Sharks & Tubes: Submarine Cables and Cybersecurity

11/03/22 • 44 min

Worried about a nuclear war with Russia? Maybe you SHOULD be worried about beluga whales. Let’s dive in (pun intended) on why. This week on Cyber.RAR, we discuss global infrastructure in the form of undersea cables transmitting data through light traveling along silicon tubes - and how fragile these systems really are. We discuss how to monitor and defend these cable networks given how massive and interconnected they are and how geography and technology factor into strategic decision-making about espionage and cyber-enabled attacks. We conclude the episode with a tribute to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and his tremendous impact on the Kennedy School and the nation.

Relevant Sources:

https://www.submarinecablemap.com/

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/03/10/technology/internet-cables-oceans.html

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/07/the-creepy-long-standing-practice-of-undersea-cable-tapping/277855/

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/report/cyber-defense-across-the-ocean-floor-the-geopolitics-of-submarine-cable-security/

Relevant Sources:

https://www.submarinecablemap.com/

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/03/10/technology/internet-cables-oceans.html

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/07/the-creepy-long-standing-practice-of-undersea-cable-tapping/277855/

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/report/cyber-defense-across-the-ocean-floor-the-geopolitics-of-submarine-cable-security/

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Next Episode

Cybersecurity in a National Digital Transformation Effort: An Interview with Minister Cina Lawson of Togo

Minister Cina Lawson, Togo's Minister of Digital Economy and Transformation, joins Cyber.RaR for a special episode. In her role leading Togo's digital transformation, Minister Lawson oversaw rapid digital service penetration within Togo, the first deployment of 5G in West Africa, and an innovative mobile cash distribution solution for Covid-19 relief. Minister Lawson discusses the tradeoffs between growing a local cyber talent workforce and hiring experts, how Togo has sustained good security hygiene despite rapid increases in digital service provision and access, and how her team's innovative approach is derived from human-centric principles.