Anvil Secure, a leading cybersecurity consultancy, has teamed up with D-Orbit, a pioneer in space logistics and orbital transportation, to publish a new white paper that delves into applying cybersecurity best practices throughout every stage of a satellite’s mission cycle. The joint initiative underscores the rising urgency of embedding robust cyber protections in the rapidly expanding commercial space sector.

The paper centers on D-Orbit’s ION Satellite Carrier, the company’s orbital transfer vehicle, and examines its operational lifecycle to provide practical cybersecurity insights tailored for small-satellite manufacturers.

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“Space programs have traditionally placed a strong emphasis on safety and reliability,” explained Alberto Volpatto, Technical Director at Anvil Secure. “Our objective is to make cybersecurity equally fundamental, empowering product teams to prioritize the controls that truly make a difference.”

The report outlines three critical focus areas under a manufacturer’s direct influence:

  • Securing radio communications,
  • Managing hosted payloads responsibly, and
  • Preserving firmware integrity from production through orbit.

It also offers specific mitigation strategies, including encrypting communications channels, validating onboard payloads, and hardening hardware to prevent physical or software tampering.

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Davide Avanzi, Head of Space Product Security at D-Orbit, emphasized the company’s proactive approach: “The ION platform was designed with flexibility in mind. That’s why we’ve invested in security processes that safeguard the system while still supporting hosted payloads and in-orbit experimentation. Our partnership with Anvil underscores a shared vision of embedding cybersecurity discipline into every phase of satellite operations.”

The white paper’s release precedes the upcoming Security for Space Systems (3S) Conference, scheduled for November 4–6, 2025, at ESTEC in the Netherlands. During the event, D-Orbit will co-organize the first European in-orbit Capture-the-Flag (CTF) cybersecurity challenge in collaboration with the mhackeroni team, supported by the ESA Security Cyber Centre of Excellence (SCCoE) and the ESA Security Office.

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