PUBLISHED DATE: 25 March 2026
The rapid expansion and increasing reliance on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communication (SATCOM) systems have introduced significant cyber security challenges. As LEO satellite constellations grow, the attack surface for adversaries increases. This growth puts critical networks that depend on these satellite services at greater risk. Securing this infrastructure is essential to ensuring the resilience of commercial communications, national security systems and emergency response capabilities.
When procuring LEO SATCOM services, users should have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities for securing their equities as well as the responsibilities of the service provider.
This guidance provides a set of critical questions that organisations can ask when discussing security with LEO SATCOM providers.
These questions help ensure that security and resilience are considered alongside performance and capability requirements in the context of evolving threats in the space domain.
The authoring agencies acknowledge that many of the cyber security risks and mitigation strategies outlined in this publication may be broadly relevant to satellite communications, beyond just LEO SATCOM services.
Securing space Cyber Security for low earth orbit satellite communications [PDF, 1.3 MB]