Closing the Collaboration Gap is Essential to Combating Security Threats

While every industry faces its own unique challenges, one constant in the software and information technology industries is ensuring the safety and security of the infrastructure that powers the services they provide. For years, we’ve been talking about how to deploy advanced cybersecurity software and new programs to ensure our assets are safe.

As threats continue to grow, causing billions of dollars in damages worldwide, we cannot undertake these efforts alone. Yet, cross-industry collaboration is still glaringly missing from many of these strategies. This gap must be solved if we truly want to ensure the safety and security of our national and private infrastructure.

To understand the opportunity for collaboration, it is essential to understand the landscape. The satellite industry as a critical sector, for instance, has seen massive growth over the last few decades. At present, there are more than 3,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, transforming communications, Internet of Things technology, navigation and how we monitor change across our world. According to EY, the size of this industry is expected to grow from $1.5 billion in 2024 to $35 billion by 2038.

This is where that critical collaboration comes in. As the sector grows, so does our reliance on the services and intelligence these satellites and other similar critical infrastructure provide¹. Bad actors and non-allies recognize how vital the space environment is to daily life. There is an unprecedented need for secure infrastructure and reliable information sharing to protect these assets from threats in space and on the ground. As CEO of one of the leading satellite data providers in low Earth orbit (LEO), securing our assets in space is one of my chief priorities.

The LEO Owner Operator Affinity Group, a new affinity group facilitated by the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Space ISAC), is one example of a leading effort to address these concerns. Through the LEO Owner Operator Affinity Group, in which Capella participates, we are working to bring together commercial satellite operators across the industry to monitor and report potential security threats that may be detected during routine satellite operations. The group is intended to facilitate information sharing among LEO satellite operators about various security threats they face. Through the LEO Owner Operator Affinity Group, Capella Space is helping to build a shared platform in which operators can report any detected disruptions or threats to their satellites and anonymously share that information with other group members. This information can also be shared with key government entities to inform policy and potential defensive action, significantly improving security in space and on the ground.

We’re also seeing examples where collaboration is beneficial – even amongst direct competitors who traditionally might be hesitant to share information. One example of this is the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center, an all-threats security information source for the global space industry aimed at providing analysis and resources to support response, mitigation and resilience initiatives. This group’s collaboration amongst even direct competitors is proof that the information strategy elevates all participants and facilitates a safer space environment. 

Space and satellites are just one critical sector that can benefit from cross-industry collaboration. Similar information-sharing networks exist across many industries, and it’s worth considering for any CEO or CIO to join or build their own. For instance, ISACs or other collaboration groups exist across industries like aviation, electricity, financial services, healthcare, oil and gas, media and communications, retail, and many more. By working together, we can all become stronger business leaders, technology vendors, and global citizens.

Efforts to secure satellites and other space assets directly impact the safety of connected assets on the ground. By working together to improve security within the space industry, we can proactively monitor and prevent threats in a world facing global conflict. What’s more, by working together across every critical sector, we can help ensure a safer and more secure world for many years to come.

¹ https://www.ey.com/en_us/industries/aerospace-defense/why-its-time-for-investors-to-get-into-low-earth-orbit-satellites#:~:text=As%20rising%20demand%20for%20resilient,35%20billion%20dollars%20by%202038