India Issues Joint Space Cyber Security Guidelines

The advisory guidelines are intended to advance cyber security preparedness across the space sector and to support government agencies, satellite service providers, ground station operators, equipment vendors and private space enterprises. The framework sets out essential cyber security principles, recommended controls and clearly defined responsibilities to foster a culture of resilience, accountability and proactive risk management across the ecosystem.

Senior officials emphasised the strategic importance of the measures and the need for coordinated public-private partnership. CERT-In reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cyber resilience across the nation and recognised the requirement for defence in depth to protect satellite networks, ground infrastructure, supply chains and space assets. SIA-India highlighted the role of industry perspectives in shaping practical controls and urged adoption of secure by design approaches in mission planning, given the evolving threat landscape characterised by over one point five million cyberattack attempts recorded during Operation Sindoor and a surge in attacks on government networks that was nearly sevenfold.

The guidelines adopt an adaptive model and will be periodically refined through structured industry consultation to remain responsive to emerging threats and technological change. The document seeks to institutionalise resilience across the sector and calls on stakeholders to align innovation with national security imperatives while integrating cyber security into design, procurement and operational practices. The guideline is available on the CERT-In website.