Safeguarding our space operations: a critical security imperative

Space is now integral to the UK’s critical national infrastructure, providing satellite communications, position, navigation and timing (GPS), and earth observation services to multiple sectors, industries and our society.  As a distant, intangible and silent superpower we all increasingly rely on space systems and the services they provide support our current ways of working, living, socialising, communicating and playing.  However, this superpower is increasingly vulnerable to cyber and electromagnetic threats, and increasingly deliberate, sustained and persistent attacks.  I believe more than ever that Space and Cyber operations must converge.

I’m seeing more and more malicious actors, including state-sponsored groups, exploiting weaknesses across the cyber and electromagnetic domain, posing significant risks to the continuity of space-based services. You just have to look at examples such as the Volt Typhoon attacks, which targeted critical infrastructure showcasing the potential consequences for space systems and the essential services industry and society rely upon.

As the UK continues to drive space innovation, I am convinced that the need for robust cyber and electromagnetic security protection has never been more crucial. We are seeing industry take important steps to align its security capabilities, and collectively defend against Cyber Electromagnetic Threat and Attack Activities (CEMTAA). This alignment is spearheaded by industry initiatives like SpISAC (Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center), a global collaboration of over 150 industry companies across the space and cyber sectors which CGI has recently joined, and I am supporting. SpISAC’s mission is to create a collective defence posture, sharing real-time threat intelligence (TI) and coordinating responses to protect space operations from the threat, and address attacks.

SpISAC’s vision includes establishing a global, around-the-clock CEMTAA intelligence service, with watch centres across several geographies, including within the UK. I believe this ambitious effort is critical to ensuring the security of space operations and the services they provide to the UK’s critical national infrastructure. And today as part of the first ever UK Cell, CGI participated in SpISAC’s latest Space Crisis Simulation Table Top Exercise (TTX), where we tasked to identify and analyse a potential deep fake compromise as part of a directed cyber-attack against the scenario’s targeted space operation.

At CGI, we understand the unique challenges posed by the intersection of the space and cyber-electromagnetic domains. Our expertise spans both sectors, enabling us to deliver advanced digital solutions that support SpISAC’s mission and strengthen the UK's ability to mitigate the threat and respond to attack. We are committed to working with industry and government partners to secure space operations and ensure the integrity of the systems that underpin modern society.

Collaborate with us to protect the future of space operations. Contact me or our team today to explore how our expertise in both space and cyber security can help safeguard your organisation’s critical systems.