ESA: better protection against cyberattacks
The European Space Agency ESA wants to protect its infrastructure against ever greater threats - with a new Cyber Security Operations Centre.
Darmstadt (dpa) - The European Space Agency ESA wants to better protect its critical infrastructure against cyberattacks. “The fight against cybercriminals is akin to an arms race,” said ESA Director of Operations Rolf Densing at the opening of the multimillion-euro Cyber Security Operations Centre at ESA’s European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt.
Cyberattacks are becoming more and more sophisticated - and even space agencies with their satellites and ground stations need to protect themselves. The new centre is intended to ensure that 28 satellites, ground stations and control systems are protected against external attacks. “It would be a nightmare if an unauthorised person were to assume control of our satellites,” said Densing.
Central Project Manager Markus Rückert explains that work to develop and set up the Cyber Security Operations Centre with its sites in Darmstadt and Belgium has been underway for five years, and by the end of 2026 will have cost around 26 million euros in total.
According to ESA, companies, power grids, financial markets or supply chains can be the target of attacks and are all increasingly reliant on satellites and space-based services.