Willis Responds to Explosive Data Center Growth by Redefining How Risk is Managed

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[{"type":"text","content":"New integrated framework takes a client-led, specialized approach to protecting critical global infrastructure\nNEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis, a WTW business (NASDAQ: WTW), today unveiled a new, forward-looking model for comprehensive data center risk management, responding to the growing recognition that data centers are no longer standalone assets but critical, interconnected digital infrastructure underpinning global technology strategies, AI adoption and economic growth. Drawing on its work with five of the 10 largest global owners and developers, and many of the top data center construction companies, Willis is responding to a fundamental shift in the sector’s risk profile – one that is increasingly systemic, interconnected, and difficult to address through traditional insurance solutions alone. As global demand for data center capacity is fueled by the AI boom, risk exposure has expanded well beyond insurable assets alone. While the sector is expected to generate an estimated $10 billion in projected insurance premiums this year, operators face a widening array of interconnected challenges, including climate volatility, power and water constraints, cyber threats, geopolitics, supply-chain disruption, and operational resilience. “Willis operates with a deep belief in strength through specialty,” said George Haitsch, North America Technology, Media and Telecoms (TMT) Industry Leader at Willis. “Data centers have become a critical part of the global supply chain, and with that evolution, they face a growing list of complex and integrated risks. A ‘one-size-fits-all' approach is no longer a viable option. Our industry must switch from singular products to customizable frameworks that embed risk mitigation from the earliest stages of development—and that is exactly what Willis is doing.” An Integrated, Risk Cycle View of Data Center Risk In response, Willis has developed an integrated eight-point digital infrastructure risk framework designed to address the full spectrum of risks facing data center owners, operators, and investors across the entire lifecycle of a project—from development and construction through steady-state operations. The framework takes a holistic view of both current and emerging risks, including those that are systemic, difficult to model, or still evolving. The new eight-point framewo...

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