacís, executive director of SpainDC, who underlined the essential nature of these infrastructures: "Internet is physical: behind every Bizum or electronic prescription there is a data center at work. Spain has connectivity, renewables and talent; we have the cards to lead the industry".