Underwater Cyber Warfare: Submarine Communications Cables Architecture and Cybersecurity Analysis

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Presented at HICSS 2025 by

Gregory Falco

Nicolò Boschetti

The fiber-optic submarine communications cables (SCCs) are a critical infrastructure (CI) forming the cyber backbone of governments, economies, and security organizations. These networks are prone to cyber attacks that can compromise the availability, confidentiality, and integrity of civilian and military networks across the globe. This paper analyzes the cyber attack surface of SCCs, identifying vulnerabilities and single points of failure. Using the Svalbard Undersea Cable System as a case study, this study provides an attack analysis for several network nodes and shows the repercussions on interconnected CIs. Finally, it provides technical and policy recommendations to address current vulnerabilities in the SCC sector and SCC-dependent CIs.