Romanian Cyber Security Journal / Spring 2025, No. 1, Vol. 7

The Cybersecurity Profile of Critical Space Infrastructures – Key Concepts, Trends, and Frameworks

Clara COTRONEO, Adrian-Victor VEVERA

---

Abstract

Space systems are a key enabler for a wide variety of applications that are critical to infrastructure functioning. This has led to an evolving approaches to their security, including also their identification and designation as critical infrastructures within existing Critical Infrastructure Protection frameworks, including the latest EU efforts such as the Critical Entity Resilience Directive. At the same time, the requirements of space systems entail significant digitalization of these systems and of any critical infrastructure that uses them, especially if they are so integrated that we can say they are critically reliant on them. This raises the issue of cybersecurity for critical space infrastructures in the new security environment. This article traces the main factors leading to a worsening cybersecurity environment for space systems, and especially the impact of emerging digital technologies.

Keywords

Critical Infrastructures, Resilience, Cybersecurity, Emerging digital technology, Space systems