Solar storms don’t get much attention in boardrooms, but they should.
What’s often viewed as a distant “space weather” issue is, in reality, a growing and very tangible threat to modern infrastructure. In our latest Weekly Impact Analysis, we take a closer look at how solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) could disrupt the systems businesses rely on every day.
And the truth is: the more connected we become, the more exposed we are.
Why This Matters Now: Solar Cycle 25
We are currently in Solar Cycle 25, a period of increasing solar activity expected to peak in the coming years. With heightened activity comes a greater likelihood of significant solar events.
Historically, the benchmark for worst-case impact is the Carrington Event—a massive solar storm that disrupted telegraph systems across the globe.
If a similar event occurred today, the consequences would be exponentially greater.
The Modern Risk Landscape
Unlike in 1859, today’s world is deeply dependent on interconnected, technology-driven systems. A severe solar event could trigger widespread disruption across multiple layers of infrastructure.
Power Grids & Transformers
Geomagnetic disturbances can induce currents that overload transformers, potentially leading to large-scale grid failures. These are not quick fixes—transformer replacement can take months.
Satellites, GPS & Timing Systems
Satellites are highly vulnerable to solar radiation. Disruptions here don’t just affect navigation—they impact timing synchronization, which underpins financial systems, communications networks, and critical infrastructure operations.
Telecommunications & Data Centers
From cloud services to core internet infrastructure, disruptions in power and timing can ripple through data centers and telecom networks—creating outages that extend far beyond a single region.
Cascading Supply Chain Impacts
When foundational systems fail, the downstream effects are immediate:
- Logistics slow or stop
- Air and maritime navigation are impacted
- Communication breakdowns delay coordination
- Inventory and distribution systems lose visibility
This is where isolated disruption becomes systemic risk.
The Bigger Issue: Interdependence
What makes solar storms particularly dangerous isn’t just the initial impact, it’s the interconnected nature of modern infrastructure.
Power supports telecom.
Telecom supports logistics.
Logistics supports supply chains.
Supply chains support everything.
A disruption at one point can quickly cascade across sectors.
What Leaders Should Be Thinking About Now
This isn’t about predicting the next major solar event, it’s about preparing for the possibility.
Business and risk leaders should start asking:
- Where are our hidden dependencies (power, timing, connectivity)?
- How long could we operate without GPS or stable communications?
- Do we have contingency plans for prolonged infrastructure disruption?
- Are we thinking about resilience at a system level, not just internally?
Operational resilience today requires expanding beyond traditional risk models and considering low-frequency, high-impact events like extreme space weather.
Final Thought
Solar storms may originate millions of miles away, but their impact is anything but distant.
In a hyperconnected world, resilience isn’t just about what happens inside your organization; it’s about how well you can navigate disruptions across the systems you depend on.
If you work in business continuity, operational resilience, crisis management, or infrastructure risk, this is a conversation worth having now, not later.
Stay Connected
Connect with Mike Janko
🔗 linkedin.com/in/michaeljankombcparm
🌐 www.jankoresilience.com
Connect with Jerome Ryan
🔗 linkedin.com/in/jeromeryan
🌐 www.grmsolutions.net