Space Communications Cyber Security

European Leadership in Space Cybersecurity and Intelligence

360° Space Security Solutions

Security experts at Qascom analyze the evolving security landscape of space missions to drive the security design of space and critical systems. Our experience in governmental and commercial systems spans from the design and implementation of ground and space segment elements to secure telecommunication protocols, radio frequency attack simulations, interference detection, and localization in both ground and space environments.

Qascom offers solutions to design authentication signals for navigation satellites and secure communication satellites. The company provides technology for jamming and spoofing detection, with threat detection and geo-localization capabilities. Security threats and cyberattacks on satellite navigation can be tested in the laboratories using our simulators and test equipment.

Qascom also develops and supplies software cryptographic solutions for the implementation of ground and space Key Management Systems (KMS).

Satellite and Ground Security Design

Qascom is capable of designing secure signals for satellites and secure communications for ground infrastructure. As an example, two of the five Galileo services have been co-designed by Qascom. The Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) was pioneered early by Qascom in 2004, where Qascom defined the term NMA. Qascom has supported government agencies and industries in the design, development, and testing of the Galileo OSNMA. Qascom is also supporting the development of the other secure signal of Galileo, the Commercial Authenticated Service (CAS). Furthermore, the company is supporting government and space agencies in the design of the Galileo secure signals. The security of the emerging LEO-PNT constellation is also co-designed by Qascom. Finally, Qascom is involved in the design of the upcoming Moonlight constellation, particularly for the Lunar NMA (LNMA).

Next Generation Security for Ground and Space

The solutions that Qascom can offer in the domain of satellite and ground security design are:

  • Design of satellite navigation authentication signals.
  • Design of satellite navigation robust/anti-jam signals.
  • Design of secure and robust satellite communication signals.
  • Implementation of secure RF signal generation payloads for navigation and communication.
  • Supply of Qascom space-qualified SDRs as payloads for navigation and communication signals (MIO, LEO, Earth, and Moon radio beacons).
  • Integration of the signals into our test user receiver to validate performance.

Qascom has the capability to develop both software and hardware in-house and to create solutions in compliance with space engineering standards.

    Radiofrequency Threat Detection

    Qascom offers solutions to protect ground assets from radio frequency attacks, such as jamming and spoofing, with threat detection and geo-localization capabilities. The QB100 is our product designed to monitor the spectrum and perform early detection of cyberattacks in the spectrum. The company has successfully deployed this technology in space-critical assets. Qascom can integrate the QB100 product with existing Security Operations Centers (SOCs). The company is working to port this technology to space using our space-qualified payloads. This technology can geo-localize the source of an attack, such as jamming and spoofing, on a map and send alerts to the relevant authorities.

    Detection Anywhere: Our solutions

     

    The solutions that Qascom can offer in the domain of radiofrequency threat detection are:

    • Deployment of ground interference detection systems in critical assets.
    • Deployment of space interference detection systems.
    • Deployment of Qascom SOC.
    • Integration of existing SOCs.
    • Deployment of low-cost sensors for interference detection in large areas.

      Security Test Equipment

      Qascom offers offers the QA707, a Software Defined Radio (SDR) signal generator capable of generating all navigation systems and related cyberattacks. This solution has been successfully used in aircraft security testing, as well as in testing receivers. The QA707 is also used for testing the secure signals that Qascom designs, in order to prove and validate them.

      The simulator is capable of generating all GNSS authentication signals, including the Galileo OSNMA, the Galileo CAS, and the GPS CHIMERA. Qascom can integrate this solution into navigation laboratories for threat testing and security assessment. The potential of SDR allows us to modify the software and introduce new attacks provided by the customer. Qascom offers a solution where the software can also be connected to a database that collects data obtained from our sensors, in order to reproduce realistic attack scenarios.

      Furthermore, Qascom can integrate communication signals into the QA707. A fully compliant CCSDS TT&C S-band has been integrated into the QA707 to test the jamming resistance of these signals. Qascom is the right partner to provide a full setup of GNSS and communication security testing, including signal generators, RF interferences, and our receiver to validate performance and security.

      Our Security Testing Solutions

      The solutions that Qascom can offer in the domain of security test equipment are:

      • Deployment of signal generators to test the security of navigation systems.
      • Deployment of signal generators to test the security of communication systems.
      • Integration of specific attacks (such as data-level or side-channel attacks) in the simulator.
      • Development of entire testbeds with authentic signal jammers, spoofers, and receivers.
      • Security testing directly on the application (such as aircraft, drones, ships, tracks, trains).
      • Development of Nav-War scenarios for defense applications, including infill testing.

        Crypto Solutions

        Qascom also develops and supplies crypto solutions for the implementation of ground and space key management and encryption. Qascom is currently implementing the software security unit for the second-generation Galileo satellites. These solutions are particularly innovative as they implement, in software (using very fast computing platforms), crypto algorithms that were previously implemented in hardware. Qascom develops and tests such solutions in our space-qualified hardware for the implementation of the Satellite Security Unit (SSU).

        Our Solutions for Cryptographic Implementations

        The solutions that Qascom can offer in the domain of crypto solutions are:

        • Development of ground-based software security units (SUs).
        • Implementation of key management facilities (KMFs) in software for the S-Band TT&C and Galileo crypto services.
        • Integration of cryptographic functions into the Qascom space-qualified hardware platform.
        • Implementation of Galileo OSNMA software solutions.