CYSEC wins European Space Agency contract to protect satellite operations
LAUSANNE, Switzerland – October 17th, 2024 : CYSEC, the European company securing the space internet, has been awarded a GSTP contract by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop end-to-end protection of critical satellite communications with the support of Thales Edisoft Portugal.
The security of space assets, including telemetry, tracking, and command (TMTC) data, is of critical importance to the safety and success of space missions. TMTC data is used to monitor and control the spacecraft and its payload, and any unauthorized access or tampering with this data can potentially lead to severe consequences, including the loss of the spacecraft, damage to critical infrastructure, or the compromise of national security.
Unfortunately, security has not always been a top priority among space actors. However, the importance of security in space is increasingly being recognized, as the threat level continues to grow and so does the complexity of space systems.
To address this challenge, CYSEC is teaming up with Thales Edisoft Portugal in a project supervised by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop and qualify an on-board software according to the Space Data Link Security (SDLS) protocol as part of the international standards of the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS).
Complementing the ground implementation developed as part of a previous ESA project, the library will allow satellite operators to quickly and easily benefit from robust security on board their spacecraft with basic functions such as encryption and authentication as well as advanced key management. It will undergo testing as an integral component of a ground demonstrator built around the AEROS satellite’s on-board software and mission control center designed and operated by Thales Edisoft Portugal.
Mathieu Bailly, VP at CYSEC: “It is an honor to be awarded a contract from the European Space Agency as cybersecurity remains a challenge for many satellite operators. This project is for us a great opportunity to qualify our space library on the hardware and software environment of the AEROS constellation. It will help our product gain maturity to be able to address a wider range of users”
Helder Silva, Head of Aerospace Flight Software, stated: “As an embedded on-board software development group, we have participated in more than 50 space missions worldwide since 2006 and are currently operating a satellite. It is clear that increasing the security of communications between ground and space segments is essential. With this project, we intend to enhance our on-board software developed for all the missions we’ve been involved in, including the AEROS MH-1 satellite. This initiative also focuses on the future improvement of our space-qualified real-time operating system and aligns with Thales’ objectives related to cybersecurity.”
About CYSEC
Established in 2018 by experienced cybersecurity professionals, CYSEC is a prominent European cybersecurity company whose mission is to secure the space internet. The company is renowned for its pioneering work and is dedicated to crafting end-to-end and off-the-shelf cybersecurity solutions tailored to cutting-edge newspace missions.
About Thales Edisoft Portugal
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies within three domains: Defence & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Digital Identity & Security. It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive. Thales Edisoft is recognized as a key technology partner in Portugal, serving the Naval Defense, Air Mobility, Space markets and ranking in top positions in Cybersecurity, Digital Identity and Security sectors. Thales Edisoft is jointly owned by the Ministry of Defense (IdD Portugal Defence) and NAV Portugal E.P.E. The ThalesGroup invests close to €4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key areas such as quantum technologies, Edge computing, 6G and cybersecurity.Thales has 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2023, the Group generated sales of €18.4 billion.
Media Contacts
Alexandra Vaillant : media@cysec.com