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Microsoft successfully restored its Azure cloud services on Saturday evening after facing major disruptions due to multiple undersea fiber cuts in the Red Sea. The outage, first reported on Saturday morning, caused increased latency issues and interrupted cloud computing, data transmission, and internet connectivity across the Middle East, with ripple effects felt in Asia and Europe.
The underwater cable disruption affected critical global data routes, as these subsea fiber optic cables play a vital role in handling high-speed data traffic between continents. Microsoft rerouted Azure traffic through alternate pathways to quickly resolve the service disruption and minimize the impact on users, including cloud service customers, IT enterprises, and online businesses.
While the company did not confirm the cause of the cut cables, experts note that such damage can occur due to accidental contact with ship anchors, or, in some cases, intentional sabotage. A similar incident in 2024 involved allegations of attacks by the Houthi movement in Yemen, highlighting the growing concerns around cybersecurity threats and maritime infrastructure vulnerability.
In its official update, Microsoft assured users that although repairing undersea cables can take time, it will “continuously monitor, rebalance, and optimize routing to reduce customer impact.” This proactive approach is critical for maintaining cloud service reliability, global internet infrastructure, and business continuity in the face of unforeseen disruptions.
The incident emphasizes the importance of securing submarine cable networks that support not only cloud computing services like Azure but also the broader digital economy, where uninterrupted data flow is essential for remote work, e-commerce, streaming services, and AI-driven platforms. Microsoft’s swift action reinforces its commitment to ensuring dependable cloud connectivity and safeguarding user experience.
The underwater cable disruption affected critical global data routes, as these subsea fiber optic cables play a vital role in handling high-speed data traffic between continents. Microsoft rerouted Azure traffic through alternate pathways to quickly resolve the service disruption and minimize the impact on users, including cloud service customers, IT enterprises, and online businesses.
While the company did not confirm the cause of the cut cables, experts note that such damage can occur due to accidental contact with ship anchors, or, in some cases, intentional sabotage. A similar incident in 2024 involved allegations of attacks by the Houthi movement in Yemen, highlighting the growing concerns around cybersecurity threats and maritime infrastructure vulnerability.
In its official update, Microsoft assured users that although repairing undersea cables can take time, it will “continuously monitor, rebalance, and optimize routing to reduce customer impact.” This proactive approach is critical for maintaining cloud service reliability, global internet infrastructure, and business continuity in the face of unforeseen disruptions.
The incident emphasizes the importance of securing submarine cable networks that support not only cloud computing services like Azure but also the broader digital economy, where uninterrupted data flow is essential for remote work, e-commerce, streaming services, and AI-driven platforms. Microsoft’s swift action reinforces its commitment to ensuring dependable cloud connectivity and safeguarding user experience.
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