Securing Space: A Conversation with KSAT’s CISO

In this interview, Øystein Thorvaldsen, CISO at KSAT, discusses the growing threat landscape surrounding space systems, specifically focusing on the ground segment. He highlights why adversaries prioritize the ground segment as the most practical entry point and the challenges of securing a complex supply chain and legacy infrastructure. He also details KSAT’s approach to balancing low latency with robust security across its global operations.

The Ground Segment: A Prime Target

Thorvaldsen emphasizes that, for most adversaries, the ground segment represents the only feasible access point to space systems. This vulnerability exists both on the customer side and within the infrastructure of ground station providers like KSAT. He identifies supply chain vulnerabilities as the most notable concern, despite widespread awareness of the issue.

Supply Chain Complexity

The sheer number of vendors involved – from antenna systems to standard hardware and software – creates a complex and often opaque network. Tracing the origin and security posture of every component, especially through multiple layers of sub-vendors, is a considerable challenge. Recent compromises of widely used open-source software packages and repositories further exacerbate this risk. Maintaining control and visibility across all potential instances of impacted systems is a continuous struggle.

Signal Interference: Distinguishing Threat from Noise

While GNSS spoofing and jamming receive considerable attention in academic circles, KSAT’s real-world experience reveals a more nuanced picture.The company operates ground stations globally,strategically located in remote areas to minimize radio frequency (RF) interference.

RF Site Selection and Interference Detection

Before establishing a new ground station, KSAT conducts thorough RF measurements to assess the suitability of the location.This proactive approach helps to identify and mitigate potential sources of interference. However, distinguishing between malicious interference and naturally occurring environmental noise remains a critical task.

KSAT has ground stations all around the world, a lot of them in remote areas to minimize RF interference. Whenever we consider establishing a ground station, we do thorough RF measurements to ascertain the suitability of the location. In this very way there is

Key Takeaways

• The ground segment is the most accessible entry point for adversaries targeting space systems.
• Supply chain vulnerabilities represent the biggest security risk, due to complexity and lack of visibility.
• Distinguishing malicious signal interference from environmental noise is a constant challenge.
• Proactive RF site selection and continuous monitoring are crucial for mitigating interference.

Looking ahead, securing space systems will require a collaborative effort across the entire industry.Enhanced supply chain security practices, improved threat intelligence sharing, and continued investment in robust ground segment defenses are essential to protect critical space-based infrastructure.