Fiber Monitoring and Optical Sensing Strengthening Critical Infrastructure with EU Directives NIS2, CER, and KRITIS

As the European Union (EU) accelerates the digitalization of its economies, the importance of robust fiber optic infrastructure becomes increasingly evident. Recognizing this, the EU has introduced directives aimed at enhancing the resilience, physical security, and cyber security of critical infrastructure.

The starting point is understanding the legal framework. The EU and its member states are committed to ensuring the uninterrupted operation of critical infrastructure, including fiber optic networks. In December 2022, the Council of the European Union issued guidelines with legislative implications for member states, focusing on increasing resilience (RCE Directive) and enhancing cybersecurity (NIS2 Directive). These directives mandate measures to prevent, detect, and mitigate targeted attacks or incidents impacting critical infrastructure. By October 2024, EU member states must incorporate these directives into national laws. In Germany, for example, the requirements from the RCE directive are reflected in the KRITIS umbrella law.

Operators of critical infrastructure, such as fiber optic networks, must adapt to new measures and implement comprehensive risk management processes. This involves conducting thorough risk analyses, planning and executing risk-reducing measures, and regularly checking their effectiveness. If proportionate measures are insufficient, additional steps must be taken to minimize potential damage to the economy and society.

One such area is fiber integrity monitoring and access control. Optical network monitoring systems (such as the VIAVI ONMSi system) monitor both passive and active fiber optic links, detecting and localizing fiber breaks plus assessing fiber health and degradation over time. The ability to detects and localize fiber breaks, and other incidents that negatively impact infrastructure, ensures continuous operation of critical networks. Additionally, passive, maintenance-free sensors can be added to monitor access to manholes, maintenance shafts and distribution boxes in order to provide alerts to unplanned or unauthorized access. Such sensors are essential components for risk reduction in accordance with the RCE, NICS and KRITIS directives. Overall fiber monitoring solutions can provide operators with a comprehensive approach to enhance fiber health and security.

Another area is of interest is physical threat detection for critical infrastructure. In this scenario owners and operators of critical infrastructure need to have real-time detection, notification, and location of threats, third party interference, perimeter intrusions, and anomalies along said infrastructure. This is where fiber optic sensing technologies, for example Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), can be deployed. DAS systems can differentiate between various types of disturbances, such as mechanical or manual digging near cables. They can also be used to set up virtual fencing and provide proximity alerts for people walking or vehicles approaching infrastructure. DAS technology can provide the critical intelligence needed to swiftly identify and pinpoint threats, to avoid accidental damage or deliberate third-party interference, thereby ensuring regulatory compliance and operational security.

However, network security and resilience is not just about the physical infrastructure, there is the data/cybersecurity side of things too. Ensuring accurate timing & synchronization of clocks and data in communication is also key. Timing and synchronization solutions can protect critical networks from espionage and manipulation. For example, high-precision timing analysis and synchronization technology can prevent hacking and spoofing of GPS-based applications, minimizing failure risks and ensuring the reliability of critical communication systems. This protection is crucial for maintaining the integrity of modern communication networks, including 5G.

The EU directives NIS2 and RCE have been issued to enhance the resilience and cybersecurity of critical infrastructure. It is now up to the EU member states and the designated ‘important’ and ‘essential’ institutions to implement the required measures. VIAVI Solutions, in collaboration with integration partners, provides essential technical solutions to help operators comply with these legal requirements. By embracing these solutions, operators can future-proof their infrastructure, ensuring the safety and stability of their operations.

Visit our website to learn more about fiber optic sensing and our sensing solutions.

Read our other blogs on fiber sensing:

• Enhancing Pipeline Monitoring with Fiber Optic Sensing
• Enhancing Windfarm Monitoring with Fiber Optic Sensing Technology

Douglas Clague is currently solutions marketing manager for fiber optic field solutions at VIAVI. Doug has over 20 years of experience in test and measurement with a primary focus on fiber optics and cable technologies, supporting the telecommunications industry. Prior to VIAVI, Doug held positions as manufacturing engineer, solutions engineer and business development manager. Doug has participated on numerous industry panels around fiber and cable technology trends. He attended Brunel University in London and graduated with an honors degree in electrical and electronic engineering.