Cyber Security in the Subsea Telecommunication Cable Networks

Abstract

More than 95% of international internet and telecommunication data is transmitted through subsea fiber-optic cables, valued for their cost-efficiency, low latency, and high capacity. The cables connect the network of data centers around the world to form our internet. This physical infrastructure is critical to the modern world as most modern services depend on it. There are currently over 550 commercial subsea telecommunication cables in-service and many more planned or being constructed. It is crucial to provide resilience of the subsea cables against environmental, human, and other activities that may break any one or multiple cables. Despite their critical importance to global communications, these vast networks remain vulnerable to a range of cyber threats. The remote location of subsea cables does not preclude risks; rather, their endpoints, landing stations, and network management systems are susceptible to malicious actors seeking to intercept, disrupt, or manipulate data flows. As international reliance on these information systems increases, so does the strategic imperative to secure them against espionage, sabotage, and emerging cyber-attacks. Successful cyber-attacks are predicated on exploiting system vulnerabilities.  Vulnerability can be defined as exploitable weaknesses or deficiencies in a system, device or its design that allow cyber attackers to execute cyber-attacks. A weakness in system security procedures, software applications, policies and procedures and regulatory compliance may be caused by vulnerabilities. The inherent weakness in the system caused by vulnerability increases the probability of a harmful occurrence or exacerbates its consequences. Vulnerabilities can be divided into those that exist in people’s actions, processes in the organizations, and technologies. The paper discusses cyber vulnerabilities, threats and management thereof in the telecommunications network.