Microsoft is changing the data storage dynamic by applying for a patent that disguises its experimental underwater data center as a natural sea bed.

Microsoft's Underwater Data Center Gets More Aquatic
Now, almost two years later, Microsoft has visited the patent office to make a new aesthetic change to the server capsule: Microsoft will be disguising the exterior to look like a bed of coral to ward off data thieves, divers, and invasive aquatic animal life while also encouraging non-interfering sea life to flourish. The underwater data centers will also be equipped with sensors that detect intrusion attempts and will remove the data in case of a serious breach. The idea behind building underwater data centers in the first place is in response to critical issues with current data centers built on land:- Require lots of land - Data centers are massive and take up a lot of space that could be used for better purposes. Relocating data centers to just offshore would free up precious land on the surface, and through Microsoft’s patent, encourage new growth for local sea life.
- Require lots of energy - Electricity must not only power the data centers themselves, but also the cooling of the servers, which has been proven time and again to be one of the most costly aspects. Colder ocean depths would take care of both energy generation and heat dissipation with a minor effect on the surrounding environment.
- Subject to physical data breaches - Like any standard building, data centers are always at risk for a physical break-in. Keeping data storage underwater and camouflaged can make it more difficult for physical data breaches to occur.
- Built in remote places far from users - Large data farms are often built far from large concentrations of the world’s population, which can also affect data access time. Since over 50% of the world’s population lives near the coast, installing these underwater data centers can make the time to access data decrease.