The Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) welcomed its newest member, Microsoft, on June 23, with an announcement highlighting its expertise in cybersecurity.
Microsoft is expanding its role in space largely through partnerships. Microsoft announced Azure Orbital in 2020 to connect satellite networks to the Azure Cloud. Microsoft also revealed partnerships with Amergint Technologies, Kratos, KSAT, Kubos, SES, Thales Alenia Space, US Electrodynamics, and ViaSat.
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Space ISAC shares information on various threats to space systems and the ground networks that support them. However, recently much of the attention has focused on cybersecurity.
Microsoft invests over $1 billion annually in cybersecurity with a team of more than 3,500 security analysts, researchers, reporters, engineers, and data scientists in 77 countries.
Because of its vast cloud network serving billions of customers, Microsoft uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to analyze trillions of “security signals” from emails, applications, network logs, and connected devices, according to the Microsoft Digital Defense Report released in September 2020.
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Microsoft joins Space ISAC as a founding member along with Aerospace Corp., Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Booz Allen Hamilton, MITRE, SES, Lockheed Martin, Parsons Corp., Purdue University, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, University of Utah Space Dynamics Laboratory and Northrop Grumman.
Bill Chappell, vice president of mission systems at Microsoft, plans to represent Microsoft on the Space ISAC board of directors.
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The space agencies founded Space ISAC, a non-profit organization, in 2019. Space ISAC in 2020 began holding meetings with government agency representatives to discuss cybersecurity issues across national security, civil, and commercial space.
Information source: spacenews.com
