Connectivity : The Foundation of Digital Trust for Business Resilience

Businesses entered 2026 facing unprecedented unpredictability: economic uncertainty, geopolitical and climate-related events, and a surge in cyberattacks are all impacting supply chains, cost control, and digital data protection. This domain is increasingly regulated, with European regulations such as GDPR, NIS II, and DORA requiring strict control and traceability. At the same time, organizations are transforming their IT architectures: adopting multi-cloud, AI, and edge computing enhances performance but also increases system complexity.

Nearly 50% of European companies surveyed by IDC, for instance, report using trusted cloud services. But there's no trusted cloud without trusted connectivity! Only robust networks can ensure comprehensive data protection and true business continuity. Trusted connectivity is no longer optional - it's a strategic necessity and the only way to guarantee resilience, security, and regulatory compliance.

• In short: Possibility starts with tech you trust.

"Trusted connectivity refers to the reliability of the path data takes between the user and the cloud. It's also about giving customers control over that connectivity, such as by scaling their network capacity up or down as needed."
Thomas Sourdon, Connectivity Marketing Director

According to IDC's InfoBrief, 41% of European companies believe that cloud dependency is accelerating the need to modernize their networks quickly. Indeed, inaction would expose them to a cascade of potential risks:

• IT risks: system failures, network outages, data breaches, and technical non-compliance with EU regulations
• Economic risks: operational disruption and extraterritorial dependency on providers not subject to the same laws or who may increase pricing

Once this reality is acknowledged, how do companies build a solid network foundation? And with which partners?

At Orange Business, protecting data in transit is built on three fundamental pillars:

• Infrastructure expertise and control:
  To guarantee secure data flows, it's essential to control the entire network infrastructure and rely on deep internal expertise, ensuring full autonomy and independence in investment decisions and technology evolutions. Orange Business leverages on its own submarine cables, backbone, mobile networks, satellite teleports, sites, and equipment. Furthermore, Orange Business enhances reversibility through a higher share of open-source core network equipment.
   
• Security by design:
  Security is embedded from the very conception of our solutions to prevent incidents before they occur. Our 13 CyberSOC centers continuously analyze vulnerabilities and deploy advanced protection measures: data encryption, DDoS attack defense, and proactive monitoring to anticipate any threat.
   
• Resilience to ensure service continuity:
  Resilience is at the heart of Orange Business network architectures. Thanks to redundant and robust infrastructures, service availability is guaranteed, even during major incidents. This "by design" approach ensures business continuity, in all circumstances as evidenced by our industry-leading SLA results (99.999% availability across our core network).

The massive power outage that hit Spain in April 2025 disrupted operations for a financial services client whose data flows between Morocco and Europe. By controlling our backbone and routing plan, Orange Business redirected the company's traffic along a path bypassing Spain. We now integrate "country blackout" scenario from the earliest stages when designing network solutions, enabling rapid response even to the unexpected.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which brought together millions of spectators, required a fully redundant dedicated network. For this type of event, there is no room for service interruptions or malicious intrusions. 1,800 km of dedicated fiber connected over 60 event sites in France and internationally.

Using this same infrastructure, Orange Business ensured DDoS protection and 24/7 supervision. Critical traffic was isolated and prioritized while preserving public network quality. Additionally, Orange Business's internet network carried more than two-thirds of traffic across France.

The result: 100% connectivity availability with zero incidents.

Indeed, strengthening trust represents an investment. Yet the returns are substantial: protection against cyber threats, business continuity, preservation of brand image, immunity from non-compliance fines, and increased autonomy from non-European technology players.

From "mere" regulatory compliance to protecting critical operations, requirements differ according to each organization and business unit. Between trust, performance, and cost management, the goal is not to choose one over the others: it's to find the right balance.

With Orange Business as their network partner, organizations stay in control and adapt their infrastructure to their true needs. For example, they can:

• Rout less sensitive data over their VPN without encryption, while encrypting their most critical data;
• Connect directly to a trusted cloud from the internet or their VPN through secure connectivity;
• Encrypt traffic using ANSSI-certified technologies;
• Rely on global operating models or delegate network administration to teams in France and across Europe.

By choosing this tailored approach, each organization achieves the right balance based on data criticality, business activities and budget.
 

"Our customers do not share the same data criticality, nor the same needs when it comes to protecting their digital environment. At Orange Business, we take a modular approach: a foundation of trusted infrastructure, complemented by additional on-demand services for even greater security and confidentiality."
Aymerick Dumas, Marketing and Partnerships Manager, Digital Trust
 

How can you make connectivity the foundation of your digital trust and a driver of business performance?
IDC's InfoBrief, "Digital Sovereignty - The Crucial Role of the Network in a Sovereign Cloud," provides data-driven insights into ongoing transformations and key criteria to help you select the right network partner.