Cable Construction

All cables in the Security Cable product line are manufactured to exacting specifications using quality components. The following diagram (Cat 8 Security Cable with orange Cable Jacket End Color shown) provides a cross section view of the layers and components of the cables.  It is important to note that all Security Cables have the same underlying construction, regardless of the type of data/power cable and/or variant. 

  1. Cable Jacket (Black shown): The outermost layer of the cable is the expandable braided sleeving.  The sleeve is made of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and is chemical and abrasion resistant.  The sleeve fully encloses the inner core of the cable and is applied during construction and as such, cannot be removed.  Any damaged sections of any cable should be examined for cause (to make sure the cable has not been tampered with)
  2. EMI RF shielding layer: The data transmission cable (Cat 8 Ethernet shown) and the carbon steel security cable and enclosed in this layer. The radio frequency and electro-magnetic interference braided mesh sleeving is bi-metal tinned copper.  The two different metal types provide maximum signal insulation, effectively creating up a Faraday cage on each cable.  Long parallel runs of conductive cable can create sympathetic vibrations and emanations. The RF/EMI shielding sleeve helps to prevent this phenomenon from happening and creating signal leakage outside of the cable.  It is the second most expensive component in every cable at just under $2 per linear foot.  It is the most important component from a cyber defense perspective.  For some additional info on how important RF shielding is, click here.
  3. Cable binding wraps: The data transmission cable (Cat 8 Ethernet shown) and the carbon steel security cable are tied together internally with a heat shrink and adhesive-binding loop every 6 to 8 inches.  This is done before the shielding and outer PET sleeves are installed. This ties both cables together so they move exactly the same internally and do not work their way out of alignment.  If the two internal cables were not bound together, it is possible that over time they would move out of position relative to each other and internally within the cable shielding and outer sleeves, affecting the length of the Cable Leader and overall integrity of the cable.
  4. Data Transmission Cable: This is the internal cable that transmits the data to the device being secured.  The Cat 8 Ethernet cable shown in this example is also internally shielded.
  5. The Carbon Steel Security Cable: This is the security piece of the Security Cable. The carbon steel cable cannot be cut without special tools and as with all of our Standard Security Cables (two locks, one on each side), there are 20,000 possible combinations.  Any damaged sections of any steel security cable or broken locks, should be examined for cause (to make sure the cable has not been tampered with).