Today SpiderOak announced that it’s working with Lockheed Martin on a blockchain solution to secure satellite communications. Lockheed’s Space Mission Solutions produces various satellites, including military ones for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR). Last year SpiderOak received a U.S. Airforce small business grant to develop its OrbitSecure platform, which is the basis of the deal with Lockheed Martin.
Looking at corporate security more generally, until recently, most organizations created a network perimeter protected by firewalls to ensure only trusted parties can communicate within the network. That security model doesn’t work so well for cloud-hosted services. Hence there’s a new model referred to as zero trust security, where key principles include ensuring data is always encrypted and continuously verifying who has access to which resources. Identity is a core aspect of the solution.
Satellites have worked similarly, with a single party operating the craft, payload and ground support network. But spacecraft have evolved to have different parties involved in each of these aspects, creating the need for a multiparty network. Hence OrbitSecure uses a permissioned blockchain to share access and control of surveillance and assets using end-to-end encryption. It provides proof of identity, authority and integrity that every agent within the network verifies.
Article continues …
Want the full story? Pro subscribers get complete articles, exclusive industry analysis, and early access to legislative updates that keep you ahead of the competition. Join the professionals who are choosing deeper insights over surface level news.
