Towards Effective Cybersecurity for Modular, Open Architecture Satellite Systems

In a fresh twist on early incorporation of cybersecurity engineering, SSC Pacific is embarking on a 5-year small satellite capability development effort for the U.S. Navy. One of the key objectives is to infuse cybersecurity methodologies, technologies, and tools into each phase of the small-satellite life-cycle, from concept design to operations. In this first year, we report out progress to develop a new nanosatellite integration and test laboratory environment that incorporates cybersecurity into every step. The effort leverages technologies and lessons learned from ongoing U.S. Navy-funded research and development of tools and systems for securing commercial Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and Industrial Control Systems (ICS). The paper describes the nanosatellite integration environment being developed at SSC Pacific, along with our approach to overlaying cyber security design and testing into the small satellite acquisition lifecycle. Lessons learned from SCADA/ICS cybersecurity research are then described, along with description of cybersecurity tools and methods applicable to small satellites. Finally, ongoing cybersecurity testing of a Beagle Bone Black processor is described, along with initial findings and comments about how to harden the processor against cyberattack. LIFECYCLE CYBERSECURITY FOR SMALL SATELLITES Small satellite development costs are trending downward, but cybersecurity complexity and costs are trending upward. The same commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies and modular, open-network architectures that promise low-cost, rapid development also come with a potentially heavy cybersecurity price tag. This is especially true for small military satellite programs, which are striving to achieve high mission assurance without killing off the culture of innovation, rapid development, and low cost that makes small satellites desirable in the first place. Cybersecurity challenges often faced by small satellite