Protect Your Network from Sabotage
Remote Fiber-optic Monitoring Systems Detect Network Events
The topic of “telecommunication information transfer” is almost as old as the civilized world. As early as ancient times, information was exchanged between a sender and receiver via optical telegraphy. By applying torches and cyclical panels, diverse codes were able to be transmitted from A to B.
Although infrastructure and data transfer rates certainly cannot be compared to those of ancient times, this basic principle has not, if you will, changed since then. In any case, the goal of the 100% availability of a communication path for the exchange of information, as well as the desire for protection from sabotage and monitoring by third parties – whether for military or economic reasons – has remained the same.
Legal Situation
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The protection of critical infrastructure from cyberattacks is a real issue. For the operators of critical infrastructure, such as water suppliers and electricity and gas grid operators, according to changes to the IT Security Act by the BSI from July 25, 2015, it is necessary to register extraordinary IT disturbances.
In state-of-the-art transmission technology, it is possible to protect network infrastructure from manipulation: fiber-optic monitoring systems are used for this purpose. Ideally, these systems are scalable in order to be expanded effortlessly if the network is expanded.
A monitoring system of the latest generation makes it possible to detect an event along the fiber-optic link in real time and precisely to within almost a meter. This includes the most radical disturbance “fiber breakage” and path changes that lead to attenuation.
Interception via Fiber Tapping
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Ein klassisches Beispiel für eine Streckenveränderung ist das Fiber-Tapping, bei dem mittels Biegung (Bending) einer Faser das Licht des Übertragungssignals ausgekoppelt wird – selbst die Ummantelung einer Faser bietet hierbei keinen ausreichenden Schutz. Ohne Einsatz eines Überwachungssystems bliebe dieser Eingriff unbemerkt; die Datenkommunikation könnte über das ausgekoppelte Signal unbemerkt abgehört werden.
Quick Troubleshooting and Protection from Sabotage
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Up until just a few years ago, the primary motivation for fiber-optic monitoring was a reduction in mean-time to repair (MTTR) (i.e., the measured duration of time between the disturbance and the completion of troubleshooting). Today, these monitoring systems are primarily used in protection from sabotage and theft and in the detection of tapping devices.
Theft Protection
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Monitoring manhole covers or the doors of critical infrastructures in a way that is unsusceptible to electromagnetic jammers is unproblematic with a fiber-optic monitoring system. It requires just a single remaining fiber and a corresponding sensor at the respective monitoring site. Up to 80 sensors can be controlled with just one fiber.
New Registration Requirements for Operators of Critical Infrastructures
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Classic network operators, state authorities, and administration unions in the operation model, such as counties, cities, and towns, already rely on fiber-optic monitoring. Since the new regulations in the IT Security Act from July 25, 2015, the operators of critical infrastructures also use these systems.
Monitoring during Network Failures
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The issuance of an alarm status of the measuring unit and the attached fiber optic links must also be possible – especially if networks or mobile networks malfunction. This is the only way to make sure that it is always possible in high-level network manipulations (e.g., router hacking) to gain direct access to fiber-optic monitoring.
The ability of the system to sound an alarm during an event should be available along different paths: in addition to e-mail and SMS messages, via SNMP to an NOC or via a relay. Especially the latter, as well as the ability to connect to a measuring unit via a separate local interface if necessary, is a quality feature and minimum requirement of state-of-the-art monitoring solutions.
Our Experts
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LASER COMPONENTS Germany - Your competent partner for fiber technologies, optical and optoelectronic components in Germany.
Welcome to LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH, your expert for photonics components. Each product in our wide range
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