CYSEC, a pioneer in cybersecurity and data protection for space and critical infrastructure, and Space Applications Services, the developer of the world-class mission control framework Yamcs, today announced a strategic partnership to simplify the deployment of end-to-end secure satellite links.
The collaboration creates a powerful synergy for satellite operators: by leveraging the native Space Data Link Security (SDLS)implementation already available in Yamcs on the ground and pairing it with CYSEC’s ARCA SATLINK Space library on-board, missions can achieve full CCSDS-compliant security with significantly reduced integration effort.
Proven Interoperability: From Ground to Space
As the space industry adopts the CCSDS SDLS protocol to protect against unauthorized access and data interception, a major hurdle for operators has been the “missing link” on the satellite itself. While modern ground segments are increasingly capable of handling encrypted frames, flight software must be equally equipped to process them.
The partnership bridges this gap through a pre-validated architectural approach that has already been put to the test. CYSEC and Space Applications Services are pleased to announce that the interoperability between ARCA SATLINK Space and Yamcs has been successfully tested, confirming that secure frames generated on the ground are seamlessly processed by the on-board security library.
- On the Ground: Yamcs, by Space Applications Services, integrates a robust ground implementation of the SDLS protocol. It allows operators to manage Security Associations (SAs) and apply authentication and encryption to telecommand and telemetry frames directly within the mission control environment.
- In Space: ARCA SATLINK Space is a modular implementation of the SDLS protocol that can be adapted to any On-Board Computers (OBC) thanks to a highly-configurable toolchain
Key Benefits for Satellite Operators
By utilizing this verified ecosystem, satellite manufacturers and constellation operators benefit from:
- Verified Compatibility: A “plug-and-play” experience where Yamcs-generated secure frames are natively compatible with the ARCA SATLINK Space library, as proven in recent successful integration tests.
- Rapid Compliance: Instant alignment with ESA and NASA security standards for CCSDS data links, moving missions from “clear text” to “secure” in record time.
- Simplified Key Management: A streamlined workflow for managing cryptographic keys and Security Parameter Indices (SPIs) between the ground station and the flight software.
- Optimized SWaP: ARCA SATLINK Space is optimized for low-resource environments, ensuring that adding security does not compromise the performance of the satellite’s primary mission.
“Space Applications Services has done the heavy lifting by embedding SDLS into the Yamcs ground segment,” said Mathieu Bailly, VP Space at CYSEC. “By providing the corresponding space-side implementation and successfully testing our interoperability, we are giving operators a complete, flight-ready loop that ensures their mission is protected from day one.”
“Our goal with Yamcs has always been to offer a flexible, standards-compliant framework for modern space missions,” said Mathieu Schmitt, Division Manager – Ground Systems & Software at Space Applications Services. “This partnership with CYSEC allows our users to extend the ground-side security they already have in Yamcs all the way to the satellite, providing a truly end-to-end secure solution that we have already validated together.”
