Space Satellite cyber security is a new industry.
In fact, satellite cyber security is so new, many haven’t heard of it yet.
Additional Risks
Network cyber security on earth is a growing concern.
Most internet data currently travels around fibre networks.
These networks connect the various Internet components together.
Components include data centres, which contain web servers.
Space presents additional risks to cyber data security, due to radio signals.
Satellite communication relies on radio signals.
Signals travel through free space, rather than a cable.
Therefore they are potentially easier to intercept, than fibre cables.
Footprint
Footprint refers to the coverage area of the radio signal, beamed down from the satellite.
The size of the footprint is part of the overall design of the satellite.
Factors affecting the size of the footprint include orbit distance from the earth and antenna design.
Uplinks and Downlinks
Uplinks refer to radio signals transmitting from the earth to the communications satellite.
Downlinks are the signals being transmitted by the satellite, down to earth.
From a cyber security aspect, downlinks are potentially more problematic.
This is due to the transmitted signals.
As I previously said, downlinks create a footprint area.
This could be a wide area, such as a continent.
Reasons for designing such a wide footprint, include satellite internet, where you wish to cover large populations on earth.
More to come soon…