March 12, 2024 | International, Land
November 11, 2019 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR, Security
How the Space Cybersecurity Working Group fosters communication
By: Nathan Strout
In September 2018, the Trump administration added space cybersecurity to the National Cyber Strategy.
Of course, adding space cybersecurity to a strategy document doesn't automatically make those systems secure from cyberthreats. In the year since that document was adopted, the Space Cybersecurity Working Group has been trying to make the administration's desire that United States space assets are cybersecure a reality.
“The National Security Council, in very close coordination with the National Space Council, as well as the Office of the vice president, decided to form an inner agency group called the Space Cybersecurity Working Group,” explained Jaisha Wray, cybersecurity director of the National Security Council. “The goals of our working group are to identify and coordinate and prioritize U.S. government efforts to manage cybersecurity risks to space systems.”
As the cybersecurity director of the National Security Council, Wray is in charge of developing international cybersecurity partnerships. Previously she served as the acting deputy director of emerging security challenges at the Department of State, where she helped build space and cyber policies. At the CyberSat19 conference Nov. 7, Wray explained how her Space Cybersecurity Working Group was fostering communications between various organizations to enhance cybersecurity in space.
Key to developing effective cybersecurity across the nation's space systems is communication, be it between space and cyber communities, the U.S. and international partners, or the government and industry, said Wray.
“What we saw was that across departments and agencies in the U.S. government, the space and the cyber people are often located in different offices in different bureaus, and so one of the early successes of our working group is simply just bringing these folks together to try to reduce stovepipes, compare notes and provide updates,” she explained.
Those meetings are ongoing and have been embraced by both communities, said Wray.
The National Cyber Strategy also directed the National Security Council to enhance partnerships between the U.S. government and commercial and other space-faring nations.
“This is particularly important since our efforts in space are becoming increasingly intertwined, both commercially and internationally, and we must ensure that all space systems — not just U.S. government satellites — are protected from cyberthreats,” said Wray. “However, a key challenge is convincing others to spend the extra money and resources necessary to make their satellites more secure when the extent of the threat is not always well known or available in the public domain. So this is why both internationally and with industry we plan to enhance our efforts to raise awareness and share information on cyberthreats and to develop and share best practices and principles to counter these threats.”
On the industry front, the working group is backing the efforts of the newly established Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC). ISACs are member-driven groups that work with the government to spread information through industry. The formation of a separate Space ISAC was announced in April, and the group held its first board meeting Nov. 7.
“We were very pleased to see and now support the efforts of the new Space ISAC, which will help gather, analyze and disseminate critical cyberthreat information related to space among the federal commercial and international community,” said Wray.
While the technical side of enhancing space cybersecurity presents its own challenge, it's clear that a major gap in implementing cybersecurity in space is connecting the various stakeholders, be they commercial companies, various agencies or other countries.
“I'm confident that through the Space Cybersecurity Working Group, we can continue to make progress and working cooperatively to address these threats,” said Wray.
On the same subject
-
-
July 23, 2021 | International, Aerospace
L’ONERA et MBDA préparent le premier vol d’un véhicule propulsé par un statomixte
Air & Cosmos consacre un dossier aux travaux menés par l'ONERA et MBDA, qui prévoient de faire voler, en collaboration avec la DGA, un véhicule hypersonique propulsé par un statomixte, c'est-à-dire un moteur capable de réaliser successivement une combustion subsonique et supersonique. L'objectif est de réaliser un véhicule d'essai unique, qui permettra de « vérifier le comportement d'un tel véhicule dans le domaine du vol hypersonique », explique Olivier Dessornes, directeur adjoint du DPME (département multi-physique pour l'énergétique) à l'ONERA. Il existe « une très grande expertise française » en la matière, « qui a commencé à l'ONERA et s'est poursuivie en collaboration avec Aérospatiale puis MBDA, sous l'égide de la DGA » insiste Laurent Serre, directeur de programme dissuasion à l'ONERA. L'essai en vol devrait être réalisé d'ici fin 2021, depuis la côte Est des Etats-Unis. Le véhicule sera accéléré et mis en poste et à l'altitude voulue pour une fusée-sonde. Les données seront récoltées avant que le véhicule ne fonde et que ses restes ne soient perdus en mer. Air & Cosmos du 23 juillet
-
June 18, 2019 | International, Other Defence
CACI Secures $880 Million Task Order to Provide Information Technology and Engineering Services for U.S. Army's Personnel and Force Management Systems
ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI) announced today it has secured an $880 million task order to provide information technology and engineering services to the U.S. Army's Product Lead Reserve Component Automation System-Force Management System (PL RCAS - FMS). The Information Technology Enterprise Management Systems Solution (ITEMSS) task order, made under the U.S. General Services Administration's Alliant 2 contract vehicle, represents continuing work for CACI and expansion to support the Army's vision for Global Force Information Management. The government will rely upon CACI's Agile Solution Factory (ASF), already one of the largest and most modern Agile frameworks used by the federal government, to more quickly develop software for the Army's personnel and force management systems. Since 2013, the ASF has consistently delivered increased productivity, reduced costs, higher quality, and more secure software to its customers. On the previous RCAS contract, the ASF increased software development productivity by 60% and reduced implementation costs by more than 50%, software quality averaged 99% defect free, and time-to-market was reduced by 70%. Ken Asbury, CACI's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “CACI's Agile Solution Factory has set the standard for continuous software development on an enterprise scale through its iterative and transparent approach. Under the ITEMSS contract, CACI's ASF will help the Army implement multiple personnel and force management systems, including RCAS and FMS, two of the most efficient large-scale personnel and force management systems in the world.” Under the seven-year ITEMSS task order, CACI will provide a broad range of information technology and engineering services, including hardware and software design, sustainment and modification, and network, cybersecurity, distance learning program, and military construction services to support the Army's dynamic force management, mobilization and readiness missions. CACI provides information solutions and services in support of national security missions and government transformation for Intelligence, Defense, and Federal Civilian customers. A Fortune World's Most Admired Company, CACI is a member of the Fortune 1000 Largest Companies, the Russell 2000 Index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Index. CACI's sustained commitment to ethics and integrity defines its corporate culture and drives its success. With approximately 22,000 employees worldwide, CACI provides dynamic career opportunities for military veterans and industry professionals to support the nation's most critical missions. Join us! www.caci.com. There are statements made herein which do not address historical facts, and therefore could be interpreted to be forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in CACI's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, and other such filings that CACI makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Any forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon and only speak as of the date hereof. CACI-Contract Award https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190618005167/en