Optical Fibre and Fibre Optics

Optical fibre is glass or plastic drawn to a width thinner than a human hair used as a medium through which information is transmitted in light pulses. Fibre Optics refer to the light-based (optical) technology used for long-distance and high-performance data transfer and networking. It is commonly used in telecommunication services such as the Internet and provides gigabit speeds to consumers. Optical fibre cables are better alternatives for copper wire in information transmission because it carries more data at faster speeds with no electromagnetic interference and less data loss (attenuation) due to its higher bandwidth. Typically, data generated by search engines like Google, is enabled by immense fibre-optic cable networks connected to worldwide data centres. Using fast fibre-optic broadband means data travels as photons through optical fibre cable networks embedded in a number of rural areas, and deep beneath the oceans linking continents until it reaches the ‘last mile’, terms used to describe, the traditional copper wire connection to, for example, a residence.

Advantages of Fibre Optics

Fibre-optic cables have three main advantages over old-style copper cables:

•       Information travels incredibly fast and needs less amplification and this makes it easier to maintain and more affordable
•       Signal quality is better and information is more reliable because there is no crosstalk or electromagnetic interferences between optical fibres
•       Optic fibres transfer more data due to its higher bandwidth

Optical Networks for Cyber Security

It is estimated that fibre cables cover over 99 percent of the Internet’s total reach, and carry over 99 percent of all international data traffic. Given these statistics, the uses (and abuses) of fibre Internet is expanding exponentially and areas of such growth are using fibre optics to securing both data and physical assets.

In a digital world, cyber security is a key consideration for businesses. For example, companies are increasingly utilising fibre optic networks to tighten-up their boundary security and perimeter protection. A faster connection means quicker access to vital aspects of an operation and then preventative action can be taken to bushwhack potential threats.

Vulnerabilities and Security Issues in Optical Networks

Optical networks are vulnerable to several types of security breaches or attacks, typically aimed at disrupting services or gaining unauthorised access to carried data. Security breaches can cause financial losses to clients and world-wide service disruptions resulting in data and revenue losses. Eavesdropping is a case in point.

Eavesdropping, also known as a sniffing or snooping attack, is aimed at gaining unauthorised access to data in order to collect or analyse traffic. It is an invasion where someone tries to steal information transmitted over a network. It occurs on all network layers from the application to the physical layer, with new instances being revealed on a daily basis. Attackers can install network monitoring software (a sniffer) on a computer or a server to carry out an eavesdropping attack and capture data during transmission. Knowing what devices are connected to a network and what software is installed on those devices is one way to protect against eavesdropping attacks. Using personal firewalls, updated antivirus software, and virtual private networks (VPN), and avoiding public networks, especially for sensitive transactions, can help prevent eavesdropping attacks as well.

Fibre optics for intrusion detection

Physical security systems are widely used in important sites to protect property from being invaded and vandalised. Although security is based on patrols of the premises, it has limited scope, continuity, and reliability, and is increasingly risky for security personnel. Various types of systems using intrusion detection can be used such as fibre-optic gyroscopes (FOGs), rotation sensors, and fibre-optic distributed temperature sensors (DTSs) which are now used in various industrial systems.

Video Surveillance

As the demand for security and surveillance grows, the advancements in technology have made it possible to implement higher quality devices more easily and in more locations. Fibre-enabled video surveillance allows continuous and remote views of activities and movement on business premises. Fibre-enabled video surveillance is unobtrusive and can be used for a variety of tasks such as remotely monitoring staff and consumer behaviour while saving money on additional on-site security staff.

With the increase in crime in South Africa, proactive as well as reactive video surveillance systems are acting as major deterrents of stopping crime. By continuous monitoring of public places and looking for suspicious behaviour and recording actions not only help in deterring criminals, but also help in capturing the perpetrators. Surveillance camera recording has moved to PC-based systems with mass storage, allowing easy access to video footage, and video analytics software integrated into a video management software allows identifying and tracking objects. Local area networks (LANs) very commonly deploy fibre optic cabling as the network backbone between buildings or in vertical risers of multi-story buildings.