Microsoft has said that its Azure cloud platform is once again operating normally after damage to several undersea cables in the Red Sea caused disruption to internet traffic.
The company confirmed on Saturday that it was no longer detecting issues across its systems, having earlier warned that customers could face slower connections. The disruption had particularly affected data moving between Asia and Europe through the Middle East, according to Microsoft’s service status page.
Although the firm did not specify how the cables were damaged, it said engineers had been working to reroute traffic and limit the impact.
In a prior statement Microsoft noted that repairs to undersea fibre lines can take time and that it would continue monitoring and rebalancing traffic flows to maintain stability.
The Red Sea is one of the world’s most critical digital corridors, connecting Europe with Africa and Asia through Egypt.
Repairing infrastructure in the region has become increasingly complex amid continuing instability and security threats.
Shipping lanes have faced repeated attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement since 2023, heightening concerns about the vulnerability of the cables.
Despite the difficulties Microsoft reported that Azure services have returned to stable conditions, though monitoring and optimisation will continue as repairs are completed.
Separately, the company announced that from 1 October it will begin the second phase of mandatory multifactor authentication for Azure users.
Microsoft’s research shows that MFA can prevent more than 99 per cent of attempted account compromises, making it one of the most effective defences against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.
Source: AFP
