Microsoft has reassured customers of the strength and adaptability of its Azure cloud services after damage to undersea internet cables in the Red Sea caused some regional slowdowns recently.
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The disruption occurred near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and impacted the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems—two of the most important connections between Europe and Asia. While customers in India, Pakistan, and the UAE reported slower service at peak times, the majority of global users experienced no impact at all.
Major setback showcases cloud resilience
What could have been a major setback quickly became a showcase of cloud resilience. Microsoft rerouted traffic through alternative global pathways, minimizing disruption and ensuring that business-critical services continued to run smoothly. This swift response highlights the importance of redundant infrastructure and the advantages of a global network built to handle unexpected challenges.
“We do expect higher latency on some traffic that previously traversed through the Middle East. Network traffic that does not traverse through the Middle East is not impacted,” Microsoft said.
The cause of the cable damage remains unclear. Although speculation has circulated around potential sabotage, no group has claimed responsibility. Damage caused by anchors or maritime accidents is certainly not uncommon. Repair crews face a difficult task in the Red Sea, where strategic importance and limited access can slow restoration efforts. Repairs may take weeks, but Microsoft’s rapid adjustments mean businesses can continue operating with confidence in the interim.
Experts note that the incident underscores a broader lesson: while the internet’s physical foundations remain vulnerable, well-designed cloud systems are built with resilience in mind. By investing in diverse routing and robust failover mechanisms, providers like Microsoft ensure their customers remain connected, even during infrastructure crises.
Partner with trusted providers
For businesses, this incident serves as a timely reminder to review resilience strategies regularly. Partnering with providers that prioritise redundancy, diversifying service routes, and building systems capable of tolerating brief delays are all best practices for digital continuity.
Despite the challenges, Microsoft’s response demonstrates the reliability of today’s cloud services. Instead of prolonged outages, most customers experienced little more than brief slowdowns—a testament to the fault-tolerance and resilience of modern cloud infrastructure.
In an increasingly interconnected world, incidents like these are inevitable. What matters is how quickly and effectively cloud and internet service providers respond. On that front, Microsoft has shown that they have the capability to deal with such incidents, bringing widespread reassurance to the business community and especially to users of the Microsoft365, Windows365 and Azure platforms.
