Cybersecurity is serious business – even in space.
Over the past several years, an increase in the deployment of satellites have left space-based assets a target for hackers looking to compromise sensitive information, with potentially devastating consequences.
With the stakes so high when it comes to protecting the data that satellites carry, security cannot be an afterthought. It must play an integral part of the design process itself.
Both satellite design and software must be created with cybersecurity risk in mind because there are more hackers than ever before. In the past, only nation states were capable of attacking space-based assets. But today the technical barrier is much lower.
It is possible to purchase steerable antennas, amplifiers, transmitters and software tools for recording satellite signals and even generating and transmitting signals that can interfere with critical satellite operations at relatively low cost.
At the same time, the United States and its allies are increasingly dependent on unfettered access to space. However, it has become abundantly clear that our space systems have significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities that our adversaries are eager to exploit.
Take for example the growing constellations of satellites operated by private industry led by SpaceX and Blue Origin. Many experts in this field believe if hackers were to take control of these satellites, the consequences could be dire.
On the mundane end of scale, hackers could simply shut satellites down, denying access to their services.
But cybercriminals could also jam or spoof the signals from satellites, creating havoc for critical infrastructure. This includes electric grids, water networks and transportation systems.
Want to learn more? Tonex offers Cybersecurity Principles for Satellite and Space Systems, a 2-day interactive workshop designed to provide a unique learning experience on space and satellite vulnerabilities that are commonly exploited. Participants will discover techniques and strategies for integrating cybersecurity measures into space and SATCOM systems, networks, products and critical missions from the start.
This course is a knowledge-level course designed to provide a knowledge base of Cybersecurity applied to SATCOM. Lessons and exercises taught by subject matter experts will expand the student’s understanding of the space and radio frequency environments, capabilities and limitations of military and commercial SATCOM systems, threats to all segments of SATCOM, planning processes, cybersecurity attacks and mitigation techniques.
For more information, questions, comments, contact us.