Thales Confirms Its Key Role to Provide Cybersecurity for Galileo Second Generation to Meet Tomorrow
As part of G2G IOV SECMON, Thales is leading the consortium, including
the Italian group Leonardo, to expand the scope of security monitoring and
include the new assets in the G2G system. It will also introduce automated
incident response and network traffic monitoring. In addition, the solution
will be capable of storing significant amounts of incident response data. To
meet this challenge, Thales will deliver a solution built on a scalable,
flexible architecture derived from its Cybels range of security supervision
products and incorporating big data capabilities.
A cybersecurity contract for better protection from quantum threats
New threats from quantum computers capable of breaking existing
cryptographic algorithms have the potential to compromise long-term data
security. Thales has been tasked by ESA within the consortium it leads to draw
on its world-renowned cryptography expertise.
Under the “G2G System Engineering and Technical Assistance for security
and PRS” contract, Thales will specify and verify the new cybersecurity for the
G2G system – taking into account new threats to space systems, security
maintenance requirements, improvements to the PRS service for government users–
and prepare for system certification. One of the major challenges is to ensure
a smooth transition from G1G to G2G while maintaining the level of security and
performance offered by the G1G system for member states.
“Thales thanks ESA, EUSPA and the European Commission for its
continued confidence in the Group’s expertise in space systems and
cybersecurity for critical systems. These security contracts for Galileo Second
Generation will bring Europe a more robust system with better protection from
quantum threats – a major challenge for the space industry in the decades ahead
– and will draw on the Group’s unparalleled big data expertise to provide more
effective security monitoring of the world’s leading satellite positioning
system,” said Pierre-Yves Jolivet, VP Cyber Solutions, Thales.
The cybersecurity of satellite systems has become a growing concern for
satellite operators and space agencies, particularly against a backdrop of
geopolitical tensions. Today, thousands of satellites are in orbit, and it is
estimated that 10,000 more will be added over the next 10 years, due to the
multiplication of uses, from everyday life with the Internet of Things to
defense applications.
Through the signing of these two contracts, Thales's expertise in
scalable and flexible architecture and security equipment and protection
against cyberattacks will enable the G2G program to strengthen its ability to
detect and respond to new cyberthreats. The end-to-end solution proposed by
Thales experts will contribute to the development of greater security and
resilience of satellites.
In parallel, Thales Alenia Space has been notified of major contracts to
design and build with its European consortium the G2G Ground Mission Segment
and execute System Engineering Activities. The company is also providing 6 of
the 12 satellites of the constellation.
Cybersecurity at Thales
As a global leader in cybersecurity, Thales is involved at every level
of the cyber value chain, offering solutions ranging from risk assessment to
protection of critical infrastructure, supported by comprehensive threat
detection and response capabilities. Its offer is built around three families
of cybersecurity products and services, which generated sales of €1.5bn in
2022:
1. Global security
products around the CipherTrust Data Security Platform the SafeNet Trusted
Access Identity & Access Management as a service solution, and the broader
cloud protection & licensing offerings
2. Sovereign protection
products including encryptors and sensors to protect critical information
systems
3. Cybels solutions
portfolio, a complete suite of cybersecurity services including risk
assessment, training and simulation, and cyberattack detection and response
Drawing on more than 40 years of experience in cybersecurity and space
activities, Thales applies the principles of "cybersecurity by
design" to the products it develops for satellite operators and space
agencies. With more than 4,000 cybersecurity specialists, Thales helps to
ensure the security of satellite systems for national and European space
programmes – in particular Europe's Galileo satellite navigation programme –
and at the international level. With its combined expertise in cutting-edge
satellite systems and cybersecurity solutions relying on the latest military
technologies, Thales offers governments, institutions and enterprise customers
a comprehensive range of cybersecurity solutions to
guarantee robust protection of all the elements of a space system. In April
2023, Thales demonstrated its expertise in offensive security at CYSAT,
managing to take remote control of an ESA demonstration satellite, in order to
anticipate and respond to current and future threats.
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