In a bid to improve data security, ACLEDA bank began construction of a Disaster Recovery Data Center in Kandal’s Muk Kampoul district this past Monday. A local firm is scheduled to complete construction of the five-storey building in 18 months.

Upon completion it will host 88 server racks and leave room to increase the number up to 172. Cost estimates for its building, technology and an additional office building amount to $13 million.

According to a company spokesperson, the suggestion to build the data recovery centre outside Phnom Penh came from international IT consultants who warned of the risk of data loss in case “earthquakes, floods, fires or bomb attacks” hit the data centre in the capital.

ACLEDA is the first local bank known to make extensive investments into data security infrastructure, signifying an increased local demand for electronic banking services and financial technology required by ATMs and credit cards.