Risk Assessment for Space Nanosatellites
Astrocast
Astrocast
“The economics of satellite IoT communications systems depend on efficient resource management. Processing, memory, and power dedicated to security must be minimal. Finding the perfect trade-off and approach is difficult and requires skillful experts at the forefront of cybersecurity technologies, both in hardware and software.”
CYSEC carried out a risk assessment of Astrocast’s existing architecture and redesigned the architecture for an end-to-end, secure IoT ecosystem.
Telecommunications
60+
Secure the end-to-end IoT communication ecosystem of 80 nanosatellites
CYSEC LAB security evaluation and architecture design services
Astrocast is Switzerland’s first commercial satellite-telecom operator. In collaboration with European Space Agency, Airbus, and Thuraya, Astrocast is building a constellation of 80 nanosatellites with an objective to provide two-way IoT communications services at low cost.
Astrocast required a secure-by-design approach to their product architecture; their business model depends on the security of their IoT ecosystem. Security needs to cover a vast system: a two-way chain of communication from the mission control center, via the satellites, to their client’s terminals.
CYSEC LAB carried out a risk assessment of Astrocast’s complex product architecture, taking into account multiple ecosystem constraints. The team delivered a prioritized list of risks and a mitigation plan for each of them.
Based on the threat model, risk analysis, and risk trade-off, CYSEC developed the architecture design for their security solution.
Within 5 months, CYSEC had designed the security architecture. Security is thereby ensured end-to-end: from Astrocast’s customers, through the 80 nanosatellites of the constellation, all the way to the IoT terminals on ground and at sea.