Demystifying the data security layer in submarine cables

We live in times where the world is relentlessly digital, always-on and life as we know it stands still without the internet. Every digital pulse on which every country and their economies thrive, all depend on the split-second global connectivity provided by these vast underwater network of subsea cables and yet the very lifeline that makes it all possible lies unseen on the ocean floor.

For years, discussions about these critical arteries of global connectivity focused largely on its capacity, latency, and geographic reach. However, as we increasingly shift to an era defined by AI-powered intelligence, instant cloud services, and ubiquitous global collaboration, safeguarding these arteries have taken center stage. The narrative is rapidly evolving—data security, privacy, and resilience are now at the heart of the discourse. 

In today’s age of sophisticated cyber threats, quantum attacks, and more frequent physical disruptions, protecting these lifelines demands next-generation solutions and relentless vigilance, ensuring that the world’s digital future remains secure, robust, and uninterrupted will bring about the difference between a world connected and a world divided.

Here is where the owners and guardians of these arteries adapt and evolve each day with the best of measures and practices to keep the silent backbone resilient and secure to quietly keep powering nations and helping the world to thrive and innovate without compromise, every single day.

Building a layered defense ranging from physical protection to cybersecurity

A discussion on keeping submarine cable secure must be conjuring images of patrol ships in one’s mind but in reality, it is way more complex given that modern threats have rapidly outpaced physical measures. Today’s data security layers need to be sophisticated and have to blend physical safeguards with a digital fortress designed to defend against a wide spectrum of dangers including cyberattacks, espionage, sabotage, and inadvertent cable cuts alike. 

1. Encryption – the bedrock of data security 

At the core, all data coursing through submarine cables is protected with robust encryption—typically leveraging protocols such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Transport Layer Security (TLS). Think of encryption like a super-strong padlock on your personal diary before sending it across the ocean by underwater cable. So, if someone found your locked diary during its journey, they simply cannot read what is inside without the special key. In other words, even if data is intercepted, it remains unintelligible to unauthorized parties without the correct decryption keys. You may ask that what if, in the future, someone does invent a tool that might open today’s padlocks much more easily (like quantum computers). This is exactly why the guardians of these cables should always innovate to future-proof the locks against all possible future threats so that all information will stay safe at all times.

2. AI-powered real-time monitoring

The scale and complexity of submarine cable infrastructure demand continuous, around-the-clock monitoring. Operators today therefore leverage artificial intelligence and rely on well-developed supervisory channels to monitor the entire length of the cable along with all its active components, such as repeaters. This capability is critical to ensure (i) end-to-end physical connectivity, (ii) electrical connectivity, and (iii) the performance of each repeater. Such systems detect anomalies in traffic flow, signal quality, or component behavior, delivering instant alerts for any signs of fault, intrusion, or degradation. By providing real-time insight into the cable’s health, rapid diagnosis and swift corrective action—minimizing downtime, protecting connectivity, and ensuring uninterrupted global communications. 

3. Redundancy and route diversity

To build true resilience, forward-looking operators like us invest in multiple, diverse cable routes, redundant backhaul networks and diversified landing points. Should a cut or disruption occur, whether by accident or sabotage, traffic can be rapidly re-routed through alternate paths, maintaining continuity for mission-critical applications. This approach reduces the risk of disruption from single points of failure—whether accidental or malicious and is particularly important for regions dependent on only a handful of undersea routes.

4. Strict access controls and network segmentation

Modern cable networks are meticulously segregated from public internet pathways. Access to International Private Leased Circuits (IPLC) and landing stations where the cable meets terrestrial networks, is tightly restricted to authorized personnel and devices. Role-based access control (RBAC), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and rigorous identity checks and user verification processes are integrated to prevent unauthorized access, slashing the risk of compromise by insiders or external threat actors. Only authorized personnel and vetted devices can interact with the critical systems that manage and route immense data flows. The IPLC connections are completely isolated from public Internet networks. This exclusive, point-to-point architecture prevents exposure to public network threats, such as DDoS attacks, malware, or packet sniffing, making the cable systems more secure by design.

5. Integration with secure data centers

Integrating subsea cables directly with data centers is yet another powerful strategy for enhancing data security and safety in today's hyperconnected world. When submarine cables land inside or adjacent to secure data centers, data moves seamlessly from undersea networks to robustly protected digital environments, minimizing the number of transition points for vulnerabilities, ensuring secure handoff and safeguarding against intrusion at any critical network edge.

The unseen strength ensuring seamless global connectivity

Most part of the world probably do not have a grasp of the engineering feat behind their split-second global banking transaction or the instantly connected seamless video calls with anyone around the world and yet the reality is that the world’s digital lifeblood flows through these networks buried deep on the ocean floors. 

Every second, these cables transmit vital data between continents with invisible precision and ironclad security. As the guardians of this vast network evolve their defenses—from advanced encryption to AI-driven vigilance and seamless data center integration—the safety and continuity of global connectivity remains assured. Though hidden from view, these lifelines are relentlessly fortified, ensuring the world’s progress, innovation, and connections thrive seamlessly through this uninterrupted and unstoppable backbone of submarine cables from beneath the waves.