Solutions for Protecting the Space Ground Segments: From Risk Assessment to Emergency Response

Space sector is considered to be one of those which are essential to maintain vital economic and social functions. Critical Infrastructures or Critical Entities that belong to these sectors are exposed to a wide range of natural and man-made threats, including natural hazards, terrorist attacks, insider threats, or sabotage, but also to cyber-attacks, which are emerging especially with the use of information related systems, as in the space domain. More specifically, a physical attack on a space ground segment could make the distribution of satellite data problematic, while a cyber-attack attack on its data storage, access and exchange could affect not only the reliability of space data, but also their FAIR standards. The present work will focus on the enhancement of the preparedness and response phases of crisis management, through the use of technological and operational solutions. Thus, three tools namely CIRP-RAT, ENGAGE CSIM and ERPs are presented, including their functionalities and benefits offered to the end-users. The findings and developments presented, are linked with the EU funded project 7SHIELD, which aims to provide the European Ground Segment of Space Systems, with a holistic framework for their cyber–physical protection, enabling them to confront complex cyber and physical threats, by covering all the stages of crisis management, namely pre-crisis, crisis and post-crises.