Synopsis
Here is a summary of the key points from the report:
Overview:
- The report covers cybersecurity for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations providing telecommunications services.
- It aims to provide better understanding of the LEO satcom sector from a cybersecurity perspective for national authorities overseeing telecom security.
Key Findings:
- LEO satcom systems face various cyber threats like classic attacks targeting user/control segments and attacks on the satellites (space segment).
- Major past incidents include data theft through reverse engineering of user links and denial of service attacks on ground/space segments.
- LEO satcoms deserve tailored cybersecurity approach due to global assets, higher financial risks, and threats including payload hijacking and platform hijacking.
- Initiatives like ESA’s Space Attacks and Countermeasures Engineering Shield (SPACE-SHIELD) acknowledge the need for coordinated security via standards, recommendations, info sharing.
- LEO satcoms likely face higher cyber risks than terrestrial networks based on threat exposure and impact severity.
Recommendations:
- Integrate security early in LEO satcom projects, conduct risk analysis covering potential impact on other systems.
- Develop standards and recommendations for security of space systems across dimensions like system types and geography.
- Ensure overlap between cybersecurity and space engineering skills for proper implementation of security.
The report shows LEO satcom’s cyber protection needs go beyond terrestrial systems. Growth of mega-constellations calls for coordinated approach to space systems’ security.
