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The Space Intelligence Analysis Center is a public-private partnership that helps satellite operators avoid and recover from cyberattacks.
WASHINGTON — The public-private Space Intelligence Analysis and Sharing Center (Space-ISAC) today opened a new operational monitoring center to detect cyber threats to satellite systems, alert operators and users in real time, and provide self-management advice. announced. defense.
Pentagon leaders are becoming increasingly concerned about cyber threats to both military and commercial space systems. Fears were compounded by Russia’s cyberattack on commercial providers in the ongoing war in Ukraine. Gen. Chance Saltzman, his chief of space operations, told House Defense Budget officials on March 28 that he requested his $700 million in fiscal year 2024 to bolster cyber defenses.
“Space is the domain of warfare, and cyber is a critical area to focus on to ensure space security. I think we all know that cyberattacks are becoming more and more frequent. Lockheed・Srinidhi Thumala, a senior software engineer at Martin, told reporters at a Space-ISAC press conference.
Lockheed Martin is one of many leading defense, aerospace and space companies to unite in 2019 to form Space-ISAC, with strong support from the Trump administration’s National Security Council. Other founding members include: Northrop Grumman. L3 Harris; Kratos; SES; Parsons; Aerospace Corporation. MITER and Microsoft. So are the US government’s National Cyber Center of Excellence and a few universities.
The group is one of 25 national ISACs established to help various industry sectors thwart and recover from cyberattacks by sharing information on vulnerabilities, mitigations and response options. . Space-ISC, a paid membership organization for industry, also links with US and foreign government agencies. For example, the group is supported by the National Security Council, National Space Council, Space Force, Missile Defense Agency, and NASA.
“We have built strong partnerships with over 30 government agencies around the world, comprising 64 organizations, including 16 founding members, spanning various market sectors, from research and development to space asset owners/operators. We have established a diverse member base,” said a Space-ISAC executive. Directed by Erin Miller. “This extensive collaboration has enabled us to collect and analyze vast amounts of data, making the Watch Center the most comprehensive single source of information on space security and threats to space assets. increase.”
Using Microsoft’s Azure cloud environment, the new center will initially be staffed with 10 analysts housed at its Colorado Springs facility, but will also be joined by other cybersecurity experts, according to a group press release. Linked in effect.
“This collaborative environment will provide threat intelligence visualization and enable rapid detection, assessment, and response to vulnerabilities, incidents, and threats to commercial space systems. During the early stages of operations, Space ISAC’s Watch The Center will run 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, with the goal of scaling up to 24/7.
During the briefing, Kratos Space Federal senior vice president Frank Backes said that Space-ISAC members would “want to contact Space-ISAC to share information through already established sensor networks or other internal means.” We have pre-established a connection.” The new center will also provide threat alerts and assistance to non-members.
“We will use electromagnetic interference as an example. If that threat is being made against a particular SATCOM operator, we analyze that threat and verify that the interference is occurring,” he said. . “One of the ways our analyst does is to contact that satellite operator directly, whether they are members of his Space-ISAC or not.”
The center will also coordinate with other partners, satellite operators and possibly “affected users” to come up with mitigation measures, he added.
